Red Bull KTM Factory Racing heads into the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship with reigning champion Manuel Lettenbichler, as the German looks to extend his dominance across the nine-round series. Alongside his championship campaign, Lettenbichler will also take on Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs – two of hard enduro’s most renowned standalone events – as he looks to maintain his winning form at the discipline’s toughest races.
Lettenbichler returns to defend his Hard Enduro World Championship crown and chase a fifth consecutive title aboard his trusted KTM 300 EXC. The five-time world champion has firmly established himself as the benchmark in the discipline, delivering another outstanding season in 2025 with four race wins and two podium finishes across the series to secure the title once again. Over the winter, Mani contested the 2026 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, finishing sixth overall despite missing two of the seven rounds, further underlining his versatility and strong form heading into the outdoor season.
The 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship kicks off with the Alestrem in France on April 17-19, followed by rounds in Portugal, the USA, Italy, Sweden, and a return to Italy, before heading to Lesotho and concluding with back-to-back events in Turkey and Spain in October. Alongside his championship campaign, Lettenbichler will also target success at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in June, where he aims to secure a fifth consecutive victory, and Red Bull Romaniacs in July, where he will be chasing a third straight win and sixth of his career, as he continues his pursuit of success at the very highest level of the sport.
Manuel Lettenbichler: “I’m feeling great coming into the 2026 Hard Enduro season, and to kick off with Alestrem is awesome, as it’s a race I’ve really enjoyed in the past. I’ve been really focused on my training over the past few weeks, and I am ready to get the outdoor season underway. It’s going to be an interesting and busy season with a nine-round world championship, as well as Romaniacs and Erzberg, so it’s an exciting year for the sport for sure. I’ve got my sights set on the title again, so I’ll give it my all from the first race to make that happen. I have a great team behind me and the bike is perfect, so I can’t wait to get started!”
Fabio Farioli – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Enduro Team Manager: “We’re going into 2026 in a really good place with Mani. Over the last few seasons he’s shown again and again that he’s the best in hard enduro, not just with his speed but also his consistency and mindset in the toughest races. Last year was another strong one for him, and after a busy winter in SuperEnduro, he’s coming into this season well prepared and motivated. The goal is clear: to fight for the title again. With Mani and the whole team behind him, we’re confident we can be competitive everywhere, both in the championship and at the big races like Erzberg and Romaniacs.”