Trystan Hart wins Red Bull TKO Hard Enduro in 2022

news7g08/15/2022

14 4 minutes read

Red Bull TKO 2022
FIM Hard Enduro World Championship

Trystan Hart led KTM 1-2 at the Red Bull TKO Hard Enduro 2022, proving unstoppable at the Test Training Center in Sequatchie, Tennessee, USA. Hart won all of the knock-out style races, before taking the final win, giving Red Bull TKO its first win for the FIM Hard Enduro.

Manuel Lettenbichler of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing offered Hart his closest challenge, but couldn’t stop the Canadian from taking the lead to win. With Lettenbichler finishing in second place, Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman finished in third.

Following Thursday’s excitement in nearby Nashville for the Nashville Pro Straight Rhythm, won by Alfredo Gomez of AG Racing 89, the world’s best Hard Enduro riders got into business for lap six at the Trial Training Center Test for Red Bull TKO.

Through a series of knockout races, the fastest drivers advanced to a final lap that lasted 30 minutes plus one lap. Eager to build on his third and fourth results from rounds three and five, Hart was fired for Red Bull TKO.

The morning qualifier to determine the starting position for the first of the two Knockout Races will quickly set the tone for the rest of the day. Lying down on a blazing hot lap, Hart fired a shot warning his opponents that he was ready for the fight.

In the opening Knockout race, Hart comfortably led the time table by a minute ahead of GASGAS Factory Racing’s Taddy Blazusiak in second. The Bulgarian team supported by ECONT Teodor Kabakchiev trailed in third, while Lettenbichler finished two minutes behind Hart in fourth.

With the majority of the top drivers making it through the first Knockout Race unharmed, pressure mounts for the Knockout 2 Race with only the top 20 riders offered a spot in the ‘winners’ final. win’. Hart once again topped the timesheet, this time finishing one minute and 35 seconds ahead of Roman in second, and Kabakchiev over one minute and 21 seconds in third.

All eyes are on the 30-minute plus one-round final to see if Hart can pull off a clean sweep on North American soil and claim his debut win at the FIM Hard Enduro. Urged on by the audience, he did not disappoint.

Fast forward, he never looked back. Looking more and more comfortable in the rocky riverbed with each passing lap, he gradually increased his lead. Setting the fastest lap of the race to end the perfect day, Hart crossed the finish line like a well-deserved and well-deserved winner.

Struggling to finish second, Lettenbichler had no answer for Hart in Tennessee and had to settle for a runner-up result – mirroring his Red Bull TKO results from 2021. In the overall championship standings possibly, he’s currently number one in leader Roman’s opinion.

However, once again proving himself to be a model of consistency in 2022, Roman claimed another result on the podium with a third place finish.

Returning to activity after a recent injury, Wade Young (Sherco) had a solid race for fourth place. Kabakchiev finished the top 5. A strong performance by Ryder Leblond (KTM) gave the Americans the lead over Alfredo Gomez in sixth place.

The first GASGAS finisher at the Red Bull TKO was Alfredo Gomez of Spain, who had a strong run through the knockouts and finished seventh in the final.

Also having a strong run so far, the final Knockout race saw Taddy lack the cycling time to catch up with him in the pay-out sprint. Pushing to the finish line and knowing he was making positive progress throughout the day, the 11th place result was definitely his last.

Trystan Hart – P1

“I had a little bit of pressure going into the final because I won every round and I just wanted to keep that momentum going. It feels great to win. This championship is very competitive, so I am humbled to be there with the best of them. It was a great day, I cannot thank the team and the fans for their support. It’s great to have my fans cheering for me like that! “

Trystan Hart leads KTM 1-2 with runner-up Manuel Lettenbichler, third Mario Roman

Manuel Lettenbichler – P2

“From today’s first qualifying round, I’ve struggled really badly and knew it was going to be a really tough event for me. I’m having a leg injury, and on the downhills here, it’s very difficult to control the rear brake. I just try to manage each race as they come and do my best. But Trystan played great today, so he’ll take his hat off first. I’m really happy to be second and close to Mario at the top of the championship, with just one point in that, there’s still everything to play.“

Mario Roman – P3

“I’m happy to end up on the podium here. This format is very intense and you have to put in a lot of effort with each round. Stepping on the podium is also important for the championship. It’s close, but we’re getting to the end of the season, so I just have to try and keep fighting as hard as I can for this title.“

Taddy Blazusiak – P11

“Overall Red Bull TKO has been really positive. Everything was going well until the final when I had no seat due to injury. Until then, I feel great on the bike and my speed is good, so I’m really happy about that. I just need more cycling time to build up my fitness and that will make things easier. It’s certainly not the result I’m looking for, but the bigger picture is that my speed is on the right track. We have two weeks until the next day and I will ride as much as I can before we go to Canada. “