XROSS FIM HARD ENDURO- STAGE ONE SHOCKER, STAGE TWO MANI DOMINATES

BULGARIA’S TEODOR KABAKCHIEV WINS A STAGE ONE SHOCKER AT THE XROSS FIM HARD ENDURO

Bulgari’s Teo Kabakchiev has come up through the enduro ranks and is now one of racers to beat. He took his KTM 300 to a huge win at the XROSS Hard Enduro stage one.

Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev has claimed a historic debut stage win, securing victory on the first full day of competition at the Xross Hard Enduro Rally, round two of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. The Team Bulgaria powered by ECONT rider’s win marks not just a first for Kabakchiev in FIM Hard Enduro, but also a first for a Bulgarian competitor.

The first of three offroad days in the Serbian mountains, Kabakchiev took the Day One win ahead of GASGAS Factory Racing’s Michael Walkner, while KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler placed third. Fourth today, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt maintained his lead in the overall standings by just 58 seconds from Kabakchiev.

Teodor’s later starting time was a boon making navigation much easier and he had steadily increased his lead after the second checkpoint, with Walkner moving up to second. Finding his feet in his return to racing following a knee injury, Manuel Lettenbichler was on pace in third. By the third checkpoint the positions had changed again with Walkner now leading over Kabakchiev, while Bolt was regrouping fast in third.

Austria’s Michael Walkner took GasGas to second place on the tough to navigate Stage one.

In the final stretch Teodor overhauled Walkner on corrected time to come through for the Day One win. Walkner ended his day in second to keep the heavy hitters of Lettenbichler and Bolt at bay in third and fourth. A strong ride in the closing stages elevated Graham Jarvis (Jarvis Racing Husqvarna) to fifth.

Graham Jarvis finds a way to hang with the leaders, having an excellent ride on Stage two in third place.

Difficult day for Sherco’s Roman and Young

Despite a strong start to the event, day one didn’t end too well for Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman and Wade Young – both losing a lot of time to the leaders. Roman hit his foot on a tree stump early on and needed to grit his teeth to reach the finish. Young – who arrived to Serbia with a cut foot – aggravated the injury in a riverbed and then later hurt his back. With Roman almost 18 minutes behind Bolt and Young over 20 minutes, both hope for better days on Thursday.

In the overall standings it’s still Bolt who’s out front. But with just a 58-second advantage over a determined Kabakchiev, expect him to pull out the stops on day two. Walkner sits third overall.

DAY TWO- LETTENBICHLER STEAMROLLS, BOLT HITS THE WALL

Mani Lettenbichler stormed out of the hole on Stage two and won in dominate fashion. Photo Future7Media

Billy Bolt struggled on Stage two and is nearly nine minutes off the leaders pace. Photo Future7Media

Mani Lettenbichler’s first race after six months of rehab had the Factory KTM star blowing out into the lead on Stage two, navigated as solo and put on a pace that none could match. Lettenbichler won the day almost nine minutes clear of Wade Young (fighting through a bad back), Graham Jarvis and Teo Kabakchiev.

Billy Bolt, the overnight leader had a broken clutch master cylinder to deal with, making it tough to control his machine. The master cylinder had to be changed at the service point but his own energy levels were the big issue and Bolt who finished the day P7, 26 minutes behind Mani. Mario Roman had a tough ride hampered by a foot injury suffered on Stage one. He’s one hour off the pace.