If Saturday belonged to the next generation, Sunday belonged firmly to Manuel Lettenbichler. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider dominated the Abestone Hard Enduro, winning by more than six minutes and taking maximum points from Round 5 of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.
On a brutal course in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, only five Gold riders managed to complete all six laps.
Six Laps, Six Minutes, No Answer
Lettenbichler was in control from the front.His best lap was more than one minute faster than anyone else managed during the race, and by the finish he had built a gap of over six minutes.
Mitch Brightmore was the closest challenger, bringing the X-GRIP GASGAS home in second. It was another important result for the British rider, who has now finished on the podium at four of the five championship rounds held so far.
Kabakchiev Wins the Fight for Third
Behind the leading pair, the battle for the final podium place was much tighter. Teodor Kabakchiev, James Moore and Mario Román traded positions through the race, but it was Kabakchiev who eventually pulled clear.
The Sherco rider secured third, finishing more than four and a half minutes ahead of Moore. Moore took an impressive fourth overall and was the leading Junior rider, while Román completed the group of six-lap finishers in fifth.
One lap down, Lorenzo Gandola finished sixth ahead of Ashton Brightmore, Thomas Scales, Sonny Goggia and Eddie Karlsson.
Billy Bolt Shows the Speed Is Back
“It was a difficult day and, to be honest, a difficult weekend overall. There were some good moments and I had a better run with the bike than I expected, but I’m still struggling quite a lot with the speed. This was my fifth race back after four months completely off the bike, so there’s still a lot I need to work on and improve. I’m actually looking forward to a short break now, because it gives us two weeks to reset and put some work in before we head to South Africa. Hopefully we can make some good steps and finish the year strong.”
Billy Bolt finished 12th overall, but the result does not tell the whole story. His best lap was the third-fastest of the entire Gold class, another sign that his outright pace is returning following his injury layoff. The challenge now is turning that speed into consistency across the full race distance.
James Moore Closes in on the Junior Championship Lead
Moore’s fourth place overall also delivered maximum points in the FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship. The South African moves to 147 points, just seven behind championship leader Ashton Brightmore, who sits on 154.
Toby Shaw remains third with 87 points, while Marc Fernandez Serra, Thomas Scales and Luke John Walker are separated by only two points behind him.The Junior title fight is getting very tight.
Silver and Bronze Winners
In the Silver class, Conor Hennessy completed a perfect weekend. After winning Qualification, he also took the Final victory in 1:38:54.3, ahead of Adam Giles and Jamie Rowntree. In Bronze, Daryoush Ghorbani and Franco Schiavi were the only riders to complete six laps.
Ghorbani took the win ahead of Schiavi, with Gabriele Frangioni third. Ebony Nielsen finished fourth overall and was the leading woman in the Bronze class.
Lettenbichler Opens a 24-Point Championship Lead
After five rounds, Lettenbichler leaves Italy with 150 points. Mitch Brightmore remains second on 126, while Kabakchiev strengthens his hold on third.
HEWC Standings After Round 5
- Manuel Lettenbichler – 150 pts
- Mitch Brightmore – 126 pts
- Teodor Kabakchiev – 94 pts
- Ashton Brightmore – 91 pts
Bolt, Román, Moore and Karlsson remain within reach of the championship top five. With three rounds and 99 points still available, the championship is far from mathematically decided.
Next Stop: Roof of Africa
Round 6 takes the championship to one of Hard Enduro’s most famous challenges.The Roof of Africa takes place in Lesotho on September 24–26, with altitude and the Maloti Mountains adding another completely different test.
After that come Sea to Sky in Turkey and the 24MX Hixpania finale in Spain. Lettenbichler has created some breathing room. But with three major races still to come, the season is not finished yet.
