Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler and FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart have delivered another strong weekend of racing at round three of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, the Silver Kings Hard Enduro in Kellogg, Idaho, USA. Fresh from his record-equaling fifth consecutive victory at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo earlier this month, Lettenbichler continued his championship challenge with a strong ride to finish third, while Hart impressed with victory on Off-Road Day 1 and a hard-fought runner-up result in Sunday’s finale.
Hart immediately showed his speed by qualifying third in Thursday’s Super Kings Prologue before delivering a dominant performance on Friday’s Off-Road Day 1. The Canadian mastered the demanding mountain course to secure victory by over three minutes, establishing himself as one of the riders to beat for the remainder of the event.
In Sunday’s Thunder Bowl Finale, Hart was involved in an intense three-way battle for victory throughout the two-hour race. Running at the front for much of the contest, he entered the final King Slayer hillclimb in contention for the win and briefly reclaimed the lead near the finish. Ultimately forced to settle for second place by the narrowest of margins, Trystan completed an impressive weekend with a well-earned podium result.
For Lettenbichler, the weekend began with a difficult Super Kings Prologue where he recorded the 10th-fastest time. Undeterred by his starting position, Mani quickly worked his way forward during Friday’s Off-Road Day 1 race. Delivering a measured and consistent ride over the demanding five-hour mountain course, the German secured second place while opening up a substantial advantage over the chasing riders. The result earned valuable championship points and placed him firmly in contention heading into the final day.
Sunday’s Thunder Bowl Finale saw Mani immediately establish himself among the leaders. Locked in a thrilling battle with Trystan and eventual winner Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS), the three riders broke away from the rest of the field and exchanged positions throughout the race. The trio demonstrated a level of pace unmatched by the remainder of the field, with Mani remaining firmly in contention for victory until the closing stages. After two hours of intense racing and a dramatic final charge to the finish, Lettenbichler crossed the line in third, only seconds behind the leading duo in one of the closest hard enduro races of recent seasons.
The points earned across the weekend see Lettenbichler retain his lead in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship standings. With 27 points added to his tally at Silver Kings, the German now holds a 13-point advantage at the top of the championship as the series reaches its halfway point. The championship resumes on August 20-22 with the inaugural Forza Orza Hard Enduro in Sweden, marking the country's first-ever round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.
Manuel Lettenbichler: “I’m pretty happy with how the weekend went. I think Trystan [Hart], Mitch [Brightmore], and myself showed just how high the pace was because we were able to pull away from the rest of the field. It was probably one of the closest races we’ve had in the last few years, and those kinds of battles are what make racing so enjoyable. The course was really good and I felt like I gave everything I had. There wasn’t much more I could have done, so I’m happy to take the points and keep hold of the championship lead heading into the next round.”
Trystan Hart: “It was a really cool race and a great battle all weekend. The three of us were fighting at the front for almost the entire race, trading positions and pushing each other the whole time. I felt strong all day and was able to put myself in contention right until the finish. To come away with the win on Off-Road Day 1 and second place in the finale is something I can be proud of. Of course, it’s a little disappointing to miss the win so close to the line, but it was an awesome race and a lot of fun. We’ll take the positives and move on to the next one.”
Provisional Results – 2026 Silver Kings Hard Enduro
1. Mitch Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 6 laps
2. Trystan Hart (CAN), KTM, 6 laps +5:55
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 6 laps +1:04.42
4. Teodor Kabakchiev (BUL), Sherco, 6 laps +12:53.40
5. Ashton Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 6 laps +15:01.53
Provisional Standings – 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (after 3 of 8 rounds)
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 88 pts
2. Mitch Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 75 pts
3. Teodor Kabakchiev (BUL), Sherco, 68 pts
4. Ashton Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 49 pts
5. Mario Roman (ESP), Husqvarna, 48 pts