WERA Drops a Calendar Bombshell: Riders Commit to Just Six Hard EnduroWorld Championship Rounds in 2026

The World Enduro Riders Association (WERA) has issued an official statement regarding the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (HEWC) calendar, calling for a more realistic and sustainable schedule. In the absence of financial support from the championship promoter ProTouchGlobal, WERA members have announced they will participate in a maximum of six HEWC rounds this season.

According to WERA, the decision follows months of discussions with HEWC Championship Director Ross Whitehead, during which riders repeatedly raised concerns about logistics, travel costs, and entry fees. Despite earlier assurances that collaboration was possible, the final nine-round calendar was released without addressing these issues, and no financial support has been offered to riders or teams.

“We expressed our concerns multiple times before the calendar announcement and remained open to working with the promoter to create a balanced season. Unfortunately, our input was not adequately addressed, forcing us to take this step to protect the sustainability of the sport,” said Alfredo Gomez, WERA President.

WERA emphasized that current economic realities make a full nine-round global championship unfeasible for many riders and manufacturers, especially when combined with major non-HEWC events such as Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs. The association reiterated its long-standing proposal of a “6+2” structure, allowing riders to contest six HEWC rounds alongside the two iconic independent events.

As a result, WERA riders have agreed not to attend several rounds from the current calendar due to high logistical demands, costs, or scheduling conflicts. The association stated that its members will instead focus on six selected events, while remaining open to participation in additional rounds should dates or conditions change.

• XL Lagares (Portugal): As one of Europe’s most remote events, it poses significant logistical challenges, compounded by the prologue being held far from the main race site.
• Roof of Africa (Lesotho): The event’s location demands massive and expensive logistics, and it has been criticized as the worst-organized race in recent seasons from a rider’s perspective.
• Sea to Sky (Turkey): High logistics and registration costs make participation untenable, further aggravated by the insufficient preparation time between this event and Hixpania.
• Forza Orza (Sweden): This race clashes directly with the Tennessee Knock Out, a key event for many professional riders. WERA suggests rescheduling Forza Orza to avoid this conflict.

WERA concluded by reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and cooperation, stating that the goal is not confrontation, but ensuring that hard enduro remains sustainable, accessible, and viable for professional and amateur riders.