The X-GRIP Racing Team kicked off the 2025 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship with a strong performance from the two talented British brothers Ashton and Mitch Brightmore at the “Valleys Hard Enduro” in Wales.
In hot and dusty conditions, the event kicked off with Qualifying to determine the starting positions. Ashton Brightmore delivered a confident and solid ride, placing 4th and securing a strong position for the following day. His older brother Mitch, despite a few mistakes during his run, impressively logged the 3rd fastest time.
The Knock-out Race, split into four groups, saw the best of 12 riders from each group progressing to the next stage. Unfortunately, Mitch suffered a small issue in the first round, leading to a DNF, so he was forced to retire early.
Ashton stepped up for the X-GRIP Racing Team, feeling right at home on his GASGAS, and dominated both preliminary heats with back-to-back wins. In the final round, Ashton held his own against the world’s best, finishing second behind multi-time world champion Manuel Lettenbichler in a thrilling performance.
Due to his earlier retirement in the Knock-out Race, Mitch had to start Sunday’s main event from the fourth row – an immense challenge given the dusty conditions.
Ashton, struggling with visibility issues, couldn’t gain essential ground on the race leaders. On the other hand, Mitch was working his way through the field, frustrated by his bad starting position.
A minor technical issue cost Ashton some time during the fuel stop, allowing Mitch to close the gap to his brother. After the stop, the pair rejoined the race nearly side-by-side and rode in close formation, pushing each other to the limit. They crossed the finish line separated by just two seconds, with Ashton narrowly claiming 5th place and Mitch securing 6th.
With this strong showing – finishing 5th and 6th respectively – the X-GRIP Racing Team has laid a solid foundation for the season ahead. Both riders are feeling confident and comfortable on their GASGAS bikes and are already gearing up for the next big event: the iconic Erzberg Rodeo, taking place on June 1st.
