2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship
24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro
The Hard Enduro 2022 World Championship is almost here, with the 24MX Hixpania event this weekend to decide who wins the top title and crown.
It’s a two-horse race in the battle to win this year’s FIM Hard Enduro world championship, KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler is leading by four points over Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman. However, with the championship final taking place in Spain, Roman will use every available home advantage to beat Lettenbichler to win the title.
A favorite for many on the Hard Enduro circuit, the tranquil medieval town of Aguilar de Campoo is set to host an event that will test their world’s best riders.
Now in its sixth edition, The 5 Elements – the race organizers of the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro – have prepared three racing days for the final round of the championship.
Kicking things off in style on Friday, October 7th will be an action party. Friday morning, see 350 competitors stretch their legs with an easy round of training on Saturday’s Campoo Xtreme course.
This is followed at noon by the SuperEncierro qualifier at the Hixpania Village Endurocross track. Those who have won the world championship points are allowed to participate in the pre-qualification.
The fastest riders will then face the nighttime SuperEncierro opening on the main square of the Aguilar de Campoo. Competitors will face off against each other for a spot in the sixth final round.
Day two starts early with Campo Extreme Race. An experimental but fun loop will navigate competitors around the town’s lakeside. With many ramps increasing in difficulty for opponents, this will be a tough day for many. The top 50 riders (class 40 Knights, 5 classes of Archers and 5 classes of Squires) on Saturday will make it through to the ACERBIS Lost Roads finals on Sunday.
A multi-lap Hard Enduro race that promises to take riders through their tracks with rock climbs, giant stone steps and steep forest ravines. After two hours and thirty minutes on the ACERBIS Lost Roads, the competitors faced the final leg – Hixpania Hills. The first rider to finish first will be declared the winner of the eighth round and potentially become the 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Champion.
With the 2022 title chase all coming to the Hixpania Hard Enduro 24MX, Lettenbichler and Roman will decide this year’s championship outcome. Lettenbichler has an overwhelming advantage, leading Roman by four points. While victory will certainly be on the Germans’ minds, a runner-up finish to driver Sherco in Spain will still be enough to claim the title.
Roman will shoot for victory over Spain. The Spaniard is a former winner of the race and will be hoping home advantage propels him to the top of the podium once again, while also becoming the FIM Hard Enduro 2022 world champion. There’s nothing left to lose. , his goal should be to race for the win and hope Lettenbichler finish in third or below.
A multiple-time 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro winner, Jarvis Team Graham Jarvis finished third in the championship. While no longer in the belt wars, Jarvis could play an important role in Spain as he bids against Team Bulgaria supported by ECONT’s Teodor Kabakchiev to take the final step to the podium.
Sixth in the championship standings, Alfredo Gomez of AG Racing Team 89 is the racer that Lettenbichler and Roman both need to keep an eye on. The Spaniard has won the race convincingly in 2021 and, after a difficult season, hopes to end his 2022 campaign with another victory in Spain.
In what proved to be a competitive season, Gomez was tied with Michael Walkner and David Cyprian of GASGAS (KTM). With all three drivers promising a fifth-place finish on the final championship standings, there’s still plenty to play.
The inaugural FIM Junior World Cup will also be decided in round 8. Rigo Racing’s Matthew Green leads with an 11-point advantage over Rieju’s Mitchell Brightmore. Suff Sella of AG Racing Team 89 is two points behind third place. While the title looks in favor of Green, there are still three tough racing days ahead.
The eighth and final round of the 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship takes place at 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro in Aguilar de Campoo, Spain on October 7-9.
Provisional Championship Standings (After Round 7)
- Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 107 points *
- Mario Roman (Sherco) 103 points
- Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 82 points
- Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 72 points
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 62 points
- Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS) 57 points
- Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 57 points
- David Cyprian (KTM) 57 points
- Trystan Hart (KTM) 50 points
- Wade Young (Sherco) 46pts
- * Non-final points, pending final decision on objection to FIM
Interim World Cup Teen Rankings (After Round 3)
- Matthew Green (KTM) 60 points
- Mitchell Brightmore (Rieju) 49 points
- Suff Sella (KTM) 47 points
- Kacper Dudzic (GASGS) 34 points
- Robert Crayston (KTM) 24 points
- Marc Fernandez (GASGAS) 23 points
- Thomas Hecher (GASGAS) 19 points
- Lenny Geretzky (KTM) 17 points
- Ali Al Hiasat (KTM) 15 points
