After a thrilling season, the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship readies itself for the seventh and final round at Spain’s 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler looks to defend his world crown, while TTR Squadra Corse’s Mitch Brightmore aims to win the FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship supported by KLIM.
- FIM HEWC heads for season finale at 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro
- Action-packed two-day race format awaits riders and fans
- Lettenbichler aims for third consecutive world title
With six rounds complete, all roads lead to Spain for the seventh and final round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship at the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro in Aguilar de Campoo. A popular event with riders and fans, Spain’s leading hard enduro is a regular feature on the FIM HEWC calendar. Last hosting the final round of the championship in 2022, it delivered an exciting end to the season, and so spectators should expect to witness a thrilling race to determine this year’s world champions.
Exciting race format planned for 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro
A revised format for 2024 sees the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro condensed into two days of racing. The 24MX Hixpania Village will open Friday, October 25, for spectators to meet and greet the riders, ahead of Saturday and the first day of racing.
Saturday marks a busy day for competitors, with two different races to contest. Opening with the Campoo X-Treme qualification, riders compete for the first allocation of FIM championship points on offer. A seven-kilometre hard enduro lap, held along the lakeshore, will be contested in a time trial format. The fastest of two lap times will count for qualifying points, while also deciding the start position for Sunday’s main race, El Camino Perdido.
From the Campoo X-Treme, riders head into Aguilar de Campoo for Saturday afternoon’s SuperEncierro city enduro. A change of format for this year will see riders battle it out in a head-to-head straight rhythm race. Competitors will compete through a series of heats, with the best two riders reaching the final.
Sunday marks the eagerly anticipated El Camino Perdido main race. Located in the nearby quarry, the multi-lap race sees the top qualifiers set off from inside a cave to complete as many laps as possible of the four-kilometre course within two hours. After two hours, the final Hixpania Hill opens, with only those on the same lap as the leader allowed to tackle the final infamous climb of the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro.
Lettenbichler racing for third consecutive world title
With the outcome of this year’s FIM Hard Enduro World Championship yet to be decided, 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro will prove a fitting close to the season. At the head of the standings, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler is on the cusp of clinching an incredible third consecutive world title.
Riding to victory at Turkey’s Sea To Sky for round six saw him increase his advantage at the top of the standings to 17 points. With a comfortable cushion over his nearest rival, Red Bull Leader Tread’s Wade Young, Lettenbichler doesn’t need to win to secure the title, but rest assured the German will be targeting his sixth victory of the season.
In the fight for championship honours, it is only Young in second and Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman in third who hold a mathematical chance of beating Lettenbichler. Both riders will need to give it their all to become champion.
But more critically, only four points separate the duo in the battle for vice-champion. Roman delivered a stellar performance last time out at Sea To Sky, and with home advantage behind him, Sunday could see a dramatic change in the standings if Roman beats Young.
Lying fourth overall, but nine points behind Roman, Sherco Factory Racing’s Teo Kabakchiev could become the spoiler in the mix. The Bulgarian has the pace to challenge for a place on the podium in the final race of the season.
TTR Squadra Corse’s Mitch Brightmore completes the top five, holding a 10-point lead over Sherco Official Team’s Francesc Moret in sixth. Spaniard Moret achieved a career-best result of fifth at round six and arrives at his home race in peak form. Showing a strong set of trial skills and race speed, Moret could prove the rider to watch out for once again.
Last but not least, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt will be in action at round seven. Returning from a lengthy injury for round six saw him immediately in the mix and challenging for a podium result. The Brit eventually placed fourth but will look to end his season on a high by battling his way into the top three in Spain.
Mitch Brightmore aiming to defend Junior world crown in Spain
In the FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship supported by KLIM, it’s a TTR Squadra Corse one-two at the top of the standings, with Brightmore brothers Mitch and Ashton in first and second.
Mitch has won all four rounds of the Junior category in 2024, along with impressing in the overall classification. With the prospect of a clean sweep on the cards, in a race he excelled at in 2023, the young Brit will be going all out to win again.
Ashton Brightmore is currently 15 points behind his older brother in the standings. Although it will be a tough challenge to take the title away from Mitch, it is still possible if things go his way.
Beta UK’s Richard Moorehouse holds third overall in the standings and is 22 points behind Ashton Brightmore. He holds an eight-point lead over Robert Crayston (KTM) in fourth.
The battle for the remainder of the top five is incredibly close, with just three points separating Crayston in fourth and Suff Sella (KTM) in sixth, with James Moore (GASGS) sandwiched in-between the duo in fifth.
The 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship concludes with round seven at 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro in Aguilar de Campoo, Spain on October 26/27.
Championship Standings (After round six of seven)
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 112pts
2. Wade Young (GASGAS) 95pts
3. Mario Roman (Sherco) 91pts
4. Teodor Kabakchiev (Sherco) 82pts
5. Mitch Brightmore (Husqvarna) 66pts
6. Francesc Moret (Sherco) 56pts
7. Matthew Green (KTM) 54pts
8. Alfredo Gomez (Rieju) 41pts
9. David Cyprian (KTM) 36pts
10. Marc Riba (KTM) 31pts
FIM HEJWC (After round four of five)
1. Mitch Brightmore (Husqvarna) 88pts
2. Ashton Brightmore (Husqvarna) 73pts
3. Richard Moorhouse (Beta) 51pts
4. Robert Crayston (KTM) 43pts
5. James Moore (GASGAS) 41pts
6. Suff Sella (KTM) 40pts
7. Hugo Crozet (Beta) 35pts
8. Barnabas Csizmazia (Husqvarna) 26pts
9. Marc Fernandez (KTM) 25pts
10. Valentino Hutter (GASGAS) 24pts
Words and Images by FIM HEWC
