The UK’s Mitch Brightmore made a last-minute pass on Canada’s Trystan Hart to win the Silver Kings FIM Hard Enduro in Kellogg, Idaho, June 18-21. It was the X-Grip GasGas rider’s first-ever FIM Hard Enduro overall win. Germany’s Mani Lettenbichler was just over one minute behind in third.
Photos by Calafia Concepts
The Silver Mountain Resort hosted more than 500 riders and three days of racing, culminating in one of the closest FIM Hard Enduro finishes ever. The three days kicked off on Thursday with a Prologue qualifying session on a man-made endurocross-style course, which the fastest rider completed in less than a minute. Triumph’s Jonny Walker set the fastest time of 38.46 seconds. That time set the starting positions for the next round of racing. Walker also won the nine-lap head-to-head SuperKings final on the same course, finishing ahead of Brightmore and Hart.
On Friday, the riders took on the Full Mountain Course, and Red Bull KTM’s Hart came out on top of a close battle with Lettenbichler. It took Hart one hour and 51 minutes to complete the course. Lettenbichler finished 2:46 behind. Brightmore was 12:01 back, followed by his younger brother Ashton (12:39 back from the winner). Sherco’s Teo Kabakchiev rounded out the top five, 12:55 behind.
In addition to the pro racing, over 500 amateur riders competed on a long course on Friday and Saturday, with more difficult sections added on the second day of racing. The total times for the two days determined the overall amateur results. Hawaii’s Makana Barger was the overall amateur and A-class winner with a combined time of two hours, 30 minutes and 45 seconds. South African Damon Garrel finished second, 13:27 behind, and another Hawaiian, Boogie Rivera rounded out the overall podium 13:42 behind the winner.
The Pro main event, called the Thunder Bowl Finale, was a multi-lap race on a course with lap times around 21 minutes for the fastest riders. The 42 riders blasted up the ski hill to start the race that looked more like a desert-race bomb run than a hard enduro. Hart completed the first lap in the lead with Lettenbichler close behind and Brightmore over a minute back. Lettenbichler took over the lead at the completion of lap two with Hart and Brightmore not far back in second and third. Despite the tight battle, Lettenbichler held the lead at the completion of laps three and four, but a difficult fifth lap dropped him back to third. Brightmore had taken over at the front with Hart second. The three riders held those spots through the completion of lap six. The riders started the final lap, which included the King Slayer hillclimb finish. The three riders battled closely with Hart passing Brightmore within sight of the finish arch only to have the GasGas rider make his own countermove to put himself back in front.
Brightmore crossed the finish line after two hours and 16 minutes of racing. Hart was about five seconds back. Lettenbichler was just over one minute behind the winner. Kabakchiev finished fourth on his Sherco, 12:53 behind. Ashton Brightmore finished fifth on his X-Grip GasGas.
Rockstar Husqvarna’s Ryder LeBlond finished sixth, 15:01 behind. Matthew Green was seventh on his KTM, 24:25 behind, and he was the last rider to complete six full laps and the final section.
Stark rider Eddie Karlsson, from Sweden, was credited with eighth. Italian Sherco rider Lorenzo Gandola earned ninth, and American Kawelo Huddy rounded out the top 10 on his Bullet Proof Designs KTM.
“We fought for that one,” Brightmore said via social media. “Buzzing with my riding—that one meant a lot to me. Thanks to the team and everyone involved.”
“It was a cool race and a great battle all weekend,” Hart said. “The three of us were fighting at the front for almost the entire race, trading positions and pushing each other the whole time. I felt strong all day and was able to put myself in contention right until the finish. To come away with the win on Off-Road day one and second place in the finale is something I can be proud of. Of course, it’s a little disappointing to miss the win so close to the line, but it was an awesome race and a lot of fun. We’ll take the positives and move on to the next one.”
“I’m pretty happy with how the weekend went,” Lettenbichler said. “I think Trystan, Mitch and myself showed just how high the pace was because we were able to pull away from the rest of the field. It was probably one of the closest races we’ve had in the last few years, and those kinds of battles are what make racing so enjoyable. The course was good, and I felt like I gave everything I had. There wasn’t much more I could have done, so I’m happy to take the points and keep hold of the championship lead heading into the next round.”
Lettenbichler maintained the FIM Hard Enduro Championship points lead with 88 points. Mitch Brightmore is second with 75 points, and Kabakchiev is third with 68 points.CN
2026 FIM Hard Enduro Round 3 Results
OVERALL (Top 5)
- Mitch Brightmore (GG) 02:16:41
- Trystan Hart (KTM) 02:16:47
- Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 02:17:45
- Teodor Kabakchiev (She) 02:29:34
- Ashton Brightmore (GG) 02:31:43
Click here to read the 2026 Silver Kings FIM Hard Enduro Story in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
