Kiwi Rider February Vol.1 2023 | Page 98

DIRT NEWS

ANDREA VERONA MOVES TO ENDURO2 FOR 2023

Reigning EnduroGP World Champion , Andrea Verona , is making a switch this year , moving from the EnduroGP circuit to the Enduro2 class . It ’ s not often an athlete decides to switch classes instead of defend their world title , but that ’ s exactly what Italian GasGas rider Andrea Verona has planned for the 2023 season . According to Verona , the switch to Enduro2 has actually been on his mind for a while . “ I ’ m really looking forward to getting started with the 2023 season ,” he said . “ I have wanted to try out a new challenge and move to the Enduro2 class for a while now and after winning the E1 and EnduroGP classes last year , it gives me the perfect opportunity . My feeling in the GasGas Factory Racing team is great – we ’ re both putting in 100 percent at every race to be the best and that ’ s just one of the reasons why I decided to stay with the team for another two years . The bikes are great , the EC250F obviously took me to two E1 championships and the EnduroGP world title , and I think the EC350F will suit me perfectly , too . My goals now for the 2023 season are to improve my speed in all conditions and try to win even more racing days than last year . Obviously , the main goal is to take the EnduroGP victory again .” Since joining GASGAS Factory Racing at the beginning of the 2021 racing season , Verona has dominated the Enduro1 class of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship . The eversmiling 23-year-old finished on the podium at every round in 2021 and went on to smash that record in 2022 , where he won all but one day of racing in the E1 category . Moving up to the hotly contested Enduro2 class , AV99 will be full gas as he fights to defend his overall EnduroGP crown and claim his first career E2 world title .

98 KIWI RIDER