Mitch Brightmore Crowned Silver King 2026 as X-GRIP GASGAS Takes the Throne in Idaho

The mountains above the beautiful Silver Mountain Resort in Idaho, USA, delivered the perfect stage for one of the biggest moments in the young careers of the X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team riders, Mitch and Ashton Brightmore.

At the Silver Kings Hard Enduro, the British brothers put on a show across three intense days of racing, with Mitch claiming his first-ever Hard Enduro World Championship victory and Ashton confirming once again why he is one of the strongest young riders in the paddock.

Prologue: Tight Times and Early Drama

The event started with a short but intense SuperEnduro-style course, around 40 seconds long, packed with Supercross-type obstacles. For qualifying, riders had two laps, with the fastest one counting.

The battle at the front was extremely close. Mitch Brightmore missed out on the top spot by just seven-tenths of a second and qualified second. His younger brother Ashton Brightmore did not have a perfect run, but still managed to secure sixth place.

In the Prologue race, Ashton launched perfectly and immediately moved into second position, keeping the leader under pressure. Behind him, Canadian factory rider Trystan Hart was pushing hard, with Mitch charging in fourth.

As the leaders hit lapped traffic, things got messy. Walker managed to build a small gap at the front, while a three-way fight for second exploded behind him. Hart hesitated briefly, and Mitch jumped on the opportunity to move into third.

Not long after, Ashton was blocked by a slower rider. He had to slow down and was passed by both Mitch and Hart. The order stayed the same to the finish, with Mitch taking second and Ashton finishing fourth in the Prologue.

Off-Road Day: From Creeks to the Summit

The first off-road day sent riders through 12 checkpoints, with the course stretching from muddy creek beds to steep rocky climbs, all the way from the valley to the summit.

Mitch came out swinging and grabbed the lead immediately after the start. Ashton also started strong and settled into third, right behind the leading duo. But hard enduro never lets things stay simple for long.

Ashton lost valuable time in a muddy stream section, dropping several positions. Mitch also had to give up ground due to a small technical issue. After quick adjustments to their bikes, both X-GRIP GASGAS riders were back on the attack.

Just under two hours after the start, the day winner reached the summit. Twelve minutes later, Mitch arrived in a strong third place, with Ashton right behind him in fourth. The team was still very much in the game heading into the final day.

Gold Thunder Bowl Final: Mitch Goes Full Attack

For Saturday’s main event, the Gold Thunder Bowl Final, it was full attack mode. Both X-GRIP GASGAS riders got off the line perfectly, and the top five immediately turned the race into a proper battle for the lead. Ashton sat fifth at the back of the front group, while Mitch took control at the front.

Mitch pushed the pace hard and managed to increase the rhythm even further. Only two riders were able to stay with him, turning the race into a fight between the X-GRIP GASGAS ace and two factory riders.

While Mitch was battling for the win, Ashton had his own fight. A rocky off-camber section gave him trouble, and he only managed to clear it on his second attempt, losing one position in the process.

After seven brutal laps through some of the toughest terrain of the weekend, the leaders arrived at the final big obstacle: the legendary King Slayer Hill.

The top three were separated by almost nothing before the final climb. But when it mattered most, Mitch delivered. He conquered the steep hill in first place, sending the entire X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team into celebration mode.

Exhausted but overjoyed, Mitch Brightmore crossed the line as the new Silver King 2026, beating both factory riders and the rest of the field to claim the biggest win of his Hard Enduro career so far.

Ashton Brightmore Extends Junior Lead

Ashton completed a brilliant weekend for the team with a strong fifth-place finish in the main event. More importantly, he further extended his lead in the Junior World Championship standings, proving once again that the Brightmore name is becoming a serious problem for the rest of the field.

For the X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team, Silver Kings was a weekend to remember. Mitch grabbed his first Hard Enduro World Championship victory, Ashton delivered another solid performance, and the entire team proved that hard work, smart setup, and full commitment can beat factory power when it really counts.

Photo: Calafia Concepts, MACPhotos