THE WEEKLY FEED: HARD ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP KICKOFF •VIDEO: 2024 FACTORY HQV & KTM 300…TBI!

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Off-road legend Scot Harden has been posting some excellent photos and stories from his 
past desert racing exploits. This one is gnarly!

HARD ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE: LETTI RAGES!

Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) had racked up a 25-minute lead over Mario Roman (Sherco) in second and barring any mishaps had a comfortable cushion in hand as he looked to take the win. Mani had no intentions of slowing up and pushed hard eventually riding on to take a two minute and 37 second margin of victory on Offroad Day 3, the KTM rider ended the Xross Hard Enduro Rally as the winner for the second year running. Photo: Jonty Edmunds / Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler has claimed victory at the opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Serbia. Cementing a strong performance with victory on the third and final Off-road Day, Lettenbichler topped the overall Xross Hard Enduro Rally podium. Putting the finishes touches to a super-strong week of riding, Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman was second, while ECONT Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev grabbed the final step of the event’s outright podium.

Behind the top two, the outcome of the final step of the podium was turned on its head. After day two’s winning ride, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt had leap frogged from ninth to third and was eager for silverware. However, a string of problems early on ultimately ruined his chances of a top-three result and he dropped off the leaderboard. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM), GASGAS’ Michael Walkner and FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart were now all suddenly in the running for third.

The Bulgarian Kabakchiev was on a mission. Putting in arguably his best performance of the week, he topped numerous timed sectors to claim second on Offroad Day 3. Beating Hart and Walkner by over five minutes lifted him to third overall. Another strong ride for fourth saw Hart take fourth overall, while Walkner, who ended today in fifth, completed the top five in the overall classification.

For Sherco’s Mario Roman, his tactics for Day 3 were clear. Knowing that catching Mani in the overall classification would be a tall ask, the Spaniard rode to defend his runner-up position. Bunched together with his rivals for the majority of the day, Mario rarely put a foot out of place. Ending his day third, he more importantly finished the race second overall to Photo: Jonty Edmunds / Red Bull Content Pool

The Bulgarian Teo Kabakchiev was on a mission. Putting in arguably his best performance of the week, he topped numerous timed sectors to claim second on Off-road Day 3. Beating Hart and Walkner by over five minutes lifted him to third overall. Photo: Jonty Edmunds / Red Bull Content Pool

Trystan Hart dug deep on the brutal Serbian terrain. He overcame a drown out on day 1, and worked his way into a 3-way battle with Kabakchiev and Walkner ultimately finishing fourth overall. Photo: Predrag Vuckovic / Red Bull Content Pool

GasGas factory pilot Michael Walkner claws for traction on his way to fifth overall. Photo: Predrag Vuckovic / Red Bull Content Pool

Wade Young and Billy Bolt battle for position. Bolt had engine drama, knocking him out of contention. Photo: Predrag Vuckovic / Red Bull Content Pool

Graham Jarvis man handling the hostile environment on his TE300. Jarvis ended up 6th overall, over an hour behind Lettenbichler. Photo: Jonty Edmunds / Red Bull Content Pool

Alfredo Gomez and his Rieju struggled on day one. He finished behind Jarvis in 7th place. Photo: Jonty Edmunds / Red Bull Content Pool

FIRST LOOK AT THE 2024 FACTORY HQV•KTM TBI HARD ENDURO MACHINES

SOCIAL DISTORTION

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VIDEO JUKEBOX

Hard Enduro WorldChampionship- XROSS- In a word…brutal.

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WOLF: BACK IN THE DAY

This is late in the day at the Coalinga National Enduro in 2007. I’m KTM 300 mounted, the weather was nasty and the terrain on the brutal side. I remember getting lost in one section and riding it twice! That doesn’t bode well for your score. I ended up second in class and was pumped to finish!