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Swedish Forests and Dutch Sand. A Weekend of Drama, Battles and Championship Stakes

Swedish Forests and Dutch Sand. A Weekend of Drama, Battles and Championship Stakes

A weekend of racing with two very different landscapes. Swedish forest rock and Dutch sand. One thing in common: Plews Tyres riders in the thick of it at every turn. Here is what happened. 

FIM Hard Enduro World Championship — Round 4, Forza Orza in Sweden

Sweden made its debut on the Hard Enduro World Championship calendar this year and wasted no time in making an impression. A rocky, heavily vegetated forest track unlike anything else on the circuit, Forza Orza delivered three days of intense and at times brutal racing. "Very rocky terrain and lots of vegetation, going to be an intense three days of high gas," Mario Roman said ahead of the opening day. He was not wrong.

Prologue

The event opened with a short, punchy prologue. Two single timed laps through the forest with only the better one counting. The top riders completed it in just over four minutes, which tells you everything about the intensity of the pace from day one.

James Moore set the benchmark for the Plews team with a brilliant P2 overall, 4 minutes and 40 seconds. A strong position that would give him an excellent starting spot going into the sprint race. Mario Roman came through in P10 at 4 minutes and 56 seconds, already finding his rhythm on unfamiliar terrain. Matt Green was P12 just three seconds behind Mario, with Toby Shaw P17 and Lenny Geretzky P22.

@Macphtos

@Macphtos

@Macphtos

@Macphtos

For Lenny, Sweden presented an immediate challenge. "I've never ridden on such a strange surface before," he said after the prologue. "I have room for improvement over the coming days." It was clear many riders in the pro class were getting to grips with what Sweden had to offer.@Macphtos

Day Two — Sprint Race

The sprint race was a one-hour multi-lap format through the Swedish forest. What those on track described as a brutal day in the trees. Starting positions were set by prologue results, which meant James went into the race from a strong position.

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He finished P5 after five laps and a time of 1:06:38. "I know I still have a bit more, just have to bring it out." Mario was right behind him in P7, a close result between the two Plews riders.

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Toby Shaw's day started with a crash in the first corner that took him and a number of other riders down and cost him significant time before he had even found his rhythm. He fought on to complete four laps in P15. Matt Green came home P11 on four laps and shared that the day consisted of "gloomy conditions and track, but the fans and battles somewhat made up for it." Lenny Geretzky finished P19 on four laps, the arm pump that had troubled him in the prologue continuing to affect his ability to hold onto the bike.@Macphtos@Macphtos

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Day Three — Main Race

The main race was a two-hour plus one-lap format. Again multi-lap, again through terrain that tested every rider's technical ability and physical reserves. The track's character suited riders who prefer shorter, more technical tracks rather than long mountain trails, with a number of man-made obstacles creating opportunities throughout.

The Plews story of the day was Matt Green. After a prologue and sprint race that had been solid rather than spectacular, Matt went to work on the final day and came home P4 on eight laps, another strong single-day result and a real statement going into the second half of the championship.

@Macphtos

Mario Roman completed ten laps to finish P6 for the day, rounding out a consistent three-day performance in a new country and on new terrain. James Moore came home P7 on nine laps, "lots of good battles, a few more things learned, and some points for the championship." The building continues, and Italy is next.

@Macphtos

@Macphtos

Toby Shaw completed eight laps in P15. A tough event overall, but with laps and experience accumulated. Lenny Geretzky's weekend ended in the most frustrating way possible. He got off to a good start on the final day and was pushing to make up positions when a crash bent his handlebars and ended his race after just one lap. "It wasn't the best weekend. I struggled with severe arm pump during the prologue and sprint race. My body felt great but I just couldn't hold onto the bike with my arms." He left Sweden looking ahead to Italy with clear focus on what needs to improve.

@Macphtos

@Macphtos

The Championship Picture

Round 4 of 8 is now complete. The full Hard Enduro World Championship calendar still has Abestone in Italy, Roof of Africa in Lesotho, Sea to Sky in Turkey and the season finale at Hixpania in Spain. Points are there to be won and our riders will be at every one of them.

 

WMX — MXGP of Netherlands, Arnhem

The penultimate round of the 2026 FIM Women's Motocross World Championship took place in the Dutch sand of Arnhem and it produced one of the most dramatic weekends of the season.

Daniela Guillén arrived in the Netherlands just two points behind championship leader Kiara Fontanesi in the standings, with two rounds to go. She left it six points ahead, carrying the red plate to the season finale in Australia. The title is now in her hands.

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Race One

The opening race began with Daniela facing the kind of start that would test any rider's composure. She slipped back to 13th position at the beginning of the first lap with an enormous gap to make up on a circuit where track position matters. What followed was one of the best recovery rides of her season.

By the end of the opening lap she was seventh. By lap two she was fourth. She took third from Courtney Duncan on lap five and then spent the next five laps applying relentless pressure to Shana Van Der Vlist ahead of her before making the move stick on lap ten. P2 across the line. Twenty-two points. And critically, she moved ahead of Fontanesi at the top of the championship standings in the process.

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Race Two

Race two was a different kind of test. Daniela found better early speed and worked her way into a solid P2 with a cushion of around seven seconds over Lucy Barker behind her. Then, on lap ten with two laps remaining, she crashed... and crashed hard. A front wheel dig-in that sent the bike and rider to the ground, handing Barker the position.

What happened next was pure championship instinct. Two laps remaining. Two championship points separating the result from a P2 and P3. Daniela got up, got her head down, and hunted Barker back down before the flag. She retook the position.

"Race two was a little bit tense," she said afterwards. "I had a good battle, and then I made a mistake and I crashed... and I crashed so hard. But then I had two laps to finish and I said I have to pass Barker, because those two points in the championship are so important for me."

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P2 overall from two second-place finishes, and the red plate back on her bike heading to Australia. Daniela Guillén goes to the season finale six points clear of Fontanesi. One round. One chance. The 2026 WMX World Championship will be decided in Australia.