EnduroGP World Champion and ISDE outright winner Josep Garcia talks exclusively to Enduro21 about landing seven world titles, jumping into SuperEnduro and future ambitions, riding with Marquez brothers and Dakar ambitions.

Professional sports people are usually different beasts once their season is over, especially when they’ve had a spectacularly succesful one like Josep Garcia has in 2025.

Retaining the overall EnduroGP world title was achievment in itself, not many poeple do this. But ticking off five outright ISDE wins is another level of confidence and domination of a sport which the Spanish rider is currently the master.

Enduro21 sits down with Josep to talk about this season, that domination, his mindset, how good his KTM 250 EXC-F is…in short, the key elements to his success.

While there we took the chance to pose questions like: would he ever switch teams and manufacturer? Is he tempted by the Dakar? And, on the back of this weeks news, what’s all this about a debut in the SuperEnduro World Championship?

Enduro21: Josep. You’ve been crowned EnduroGP and E1 World Champion for the second year in a row. A feat only a few riders achieved...

Josep García: “Until last year, the EnduroGP title had always slipped through my fingers. I came very close several times, leading the championship, but halfway through the season there was always an injury that ruined everything. I had won in my category, even in difficult conditions or coming back from injuries… but I was missing that absolute EnduroGP title.
In 2024, I finally got rid of that thorn. Winning it again has been incredible. And honestly, I feel I’m in a very good moment, both personally and professionally. I’m very happy with my wife and daughter, and that also shows in how much I’m enjoying every day, on and off the bike.”

Are you at a sweet point in your career?

“Yes, I think with the 250 I’ve been racing since 2024 we’ve found key improvements. I also adapted my riding style. In the end, experience always makes you evolve, and you learn more from the tough moments than the good ones. Now I feel I’ve found a very solid balance on the bike: I can still be fast and spectacular, but with an extra margin of safety.”

It feels like you’ve changed your mindset – managing races better and pacing yourself knowing each GP is two full days of racing.

“Like I said, the bad experiences make you learn. It’s true that sometimes letting your guard down can cost you, like what happened this year in Italy. But in the end, winning is winning, whether it’s by a second or a minute. The important thing is to take it race by race. I always give 100% and push to the limit to win, but if at any moment you can manage a gap, that’s like the icing on the cake.”

 I’ve finished second, third… and that also has a lot of value. You have to know how to be happy with that

Even if it might look easy from the outside, this season wasn’t simple with the injury before the World Championship and the big crashes in Oliana and Darfo…

“True, it hasn’t been an easy year at all. I’ve had injuries, although I don’t like mentioning them too much, because at the end of the day I’m the one on the bike and if I make a mistake, the responsibility is mine. Even so, I’d say a lot of it was more bad luck than riding over the limit or having big crashes.
It was a season where my head, my family and the people around me played a bigger role than my physical condition or how much speed I had. Getting out of each setback wasn’t easy, and that’s why I’m very proud of everything I’ve achieved this year.”

You now have seven world titles. How many more do you think about?

“Honestly, I’m not fully aware of it. When I stop and think, yes, it’s impressive, but it’s not something that’s on my mind every day. I’m doing what I love, I enjoy it, and I don’t have any obsession with surpassing anyone.
My goal is to keep giving my best and stay at the highest level for as many years as possible. And any titles that come, welcome. Of course I want to keep fighting for more, that’s one hundred percent.”

Injuries and setbacks aside, you’re almost always on the podium. What’s the secret to such consistency?

“If we look from 2024 onward, I’ve won at least one day at every Grand Prix —including this season. And what does that mean? That both the bike and I are performing at a very high level.
A lot of people say I’m only fast in aggressive terrain, but I think I’m proving that’s not true. I’ve won race days in all kinds of conditions, which confirms that the bike is very well sorted and that I adapt to any terrain. That really motivates me and gives me huge mental strength.”

A more philosophical one: what’s your relationship with victory? From the outside, it sometimes seems like winning and being the fastest is the only thing that matters.

“I’d say that last year and this year I’ve changed my mentality a bit. I’ve finished second, third… and that also has a lot of value. You have to know how to be happy with that, because you can’t win every time. This is a World Championship, and the best riders on the planet are here.
Of course, my goal is to win, and right after a race, if I don’t, I’m not fully satisfied. But I also value a good second place, scoring important points and thinking about the next one.
I think that’s the mentality that helps you win titles, without ever losing that ‘killer instinct’ to want to win always. That’s the key.”

