The first-ever Enduro World Championships took place in Val Di Fassa, Trentino, Italy, on September 14-15, with Pivot Factory Racing showcasing a strong presence. Much like the Downhill World Championships, custom-painted bikes were a standout feature in the pits, with Matthew Walker, Edward Masters, and Morgane Charre riding specially designed Pivot Firebirds that drew a lot of attention.
Extreme weather warnings led to the postponement of practice and race day by a day, turning it into a Sunday event due to heavy snowfall from Thursday night through Friday. The organisers made the right call for athlete safety, with stages 1, 3, and 4 having their start points lowered due to excessive snow cover.
Saturday's practice took place under cold, overcast conditions, with riders trying to stay warm amidst the snow-covered surroundings. The tracks saturated by snowmelt made for extremely technical riding over rocky, root-filled trails.
By race day the snow line had retreated slightly, but the tracks remained soaked and treacherous. Morgane Charre fought hard throughout the day, trying to keep her bike upright in the slippery conditions. Her battle to hold onto 3rd place came down to the final stage, where she successfully defended her podium position, securing 3rd place overall. Another stellar result for Morgane in tough conditions.
Edward Masters steadily climbed the rankings throughout the day, chipping away at the competition despite the challenging conditions. He finished the day in 19th place. With the enduro season now concluded for Edward, he will return to the UK to undergo surgery on his problematic shoulder.
Matthew Walker riding his eye-catching Porsche-red Firebird, delivered consistent stage results all day despite the less-than-ideal conditions. His performance secured him an impressive 11th place, capping off a solid race for the team.
As Pivot Factory Racing packs down in Italy, the focus now shifts back to the UK where the team will regroup before setting their sights on Canada for the 7th and final round of the Downhill World Cup season. The team remains focused and ready to finish the season strong.
