X-GRIP Racing Team Opens 2026 in Style at Šentvid Cross Country

The X-GRIP Racing Team kicked off its 2026 pre-season campaign with a strong performance at the Enduro Cross Country in Šentvid, Slovenia, where both Valentino Hutter and new signing Tomas Hecher showed impressive pace in their first race outing of the year.

Held in a Cross Country format, the event featured two 90-minute races with only a 15-minute break between them, making fitness, focus, and energy management just as important as outright speed.

Hecher takes control from the start

In the opening race, Tomas Hecher wasted no time showing what he could do in X-GRIP colors. After a strong start, the new team rider moved into the lead early and quickly settled into a clean, mistake-free rhythm. Lap after lap, he built his advantage and eventually secured the win with a commanding 40-second gap over the field.

Hutter fights through arm pump

On the other side of the garage, Valentino Hutter had a more difficult start to the day. The young GASGAS rider struggled with arm pump in the early phase of race one and looked slightly tense over the opening laps. But as the race went on, he found his flow, raised his pace significantly, and even set the fastest lap of the race and of the day.

Race two delivers an X-GRIP showdown

The second race brought even more excitement. Hecher once again launched aggressively and grabbed the lead immediately, but this time Hutter was right there with him from the start.

Looking far more relaxed and confident, the Styrian rider stayed glued to his teammate throughout the full 90 minutes. The crowd was treated to a close but fair battle for the lead, with multiple overtakes and constant pressure at the front.

In the end, Hecher managed to hold firm and stretch the gap slightly in the closing stages, taking his second win of the day. Hutter followed him home in second after matching the pace for most of the race.

Perfect beginning to the season

For Valentino Hutter, the race delivered valuable early-season mileage and another strong step forward in preparation for the upcoming Austrian Enduro Championship.

For Tomas Hecher, it was the ideal debut. Winning overall in his first appearance for the X-GRIP Racing Team made for a perfect introduction and an encouraging start to 2026.