Brightmore Brothers and X-GRIP Deliver Strong Home Round in Newcastle

Round six, the penultimate stop of the 2026 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, landed in Newcastle, Great Britain, and the Utilita Arena was packed to the rafters. For X-GRIP Racing Team riders Mitch and Ashton Brightmore, it was the biggest home race of the season, with a full house creating a loud, high-pressure atmosphere from the first practice laps.

SuperPole pace shows how tight it was

On a relatively fast track, the lap times immediately hinted at razor-close racing. Ashton qualified confidently for SuperPole and showed strong speed, even briefly topping the session at one point. Three riders dipping into 33-second laps underlined just how small the margins were at the front. Mitch delivered a strong SuperPole lap for second, while Ashton narrowly missed the top three, ending fourth just seven tenths away.

Race 1: early lead, solid points

Mitch grabbed the holeshot in Race 1 and controlled the opening laps in front of the home crowd, but he struggled to settle into a smooth rhythm. He later explained he felt he was slipping back into old habits, pushing too hard and losing time as a result.

Ashton started in fifth and worked forward with purpose. On lap three he moved into fourth and then defended that position to the finish, completing a strong and confident home-round result.

Race 2: reverse grid chaos and a late breakthrough

As always, the reverse-grid format delivered immediate action. Mitch charged aggressively, moving from sixth to third within a few sections. Ashton started tenth and found himself in a larger battle group, working through traffic to improve his position.

Mitch couldn’t quite match the pace of the rider ahead, but he created breathing room behind and maintained control of the race. Ashton also broke away from his direct rivals as the race progressed and finished strongly, securing valuable points.

Late in the race, Mitch stayed patient and tactical, focusing on clean riding and keeping pressure on the leaders. When a mistake happened ahead of him, he seized the opportunity, moved into second and held it to the chequered flag.

Race 3: strong starts and another podium push

In the final race, both GASGAS riders launched well and slotted into third and fourth positions early on. Mitch remained within striking distance of second place while Ashton stayed close, applying pressure and keeping the pace high.

Mitch gradually closed the gap to Jonny Walker in a tactical battle until a decisive mistake and crash opened the door. Mitch capitalised to take second again, while Ashton followed up with a solid fifth place, continuing his steady progress as his fitness returns.

Team momentum heading to the finale

X-GRIP Racing Team leaves Newcastle with another podium-level performance from Mitch and another step forward from Ashton as he builds back toward full strength after injury. The season finale takes place next week in France. While closing the points gap to second overall will be difficult, Mitch will head into the final round with one clear objective: fight until the final lap.

Foto: RadioPaddock, SportUP