The latest round of the FIM Hard Enduro featured the anticipated battle between Mani Lettenbichler and Billy Bolt, with both riders‘ winning’ at the round. Mani won the main event but Billy scored more points, due to the other components, as in heats, qualifying etc that all register points. Confused? Don’ t be. Mani dominated the main event but winning the weekend by a single point was Mr Bolt. The truly epic battle enters a whole new level and both riders appear to be enjoying the contest more than ever. The quirky first round result just shows that to win the title, you will need to be super consistent getting to the main event and then pull out a no holds barred performance in the main event at each round, of which there are nine, to eke out the advantage and with the margins being super tight among the top rivals, 2026 looks like it will be the toughest in years. Both of these guys have held the title, both want it again. Who will win bragging rights at season’ s end?
KIWIS TAKE ON 100TH EDITION ISDE 2026
October 12-17 will be a massive week for a small and select bunch of Kiwi enduro riders. The teams are, drum roll please... NZ Club Team Riders. This is where Liam Ellis and James Purdie will do battle. NZ Junior Development Team, Thomas Easton, Ethan Jameson, Jayden McAloon and Dylan Huddlestone will take on the international competition here. NZ Junior Trophy Team, Bailey Basalaj, Blake Affleck and Ashton Whyte will add to their top tier credentials in this tough category. The NZ Women’ s Trophy Team, headed by new mum, Rachael Archer, who has won pretty much all there is to win and makes her return to the world stage. Alongside Archer are two talented racers, Charlotte Knight and Bailey Newbold. Bailey is stepping into the breach at just 15 years of age and going into the fray as one of the youngest rising stars in the field. Awesome, simply awesome to see this group travel to the 100th edition of the legendary event, this time being held in Portugal. Go well!