The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship may be in its mid-season pause, but the world’s best hard enduro riders are doing anything but resting. From the jungles of Indonesia to the mountains of the Drakensburg, South Africa, HEWC riders are keeping themselves fit before the battle resumes in Sweden this August.
Roman Springs a Romaniacs Surprise
The biggest talking point of the week comes from Mario Roman. The Spaniard, currently fifth in the HEWC standings, will switch classes at the 2026 Romaniacs (July 28 – August 1), lining up in the fast-growing Adventure Ultimate category aboard a CFMOTO 450, as reported by Zona Enduro. Romaniacs is not part of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship and carries no championship points, but the legendary Sibiu event remains a proving ground where HEWC-calibre riders test themselves and Roman’s move underlines just how seriously the adventure-bike class is now being taken.
Jungle Duty and a Supersized TKO
Roman was also in action alongside championship leader Manuel Lettenbichler at Hiu Selatan, Indonesia’s jungle hard enduro, another non-championship event that drew a world-class entry.
Across the Atlantic, the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout, one of USA’s biggest hard enduros, again outside the HEWC calendar, has announced expanded racing and new classes for its 16th edition on August 29–30, per Enduro21 and Cycle News. With events of this quality flourishing worldwide, the global depth of the sport has never looked stronger.
The Championship Picture
When the racing that counts resumes, all eyes return to the title fight. Lettenbichler leads the championship on 88 points after wins at Alestrem and Extreme XL Lagares, but Mitch Brightmore’s victory at Silver Kings in Idaho closed the gap to just 13 points, with Teodor Kabakchiev lurking on 68. The German has BMT, but the young Briton has proven he can beat him straight up.
Next Stop: Sweden
Round 4, Forza Orza, brings the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship to Sweden for the first time on August 20–22, raw Scandinavian forest, rocks and endurance racing on home soil for Eddie Karlsson. With five rounds remaining and just 13 points splitting the top two, check the full championship standings and don’t miss a moment.