After three thrilling rounds across France, Portugal and the United States, the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship has reached its summer break at a fascinating crossroads. Manuel Lettenbichler holds the championship lead, but Mitch Brightmore’s stunning Silver Kings victory has tightened the battle considerably — and with five rounds still to run, the title is very much anyone’s to take.
Championship Standings After Three Rounds
Germany’s Lettenbichler (KTM) sits atop the 2026 standings on 88 points, but his advantage over Brightmore has been trimmed to just 13 points following the Idaho showdown in June. Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev completes the top three on 68 points for Sherco, with Ashton Brightmore (49 pts) and Mario Román (48 pts) ensuring that the top five is separated by a margin that could easily shift at a single round. Billy Bolt, who led early in the season, sits sixth on 44 points after failing to score at Silver Kings due to injury.
Silver Kings — A Race That Changed Everything
The turning point came at Round 3 in Kellogg, Idaho, June 18–20. Even though Jonny Walker (Triumph) claimed prologue honours and Trystan Hart (KTM) dominated Friday’s gruelling 30-kilometre Big Mountain Race with 3,500 metres of climbing they were not registered HEWC contenders and so Mitch took 3 points on Thursday and Manny took the maximum 10 points on Friday. However, Saturday’s Thunder Bowl Finale was where the championship picture shifted. Brightmore, Hart and Lettenbichler broke clear of a world-class field across six punishing laps of Silver Mountain Resort. The race came down to the final King Slayer hillclimb, where Brightmore made the decisive move to claim his first career HEWC victory, beating Hart by just 5.55 seconds. Lettenbichler’s third place preserved the championship lead, but the German will know the gap is no longer comfortable.
Romaniacs Beckons Before the Break Is Over
Before the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship resumes, the hard enduro world turns its attention to Sibiu, Romania. Red Bull Romaniacs, one of the most prestigious hard enduro events on the global calendar, running outside the HEWC, takes place July 28 to August 1, and a strong contingent of championship riders are expected to tackle its legendary four-day off-road stages. Romaniacs does not carry HEWC points, but for the sport’s elite, performing well at an event of this calibre is never just a training exercise. It will offer fans an early glimpse of where championship form stands heading into the second half of the season.
Next HEWC Round: Forza Orza, Sweden — August 20–22
The next round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship is Forza Orza, taking place August 20–22 in Orsa, Sweden. It will be the first time Sweden has hosted a HEWC round, a milestone for the championship and for Scandinavian hard enduro. The raw forests, granite slabs and endurance-focused format of Forza Orza are expected to produce one of the most distinctive races of the season. With Lettenbichler’s lead reduced to its slimmest margin of the year and Brightmore riding the crest of his Idaho victory, Round 4 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the 2026 title race.
Stay up to date with all the action via the official championship standings, and mark August 20–22 in your calendar for what promises to be a landmark event in hard enduro history.