Rachel Gutish leads Expotrade Women’s Enduro title chase to FIM EnduroGP of Portugal

The Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship heads to Fafe, Portugal, with RIEJU Factory Team’s Rachel Gutish leading the way.

After missing the GP of Finland, the Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro categories of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship return to action for back-to-back weekends of racing in Fafe, Portugal, for what will be rounds three and four of their five-round series.

In Italy and Spain, defending champion, RIEJU Factory Team’s Rachel Gutish delivered a consistent run of form to move into the championship lead. However, the American had a mixed outing in Sicily where time penalties and errors cost her a chance of claiming a race win.

Turning things around at the Polisport GP of Spain, she won the opening day of racing before going on to finish third on day two. Entering this important block of racing in Portugal, Gutish will look to strengthen her 14-point championship lead.

Moving up to second overall in this year’s title fight is ET James Sherco UK’s Nieve Holmes. Holmes heads a three-way battle for the remainder of the podium positions with Ambiance Moto’s Justine Martel and RIEJU Factory Team’s Rosie Rowett.

So far, Holmes has proved the most consistent of the three riders and is building momentum with a 5-6-3-2 scorecard. Knocking on the door of a race win, the British woman will hope to get her first win of the season during her time in Portugal.

Just one point behind Holmes in third is Martel. After a stunning season-opener in Italy, where she won both days, Martel endured a tough outing at the Polisport GP of Spain. A weekend marred by mechanical issues and misfortune, she had to dig deep to stay in the race. Despite collecting only 12 points, her hard-fought efforts have kept her in podium contention entering the GP of Portugal I.

After a difficult round one in Sicily, Rowett took a major step forward in Spain, claiming her first victory of the season on day two. The young Brit began the 2026 championship having recovered from a knee injury, but in Oliana she showed that her speed, fitness and confidence was back by winning. Now ready to challenge her teammate, Gutish for the top step of the podium, Rowett will be a rider to watch out for.

The battle for fifth is closely contested with France’s Marine Lemoine (KTM) heading her fellow countrywoman Lorna Lafont (Husqvarna) by one point, with Italy’s Sara Traini (Triumph) a further four points behind in seventh. Lafont also leads Traini by 11 points in the Expotrade FIM Junior Women’s Enduro World Cup standings.

Set to make a welcome addition to the Expotrade Women’s Enduro class for the GP of Portugal I is Canada’s Shelby Turner (Triumph). As a seven-time AMA EnduroCross Champion, AMA Hard Enduro Champion and an eight-time FIM 6 Days gold medalist, Turner has a highly-decorated career in off-road. Although new to EnduroGP, her proven speed in special test racing should set her up as a strong challenger for a podium result in Portugal.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with the GP of Portugal I in Fafe, from 12-14 June.

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2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship

Round 1: GP of Italy – Custonaci, Sicily – 10-12 April
Round 2: GP of Spain – Oliana – 1-3 May
Round 3: GP of Finland – Vierumäki, Salpausselkä – 22-24 May
Round 4: GP of Portugal – Fafe – 12-14 June
Round 5: GP of Portugal II – Fafe – 19-21 June
Round 6: GP of France – Saint-Agrève – 17-19 July
Round 7: GP of Wales – Rhayader – 7-9 August

2026 Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship
Round 1: GP of Italy – Custonaci, Sicily – 10-12 April
Round 2: GP of Spain – Oliana – 1-3 May
Round 3: GP of Portugal – Fafe – 12-14 June
Round 4: GP of Portugal II – Fafe – 19-21 June
Round 5: GP of Wales – Rhayader – 7-9 August