The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship heads to Spain this coming weekend for the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro, the fifth and penultimate stop of the season. With the fight for championship honours intensifying, it’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler who leads the way.
Words and Image by FIM Hard Enduro Championship
- 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro set for round five
- Manuel Lettenbichler aiming to make it five wins in a row in 2023
- The racing takes place across three days in Aguilar de Campoo
After an exciting season, the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship steps up a gear as the series arrives in northern Spain for the fifth and penultimate round of the season. Always a brilliant event, the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro is set to put the world’s best Hard Enduro riders through their paces for three days, culminating with the ACERBIS El Camino Perdido main event on Sunday October 15.
Hopefully not unlucky for some, Friday October 13th will be a busy day. In the morning competitors will complete a timed loop of the Campoo Xtreme course, which will act as qualification towards the evening’s SuperEncierro street races in the medieval town of Aguilar de Campoo.
An early start on Saturday morning will see competitors fight it out for a place in Sunday’s main event with the Campoo Xtreme race. Set to conclude the weekend’s racing will be a ACERBIS El Camino Perdido multi-lap Hard Enduro.
Riding the crest of a wave, Germany’s Manuel Lettenbichler will arrive at round five as the clear championship leader. The KTM rider has won each of the four rounds to date and is aiming to keep his win streak alive in Spain. As winner of the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro in 2022, it’s hard to bet against Lettenbichler.
Behind Lettenbichler the battle for second is incredibly tight between Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt and FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart. Bolt is 21 points behind Lettenbichler, but only one point in front of Hart. To keep his title hopes alive, Bolt knows now is the time to deliver a winning result.
Enjoying an outstanding season, Hart sits third overall. The Canadian has only once missed the podium in 2023. At this weekend’s 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro expect Hart to keep the pressure on Lettenbichler and Bolt.
ECONT Bulgaria’s Teo Kabakchiev holds onto a comfortable fourth overall in the standings. The Bulgarian has claimed a podium result at both XROSS and Red Bull Romaniacs but has yet to deliver the same form at the shorter, sprint-style Hard Enduro races. In Spain he’ll be hoping to set that right.
The battle for fifth overall has developed into a four-rider fight. Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman holds the advantage, lying tied on points with GASGAS’ Michael Walkner. Wade Young (Sherco) is one point behind in seventh, while Jarvis Magpul Racing’s Graham Jarvis is a further two points behind in eighth.
As a two-time winner of the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro, Rieju’s Alfredo Gomez is a rider not to be counted out on home soil.
Green heads Junior Hard Enduro standings
The FIM Junior Hard Enduro World Championship supported by KLIM makes a welcome return to the racing at the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro for round three of four. Rigo Racing’s Matthew Green currently leads the way by five points over TTR Squadra’s Mitch Brightmore.
The duo have fought hard so far this year, as they also push for strong results in the overall series too. The final step of the podium looks to be closely fought out between Richard Moorehouse (KTM), Robert Crayston (KTM) and Felix Bahker (Sherco).
The Prologue was completed last night but due to the weather and for safety reasons it was a non FIM a race. Billy Bolt took the win ahead of Manuel Lettenbichler and Alfredo Gomez.
24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro schedule
Saturday, October 14, 2023
9:00am: Campoo Xtreme departure
Sunday, October 15, 2023
11:00am: Acerbis El Camino Perdido
3:00pm: 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro Podiums
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER ROUND 5)
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 86pts; 2. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 3. Trystan Hart (KTM) 62pts; 4. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 48pts; 5. Mario Roman (Sherco) 39pts; 6. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 39pts; 7. Wade Young (Sherco) 38pts; 8. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 36pts; 9. Matthew Green (KTM) 28pts; 10. Alfredo Gomez (Rieju) 27pts…
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER ROUND 2)
1. Matthew Green (KTM) 42pts; 2. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 37pts; 3. Richard Moorhouse (GASGAS) 24pts; 4. Robert Crayston (KTM) 23pts; 5. Felix Bahker (Sherco) 23pts…