Tell us about your support structure during the season: the KTM team, your physical trainer, Kevin, Rafa, Helga, your daughter… How does that circle help you perform on and off the bike?

“I think I have one of the best environments possible, both professionally and personally. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is a top-level team in the World Championship, and the bike is also at that level.
Then there’s the personal team I’ve built: Iván Pueyo, my mechanic, who has been my friend since we were 13 or 14. Back in the day, no one bet on us, but I decided to trust him, trust our partnership… and here we are: he’s now the main mechanic of a factory team like KTM, and we’re winning world championships.
And of course, my friends, my uncle Rafa, Kevin, my French trainer Toff when he comes to the races… I’ve built a working group where, if we give 100%, we’re always in the fight for victory.
On a personal level, with Helga [my wife] and my daughter Cèlia, I completely disconnect from racing outside the competition, and that helps me keep the motivation and desire to continue. I think the key is having a good environment in every sense.”

This year, after your collarbone injury, you stepped away from the Spanish Championship to focus on the World Championship. Was that a hard decision, considering you even thought about racing in Pantón just a week after surgery?

“Yes, it wasn’t an easy decision. We riders are like that: we’re hungry and want to get back on the bike as soon as possible. Six days after the operation, I was already on the KTM, trying myself out. But a call from Doctor Xavier Mir made me stop. He told me that if something happened, it could mean four months off… and losing the whole year: Worlds, Six Days, everything.
I spoke with the team and also with a very good friend who’s been through similar situations. He advised me to rest, that the important thing was to be fit for the World Championship.
And that’s what happened. You never know, but clearly it was the right decision: we achieved all our other goals.”

Your ISDE record seems from another planet: five overall wins. What do the Six Days have that motivate you so much every year?

“Since I was a kid, the Six Days always impressed me. It’s a race I love and one that I approach with huge motivation, because for me it’s one of enduro’s great events, a historic race. Seeing your name there as the overall winner is incredible.
I’m still missing one dream: seeing our name —Spain’s, mine and my teammates’— as winners of the World Trophy. I’ll keep fighting until the end to achieve it one day.”

Looking ahead to 2026… will you continue with the same bike or do you have something different in mind?

“2026 has been decided for a while: I’ll continue with the KTM 250 4T. I’m very motivated, we’re testing to improve some details, but honestly, I love the bike I’m riding right now.”

There are rumours you might appear in SuperEnduro… any truth to that?

“Yes, there are rumours about SuperEnduro and it’s likely that I’ll be at the first round. I really want to experience racing inside a stadium and, if it goes well, why not consider doing the whole championship in the future? Many riders use winter to rest —I also need that— but I love riding my bike and I still have a lot of motivation.”

You’re close to turning 29, and your name has always been linked to the Dakar… When would be the right moment to switch to rally-raid?

“Yes, well… I’ve tried a rally bike, but on a motocross track —nothing to do with the real thing. In rally, navigation is everything, and you don’t learn that overnight. There are many factors to consider.
I’ve never closed the door. I’d like to try it, of course. But if one day you see me on a Dakar bike, it will be because I’m enjoying it, I feel competitive and I’ve learned how to navigate properly. If that moment comes, fighting for a Dakar would also be a huge dream for me.”

As a kid you dreamed of being a Red Bull KTM rider… can you imagine defending different colours one day?

“Yes, my lifelong dream was to be on the official Red Bull KTM team, and I’ve been with them for 10 years now. Who would have told me? It’s a dream come true, also on a personal and family level. My parents must still freak out when they think about it… and I still do!
I have one more year of contract with KTM and I’m very happy. The Farioli team is like family to me: I’ve been with them my whole career since I was 19.
You never know what can happen, and I’m always willing to listen. I think it’s important not to close any door. But right now, I’m 100% focused on KTM, on defending their colours and my titles… and we’ll see what comes next.”

You have a great relationship with Marc and Álex Márquez. Now that they’re both at Ducati and there are rumours about them preparing an enduro bike…?

“Yes, we’re friends and now they’re at Ducati. The truth is we haven’t seen each other for a while. Their championship, mine, and the fact that they live in Madrid doesn’t make it easy. They haven’t said anything yet, but let’s see if this winter, when they come back to Cervera, and if we go riding together.”

Photo Credit: Future7Media