X-GRIP Racing Team opens Austrian Enduro Championship with victory in Perchau

The 2026 Austrian Enduro Championship got underway in Perchau am Sattel, where the X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team made an immediate impact with Thomas Hecher and Valentino Hutter lining up for the opening round of the season.

Set in the iconic sand quarry, the race once again delivered a proper enduro challenge, with a near-vertical climb shortly after the start followed by a demanding mix of fast sections and tight singletrack.

Hecher wins on Saturday

Saturday’s program featured a classic two-hour mass-start enduro race, and both X-GRIP riders were quickly in the fight, running fourth and sixth in the early stages. Strong line choices on the notorious opening hill helped them close in on the leaders almost immediately.

As the race developed, Hutter began struggling with arm pump, allowing Hecher to move ahead and begin chasing the lead. Despite heavy dust and limited visibility, both riders maintained a strong pace while keeping the risks under control.

After a brief stop for hydration, Hecher continued to close the gap and eventually made the decisive move for the lead. From there, he pushed on to claim the race win and maximum points. Hutter fought through his difficulties to finish third and secure an important podium result.

Sprint race drama on Sunday

Sunday brought a different format, with a six-lap sprint race on the approximately eight-kilometre course in the Murau-Murtal region. Hecher started first, and an early three-way fight developed at the front, with the two X-GRIP teammates holding first and third.

Hecher was unable to fully break clear, while Hutter kept the gap under control behind him. The key moment came when Hecher crashed over a set of logs, dropping from the lead to second. He remounted quickly and managed to hold that position, narrowly keeping Hutter behind.

With valuable championship points on the line, both riders then chose a more calculated approach rather than forcing unnecessary risks. Hecher crossed the line second, while Hutter initially finished third.

Penalty changes Hutter’s result

After the race, Hutter was handed a time penalty after reportedly touching a course marker, which became partially entangled in his GASGAS. The decision dropped him from third to fifth in the final classification.

Even with that setback, the weekend still marked a highly successful start to the season for the X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team.

Strong opening statement for 2026

Hecher celebrated the team’s first victory of the year, while Hutter showed strong speed and podium potential throughout the weekend. Taken together, the results from Perchau send a clear message: both rider form and bike setup are already in a very good place heading into the rest of the 2026 campaign.