World Enduro Super Series: The search for the ultimate enduro champion kicks off in Portugal this weekend

The inaugural World Enduro Super Series is set to kick off at Extreme XL Lagares in Portugal this weekend, as the search for the ultimate enduro champion begins.

History will be made in northern Portugal this coming weekend, when the first ever round of the mixed-discipline WESS championship gets underway. And Extreme XL Lagares has the honour of hosting the opening event of the series.

In total 252 competitors from 20 nations, including the world’s best Enduro riders, will take to the start line in the Penafiel region of Portugal for three days of exciting, and challenging, Enduro racing – with a mix EnduroCross, Urban and Hard Enduro action.

As the 2017 Extreme XL Lagares winner, South Africa’s Wade Young will start with the #1 plate on his bike and will be keen to make it a double win. But the Sherco Factory Racing rider will have his hands full with no less than 46 other riders entered in the Pro category. Runner-up to Young last year, Britain’s Jonny Walker leads the charge of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates with Taddy Blazusiak (Poland), Cody Webb (USA), Josep Garcia (Spain) and Nathan Watson (Britain) all eager to impress at round one.

As a three-time winner of the race, Britain’s Graham Jarvis heads Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s hopes for victory. Jarvis won the race in his last visit back in 2013 and will want to show he’s still a threat for top honours on the slippery, rocky Portuguese terrain. He’ll be joined by teammates Colton Haaker (USA) and Billy Bolt (Britain) — the rising talent in Hard Enduro.

Staged over three days, racing begins on Friday evening May 11 with Endurocross action in Quintandona, Lagares. On Saturday things get distinctively Urban when world heritage city Porto opens its narrow, cobbled streets to the world’s best Enduro riders in the Ribeira do Porto district. Sunday is all about Hard Enduro as competitors tackle the slippery, rocky riverbeds and Penafiel forestry of Lagares for one of the world’s most spectacular and demanding races. Starting and finishing in Quintandona, the Pro class will complete two laps of the course, with the remaining classes needing to complete one.

Round one of the World Enduro Super Series takes place at Extreme XL Lagares in Portugal, May 11-13.

Extreme XL Lagares Schedule

May 11: Endurocross — 16.00-23.00hrs

May 12: Porto Prologue — 14.00-19.00hrs

May 13: Main Event — 11-18.00hrs

World Enduro Super Series Schedule

Rnd 1. Extreme XL Lagares (Portugal) May 11-13

Rnd 2. Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble (Austria) May 31-June 3

Rnd 3. Trèfle Lozérien AMV (France) June 8-10

Rnd 4. Red Bull Romaniacs (Romania) July 24-28

Rnd 5. Red Bull 111 Megawatt (Poland) September 8-9

Rnd 6. Gotland Grand National (Sweden) October 26-27

Rnd 7. Red Bull Knock Out (The Netherlands) November 10

For more information on World Enduro Super Series, visit: www.iRideWESS.com