Silver Kings 2026: Brightmore Wins the War, Hart Takes Second, Lettenbichler Keeps the HEWC Lead

Round 3 of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship took the riders to Kellogg, Idaho, for the Silver Kings Hard Enduro — and this one turned into a proper battle at the front.

Fresh from his record-equalling fifth straight win at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, Manuel Lettenbichler arrived in the USA with the championship lead and plenty of momentum. But on American soil, things were anything but easy. The weekend delivered tight racing, high pace, and a final-day fight between Mitch Brightmore, Trystan Hart, and Lettenbichler that went down as one of the closest hard enduro battles in recent seasons.

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Hart Starts Strong in Idaho

Trystan Hart wasted no time showing his speed. The Canadian qualified third in Thursday’s Super Kings Prologue, then turned up the heat on Friday’s Off-Road Day 1.

On the demanding mountain course, Hart looked right at home. He controlled the day and took the win by more than three minutes, putting himself firmly in the conversation for the overall victory.

Lettenbichler, meanwhile, had work to do after a tough prologue, where he posted only the 10th-fastest time. But Mani being Mani, he didn’t panic. During Friday’s five-hour mountain race, he worked his way forward with a smart and consistent ride, finishing second and grabbing important championship points.

Thunder Bowl Finale: Three Riders, One Brutal Fight

Sunday’s Thunder Bowl Finale was where the real show happened.

Over two hours of hard racing, Hart, Lettenbichler, and eventual winner Mitch Brightmore broke away from the rest of the field and turned the race into a three-man war. The lead changed hands multiple times, with all three riders pushing the pace and keeping each other under pressure until the very end.

Hart spent much of the race fighting at the front and entered the final King Slayer hillclimb still in the hunt for victory. He even briefly reclaimed the lead near the finish, but in the end, Brightmore had just enough to take the win.

Hart crossed the line second after an impressive weekend, while Lettenbichler finished third, only seconds behind the front duo after giving everything he had.

Lettenbichler Still Leads the Championship

Even without the win, Lettenbichler leaves Idaho still leading the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. With 27 points added to his tally at Silver Kings, the German now holds a 13-point advantage at the top of the standings as the championship reaches the halfway point.

The next stop is the inaugural Forza Orza Hard Enduro in Sweden, scheduled for August 20-22, marking the country’s first-ever round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

Manuel Lettenbichler

“I’m pretty happy with how the weekend went. I think Trystan [Hart], Mitch [Brightmore], and myself showed just how high the pace was because we were able to pull away from the rest of the field. It was probably one of the closest races we’ve had in the last few years, and those kinds of battles are what make racing so enjoyable. The course was really good and I felt like I gave everything I had. There wasn’t much more I could have done, so I’m happy to take the points and keep hold of the championship lead heading into the next round.”

Trystan Hart

“It was a really cool race and a great battle all weekend. The three of us were fighting at the front for almost the entire race, trading positions and pushing each other the whole time. I felt strong all day and was able to put myself in contention right until the finish. To come away with the win on Off-Road Day 1 and second place in the finale is something I can be proud of. Of course, it’s a little disappointing to miss the win so close to the line, but it was an awesome race and a lot of fun. We’ll take the positives and move on to the next one.”

Provisional Results – 2026 Silver Kings Hard Enduro

1. Mitch Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS – 6 laps
2. Trystan Hart (CAN), KTM – 6 laps +5:55
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM – 6 laps +1:04.42
4. Teodor Kabakchiev (BUL), Sherco – 6 laps +12:53.40
5. Ashton Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS – 6 laps +15:01.53

Provisional Standings – 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship

After 3 of 8 rounds:

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM – 88 pts
2. Mitch Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS – 75 pts
3. Teodor Kabakchiev (BUL), Sherco – 68 pts
4. Ashton Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS – 49 pts
5. Mario Roman (ESP), Husqvarna – 48 pts