Mitch Brightmore Delivers Podium Performance at Abestone Hard Enduro 2025

Round three of the 2025 Hard Enduro World Championship – Abestone Hard Enduro dropped riders into the Italian mountains straddling Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. Known for its brutal terrain and the infamous X-Loop, the Abestone Hard Enduro once again proved why it’s one of the most iconic stops on the calendar.

The X-GRIP Racing Team entered the weekend with Mitch Brightmore carrying their hopes. Despite a few hiccups with his protective gear, Mitch put in a strong P6 qualifying time on Saturday. Later that day in the one-hour Sprint Race, he showed his form, battling with Mario Román and bringing home P4—a perfect springboard for Sunday’s main event.

Sunday Showdown

The Gold Class Final pushed riders to their limits: a punishing 5-kilometre loop, repeated for up to 2.5 hours, finishing with the notorious X-Loop inside the ski resort. Mitch settled into a solid rhythm early, riding smart, keeping mistakes to a minimum, and holding steady pace as the clock ticked on.

His composure paid off. When the dust cleared, Brightmore powered his GASGAS to 3rd place overall, marking one of his strongest World Championship performances to date.

The young Brit was quick to credit the effort behind the scenes, praising his crew:

“Gerhard and Christian did a fantastic job in the pits. This podium is for the whole team.”

Eyes on Spain

With this result, X-GRIP Racing and Brightmore walk away from Abestone buzzing with confidence, and all eyes now turn to the next World Championship round in Spain in two weeks’ time.