Mitch Brightmore has drawn first blood in Sweden, topping the prologue at Round 4 of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship and taking three points out of Manuel Lettenbichler's title lead in the process. The X-Grip GASGAS rider stopped the clock at 4:36,99 around the short, sharply technical loop laid out by Track Manager Mike Skinner — but the story of the session belonged, briefly and painfully, to a Swede.
Karlsson Sets the Standard, Then Loses It
With two laps run and only the faster of the pair counting, Eddie Karlsson threw down the marker first. His opening lap of 4:44,38 was the quickest of anyone in the field and put the home rider firmly in control on the Stark. The crowd at Orsa Grönklitt had exactly what they came for.
It did not survive lap two. Karlsson crashed on his second run, limping home in 5:46,32 — 25th fastest — and with no improvement banked, his opening effort was left to stand. It was still good enough for fourth overall, seven seconds off the win, but it was a result built on damage limitation rather than the one that had been sitting in his hands.
Brightmore Capitalises
Brightmore had been only sixth after lap one at 5:00,46, more than fifteen seconds adrift of Karlsson. His second run was a different animal entirely: 4:36,99, the fastest lap anyone managed all session, and a 3,41-second cushion over James Moore. The Beta rider's 4:40,40 gave AG Racing Beta second overall and top honours in the Junior class, with Ashton Brightmore completing the podium at 4:42,50 to make it two X-Grip GASGAS machines in the top three.
Championship leader Lettenbichler was fifth on 4:47,98 — a lap he set on his first run and could not beat on his second — leaving the Red Bull KTM rider outside the points on a day where three were on offer for the win. Teodor Kabakchiev took sixth, Billy Bolt seventh, and Mario Roman rounded out the top ten. Wade Young was 15th and Alfredo Gomez 19th.
What It Means for the Title
With prologue points paid three-two-one, Brightmore's win moves him to 78 points against Lettenbichler's 88. The gap is now ten, down from thirteen. Kabakchiev remains third on 68, Ashton Brightmore's single point lifts him to 50, and Moore's two see him climb the order.
Elsewhere, Damon Garrell led the Youth World Cup prologue from Kyle Gianotti and Sweden's Sebastian Brodin, while Roberto Matos headed James Stearns in the Senior World Cup.
The Real Test Starts Now
Skinner's prologue was deliberately brief and technical — a sprint, not a war of attrition. Sweden's forests, granite and root-strewn climbs are what decides this round, and that is where equipment from championship partners Plews Tyres, S3 Parts and Factory Links earns its keep across the days ahead. Event partner Gmoto joins the championship on for the Swedens first ever HEWC round.
Forza Orza runs through 22 August in Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, with the championship standings updated as results are confirmed. Round 5, the Abestone Hard Enduro in Italy, follows on 4–6 September.