- Christchurch’s Hamish Macdonald wins the 2025 FIM Enduro3 World Championship in Germany.
- The Sherco Factory rider becomes the first Kiwi to win the senior Enduro3 title.
- Macdonald now holds three FIM World Championships: Youth, Junior, and Enduro3.
New Zealand’s Hamish Macdonald has written his name into the record books, becoming the first Kiwi ever to win a senior world Enduro3 title after claiming the 2025 FIM Enduro3 World Championship in Germany.
The Sherco Racing Factory rider from Christchurch wrapped up the title on the opening day of racing at the POLISPORT GP of Germany in Zschopau — the final round of this year’s Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship — sealing the deal with a day to spare.
The Moment in Zschopau
Macdonald arrived at the German finale with an 18-point buffer over teammate Antoine Magain, knowing that finishing ahead of the Belgian would be enough to secure the crown. But rather than playing it safe, the 25-year-old Kiwi went on the attack, winning the day outright and clinching his maiden senior world title in style.
It capped off a stellar season that included 10 Enduro3 victories, underlining Macdonald’s consistency and speed across a wide range of terrain. The win also delivered Sherco a 1-2-3 podium sweep in Enduro3, with Magain and Julien Roussaly completing the celebration.
When he returned to the paddock, the champagne flowed freely. “From winning in Youth in 2019, Junior in 2020, and now with the big boys in 2025 — it’s unbelievable,” Macdonald said. “It’s been a lot of hard work to get here, but we did it. It’s hard to put these emotions into words.”
The victory makes Macdonald a three-time FIM World Champion, and a genuine New Zealand motorsport trailblazer.
A Kiwi on the World Stage
Macdonald’s road to the top has been one of grit and determination. His breakthrough came with back-to-back world titles in the Youth and Junior classes before moving into the senior EnduroGP ranks, where the big-capacity Enduro3 bikes suit his aggressive, yet controlled style.
Injuries briefly stalled his progress, but 2025 saw him back at full strength — fast, fit and fiercely consistent. His natural skill on technical terrain and ability to maintain pace over gruelling days of racing set him apart, earning respect from both fans and rivals.
For New Zealand, his success marks a milestone moment. Enduro has long been dominated by European riders, but Macdonald’s title shows that Kiwi riders can still mix it with the best on the world stage. It hasn’t been since the early 2000s that we’ve seen a Kiwi on the top step of the World Enduro podium, with Tauranga’s Stefan Merriman winning the Enduro World Championship in 2000 (250cc), 2001 (400cc), 2003 (250cc), and 2004 (Enduro 1).
Day One Highlights: A Champion Among Giants
While the spotlight was firmly on Macdonald’s Enduro3 triumph, the opening day of racing at Zschopau was packed with world-class performances across every category.
In the premier EnduroGP classification, Josep Garcia (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was unstoppable, winning six of the 13 timed tests and taking the overall day victory by an incredible 48 seconds — a strong comeback after carrying injuries from the previous round in Italy.
Andrea Verona (GASGAS Factory Racing) fought hard for second after a costly mistake early in the day, while Samuele Bernardini (Honda RedMoto Enduro Team) grabbed third. Macdonald wasn’t far off, finishing just seven seconds outside the EnduroGP podium — a testament to his speed beyond his own class.
Tight Title Battles Elsewhere
In Enduro2, Verona took the win ahead of Max Ahlin and Theo Espinasse, while championship leader Zach Pichon could only manage fifth, turning the standings on their head heading into the final day.
In Enduro1, Garcia continued his dominance, beating Bernardini by more than a minute, with Jeremy Sydow delighting his home crowd in third.
Over in the Women’s Enduro World Championship, Rachel Gutish (RIEJU Factory Team) proved unbeatable once again, taking victory by a huge margin ahead of Francesca Nocera (Honda) and Rosie Rowett (RIEJU). In the Junior Women’s class, Lorna Lafont (Sherco) edged out Elizabeth Tett (TM MOTO), with Maja Kozolowska (KTM) rounding out the podium.
For Hamish Macdonald, this title is the ultimate reward for years of dedication. From his early days racing in Canterbury’s off-road events to standing atop the podium in Europe, his rise through the ranks has been one of perseverance and passion.
With this historic Enduro3 world title, he now joins the small group of New Zealand riders who’ve reached the pinnacle of international motorcycling competition — and sets a new benchmark for the next generation of Kiwi enduro talent.
As he proudly stated after the race: “It’s been a long journey from those early days back home, but I’ve never stopped believing. To bring this home for New Zealand and for Sherco — it means everything.”
