Abestone Hard Enduro 2025: Bolt vs. Lettenbichler Goes Down to the Wire

Round 3 of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in the mountains of Tuscany had it all—slick climbs, rocky rivers, lung-busting forest loops, and a final showdown on the infamous X-Loop in Abetone. When the dust settled, it was Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) who snatched victory, edging out championship leader Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) in one of the most intense battles of the season so far.

Saturday: Bolt Strikes First

Saturday’s one-hour Sprint Race was all about Bolt. Riding smooth and aggressive, he carved through riverbeds, steep climbs, and fast alpine sections to take the win. That gave him pole position for Sunday’s main event and three valuable championship points. Lettenbichler followed close behind in second, setting up what everyone knew would be a heavyweight fight.

Sunday: A Two-Hour War

The Gold Class Final doubled the distance but tripled the intensity. From the start, Bolt grabbed the holeshot on his TE 300—but Mani wasn’t backing down. For two hours, the pair swapped positions at the front, pulling away from the rest of the field and turning the race into a two-man duel.

Heading into the final X-Loop, the two were wheel-to-wheel. It was there that Bolt found an extra gear—pushing through the brutal obstacles and slipping clear of Mani’s last-ditch block pass attempt. With that, the Brit crossed the line first, locking in his first win of the 2025 season.

Billy Bolt:

“It’s been a great weekend. To win Saturday’s race and now win the main race on Sunday is brilliant. Honestly, I never felt super comfortable with the track—it kept you out of your comfort zone. I worked hard to limit mistakes and it paid off. That battle with Mani was intense, and I’m stoked to come out on top.”

Manuel Lettenbichler:

“What a race! We were swapping the lead so often, and Billy rode really well—congrats to him. I almost had him at the end, but it wasn’t quite enough. The gap we opened over the rest shows we’re both at the top of our game. If it stays like this, the championship is going to be exciting.”

Abestone Hard Enduro 2025 – Results

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) – 12 laps, 2:18:23.178
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) – 12 laps, 2:18:27.192
3. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) – 8 laps, 2:14:29.326
4. James Moore (KTM)
5. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna)

Championship Picture

Bolt’s win puts him firmly back in the title hunt, while Lettenbichler’s runner-up ride keeps him in control of the standings with four rounds left. With these two trading blows, the fight for the 2025 crown looks set to be one for the ages.