After an intense day of racing across three action-packed knockout-style races, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler has been crowned Red Bull TKO champion at round five of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Tennessee, USA. Mani topped the timesheets in the third and final race ahead of Trystan Hart in second and Wade Young in third to extend his overall championship lead to nine points.
The action kicked off on Sunday morning with Knockout Race #1, where riders took on the long course at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie for the first time. The top 30 finishers would advance to Knockout Race #2. Making his intentions clear from the off, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Mani Lettenbichler claimed victory in the opening race and secured his spot in Knockout Race #2. However, Sherco Factory Racing’s Teodor Kabakchiev didn’t make it easy for the reigning world champion and fought for the win the entire race, ultimately finishing just four hundredths of a second behind Lettenbichler. In third was 2022 Red Bull TKO winner FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart, who used his experience to his advantage.
Narrowed down to the 30 fastest riders, Knockout Race #2 saw competitors set off onto the long course for the second time on Sunday in five groups of five or six, with the top four in each advancing to the third and final knockout race. It was Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev who topped the timesheets both overall and in his group, with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder LeBlond in second. Despite going fastest in his group, Mani Lettenbichler was forced to settle for third overall in Knockout Race #2, safe in the knowledge that the third and final race was the most important.
The final knockout race provided no shortage of exciting competition, with the fastest 20 riders tackling the pro short course in a 35-minute-plus-one-lap final race. With the 2024 Red Bull TKO crown on the line, Trystan Hart led from the start with every intention to add another TKO victory to his collection. Teammate Mani Lettenbichler had other ideas though, claiming the lead on lap two and maintaining it until a costly mistake on a hillclimb with just two laps to go allowed the Canadian to overtake him. The pair battled wheel-to-wheel until Mani regained the top spot on the final lap and managed to pull a five-second lead on his teammate to claim the victory in Tennessee.
Third overall was Red Bull Leader Tread’s Wade Young, who finished just over a minute behind the leading duo. As the second-fastest HEWC rider, the South African claimed 17 valuable championship points. Finishing fourth overall in Knockout Race #3, Teodor Kabakchiev rounded out the HEWC podium in third. In what has been a standout performance over the entire weekend, British youngster Ashton Brightmore put in an excellent ride to claim fifth overall.
Making it four wins from five starts in 2024 after being forced to miss round three due to injury, Mani extends his championship lead to nine points over second-placed Wade Young. The battle for third place is equally as exciting, with just two points separating Mario Roman and Teodor Kabakchiev who lie in third and fourth, respectively. With two rounds left to contest, it is still all to play for in the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.
Lettenbichler and Hart Battle for Victory
The Red Bull TKO was a tense affair, with Lettenbichler and Hart constantly pushing each other to the limit. The duo battled wheel-to-wheel over some of the most challenging obstacles on the course, with the lead changing hands several times throughout the race. Ultimately, it was Lettenbichler who prevailed, claiming his fourth victory of the season and extending his lead in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.
Lettenbichler and Hart's Post-Race Thoughts
After the race, Lettenbichler admitted that he was not feeling his best, having been sick the previous week. However, he managed to overcome his discomfort and pull off a stunning victory. "It's been an incredible battle here at Red Bull TKO. Trystan has been riding so well and he really pushed me today,” he said. "I haven't been feeling too good here – I got a little bit sick last week and I've been struggling to find my speed, especially in such an intense race and in the heat here in Tennessee. I had some good lines, and I was able to pass Trystan on the hill, so that set me up well. Other than that, I just tried to save some energy, but at the end, I was exhausted. I'm stoked to take another TKO win and happy that we have a reasonably chilled September now. My plan is to get a little rest before starting to get some training in for Sea to Sky."
Hart, meanwhile, was understandably disappointed to come so close to victory. "It was never going to be easy, but the race win was my goal here today, so I'm a little disappointed to come so close,” he said. "Mani is such a good rider and to beat him, you've got to be on point. I was just a little bit off all day – I didn't win the first race, and every year I've won here, I've won that first race. In the main event, I did almost everything perfect – I got the holeshot, held the lead, got it back when Mani passed me. We both made mistakes on the hills, they were really tricky, but I was the last one to make a mistake there and Mani got passed me. I tried everything but by that point, I had zero energy. I'm happy to finish second, of course, and I know I gave it my all, it's just tough to miss out by such a small margin. I'll be back next year to take that top step again."
What's Next for the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship?
The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship now heads to Turkey for the Sea to Sky event on October 10-12. The two-round finale will see the world's best hard enduro riders go head-to-head for the final time in 2024. With the championship lead still up for grabs, it promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the season.
