Manuel Lettenbichler excelled in the mud to win DAY1 in Serbia. Billy Bolt got a 43min PENALTY!

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler took a convincing win on the opening offroad day at round one of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Serbia. The defending world champion showed true class in wet and rainy conditions to end the first full day of racing at the Xross Hard Enduro Rally as the race leader.

Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman enjoyed a strong ride in the mud to finish second, while ECONT Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev completed the top three.

• Competitors faced a wet and rainy start to the Xross Hard Enduro Rally on day one
• Manuel Lettenbichler excelled in the mud to win
• Early pacesetter Billy Bolt dropped to 9th overall following a navigation error

Wet and rainy weather conditions were the order of the day. With nowhere to hide from the mud, it was a true-to-form tough day in the saddle for the world’s best Hard Enduro riders.

LETTENBICHLER OUT TO AN EARLY LEAD ON DAY ONE

With his win in yesterday’s prologue, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt was fast from the off and duly topped the opening timed sector. It wasn’t by much though, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler just two seconds behind in second. Lettenbichler took over the race lead with the fastest time on the second timed sector.

Increasing that advantage by nearly two minutes on the third timed sector, Lettenbichler was clearly in his element. With the day’s longest sector coming at checkpoint five, the KTM rider dipped inside the one-hour mark to pull away from his rivals. Pushing on he eventually topped the day by almost 13 minutes.

BILLY BOLT GETS a 43min PENALTY

What really happened? Unfortunately for Billy Bolt, the day was good, but not so good. In the end he came in the finish line 1st, puting 6min in front of Manuel. But looks like it was a navigational mistake, unintentional from Billy and that cost him a 43 min penalty. There are another

ROMAN PUTS IN SOLID RIDE FOR SECOND

Behind Lettenbichler, it was all change after the seventh timed sector. A navigation error by Bolt dropped him out of the running for second and opened the door for Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman to capitalise. Mistake-free for the remainder of the day, Roman was rewarded with a runner-up result for his efforts.

The battle for third was tight between ECONT Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev, GASGAS’ Michael Walkner, and Jarvis Magpul Racing’s Graham Jarvis. In the end, Kabakchiev edged out Walkner by just 30 seconds following over four hours of timed racing to take third. With Walkner having to settle for fourth on offroad day one, Jarvis completed the top five.

BRIGHTMORE BEST OF THE JUNIORS ON DAY ONE

Impressing in the difficult conditions, TTR Squadra Corse’s Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) was best of the FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship supported by KLIM riders. With the Brit finishing 10th overall today, he holds an almost 10 minute lead over Rigo Racing’s Matthew Green. Spain’s Marc Fernandez (AG RACING TEAM) lies third overall.

Results: Round 1 – Xross Hard Enduro Rally

[pdf-embedder url=”https://zonaenduro.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/03_OverallAfterDay1.pdf”]

Foto: Future7Media Andrea Belluschi