MANUEL LETTENBICHLER SECURES SECOND OVERALL AT ROOF OF AFRICA TO CLOSE OUT HIS 2025 TITLE-WINNING SEASON

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler has finished second overall at the Roof of Africa in Lesotho, bringing his 2025 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship season to a strong close at the final round of this year’s series. Arriving as the newly crowned 2025 world champion after securing the title one round early at his home race in Germany, the KTM 300 EXC rider delivered three consistent days of racing to round out another exceptional year in hard enduro.

The event opened with Thursday’s Time Trial, where Lettenbichler set the second-fastest time on the two-lap course to secure a favorable start position for Friday. Day two proved more challenging, with the German ultimately placing 10th overall on the demanding Lesotho terrain heading into Saturday’s decisive final day of racing.

Saturday saw Mani return to form, completing the grueling five-hours in second place. Less than one minute separated him from the day’s fastest rider after an intense battle across rocky climbs, riverbeds, and high-mountain passes. With overall results decided on accumulated times across all three days, the Red Bull KTM rider concluded the weekend second overall, wrapping up the Roof of Africa on a high note.

Lettenbichler’s result in Lesotho closes out another outstanding season for the German rider, who successfully defended his FIM Hard Enduro World Championship title to become a five-time world champion. Next up for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is the opening round of the 2026 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, which takes place in Gliwice, Poland on December 13.

Manuel Lettenbichler: “That’s the 2025 season done! The first two days here at Roof of Africa were pretty mixed, I was second in the Time Trial and then 10th yesterday, so I knew I needed to make up time on the final day. The terrain this morning suited me a lot more and I was able to pull a bit of a gap, especially to a lot of the South African guys who did really well yesterday. After the first service check, though, it was quite technical and tiring which made it tougher. From then on, a couple of us rode to the finish together which was fun. It’s cool to finish the season at a great race and of course it felt good coming into this with the world title already wrapped up.”

Provisional Results – 2025 Roof of Africa
1. James Moore (RSA), KTM, 10:42:08
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 10:44:00 +1:52
3. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 10:48:00 +5:52
4. Mario Roman (ESP), Sherco, 10:49:01 +6:53
5. Mitch Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 10:50:17

Provisional Standings – 2025 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (after 7 of 7 rounds)
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 199pts
2. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 153pts
3. Mitch Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 142pts
4. Mario Roman (ESP), Sherco, 131pts
5. Wade Young (RSA), GASGAS, 97pts

KTM NEWS

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING SIGNS RYDER DIFRANCESCO AND DAXTON BENNICK

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has signed Ryder DiFrancesco and Daxton Bennick ahead of the 2027 SMX World Championship season, joining an expanded four-rider 250 program alongside Julien Beaumer and Sacha Coenen. The new-look roster will compete aboard KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION machinery across the AMA Supercross Championship, Pro Motocross Championship, and SMX Finals post-season, further strengthening KTM's READY TO RACE commitment to the next generation of 250 class talent. DiFrancesco, 21, joins Red Bull KTM Factory Racing following a breakout 2026 season, finishing runner-up in the 250SMX World Championship, fifth in 250MX, and fourth in the 250SX Western Division standings. The Californian earned his first-career 250SX podium at Anaheim 1 and carried that momentum into the outdoors and playoffs with a collection of podium results, firmly establishing himself as a title challenger into the future. Ryder DiFrancesco: "I'm super-excited to be joining Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. It's been one of the top-tier teams in the paddock since I can remember, so it's going to be a cool feeling being on the orange bike in 2027 – it only grows the confidence in myself and the team. The next thing to do now is to go out there and win. I'm excited, and the season can't come soon enough." Bennick, 20, is another exciting addition to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing effort after a strong 2026 campaign that saw him claim third in the 250SX East standings and secure his first 250SMX podium at SMX Playoff 1 in Columbus. The North Carolina native has continued to progress through the professional ranks since his highly-successful amateur career as part of the KTM Orange Brigade and will enter 2027 targeting title success. Daxton Bennick: "I'm so excited to be on the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team next year. It's always been a dream of mine, so it's a super-cool and surreal moment for me. There are a lot of familiar faces on the team and also some new ones, and I think we're going to make a really good combination and go after the championships – I'm ready to get to work." The arrival of DiFrancesco and Bennick coincides with a significant expansion of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's 250 program, which will also feature Beaumer and incoming Belgian standout Coenen. Beaumer, 20, will return for his fourth season with the team after recently extending his contract through 2027 and beyond, while 19-year-old Coenen arrives from the MX2 World Championship following a Grand Prix campaign that saw him finish third in the 2026 standings. Nathan Ramsey, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 Team Manager: "What an incredible opportunity to be a part of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2027 and beyond. I will be managing the 250 race team, alongside of Ian and his crew on the 450 side. I believe this expansion and structure for the complete Red Bull KTM program is very strong and I look forward to having an unbelievable season. I couldn’t be happier to add Dax and Ryder to the team! They both had very strong seasons in 2026 and should absolutely be in the championship conversation in 2027. Dax and Ryder alongside Juju and Sacha make up a very young and extremely strong Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 effort for 2027! I am honored to be a part of this group moving forward and can’t wait to see what the future holds." Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Team Manager: "We are incredibly excited to introduce our strengthened Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 program, which will debut in 2027 with a four-rider lineup equipped with KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION machinery. KTM has enjoyed significant success in the category for many years, and this next step further underlines the brand’s READY TO RACE commitment into the future." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s expanded 250 program will make its competitive debut at the opening round of the 2027 AMA Supercross Championship in Anaheim, California, on January 9, marking an exciting renewed chapter for the Austrian manufacturer's presence in U.S. competition alongside its factory 450 team of reigning SMX World Champion Jorge Prado and new recruit Lucas Coenen.