2025 Hard Enduro World Championship season is go – Graham Jarvis confirmed for Valleys Hard Enduro, round one this weekend in Wales. 

After what feels like a long winter of discontent, the leading Hard Enduro riders in the world converge on a 7000 acre site in South Wales as the HEWC season jolts into life.

Topping the bill are the HEWC series contenders who had to adjust and readjust their ’25 racing programmes as the championship was first canned and then rescued by new promoters at the 11th hour – their first race weekend at the Valleys will give us and them a first taste.

Refresh on that here: 2025 Hard Enduro World Championship calendar is go – new promoters given green light

Grandad Graham Jarvis has added his considerable name to the entry list in the Pro classes which naturally includes world champion Mani Lettenbichler back to defend his crown in the Welsh mine and aiming for his fourth straight title.

Lettenbichler underwent some winter rehab on a injury sustained at the end of the 2024 season and begins his campaign with the least amount of racing under his belt when compared to his rivals.

Back too and also back in shape, Billy Bolt heads the charge of riders aiming to halt Letti’s dominance in what promises to be a great season. The Mani and Billy show has dominated the series since the WESS days and having them both fit at the same time is a positive for the new-look championship.

Mani Lettenbichler: “My pre-season went really well, especially given that I was out due to injury for quite a long time. 

“The team have worked really hard to make sure the bike is perfect, and I have put in the time to make sure I am at full fitness. I’m feeling super positive going into round one this weekend, and as always, my goal is to win races and claim another title.”

HEWC runner-up in 2024, Wade Young starts 2025 in better shape than 12 months ago. With some factory support on his Leader Tread GASGAS, Wade’s bike was very much in development at Valleys last year but progressed rapidly to put him second to Mani by the finish. We expect a more consitant challenge from the South African this year. 

Two podium riders at the ’24 Valleys, Teo Kabakchiev and Mario Roman are also late entries for the Sherco Factory team, since the championship was announced as back on. Their 2024 HEWC year didn’t pan out as we expected with Roman bringing so much experience and Kabakchiev the then new signing on the factory SE300. Like Wade Young, the Sherco boys need to put a more consistant season together. 

X-Grip Racing also bring a strong team led by their talisman, the Brightmore brothers. A career-changing move to the X-Grip team for the British riders bore fruit in the SuperEnduro Championship and we expect much of the same outdoors as Mitchell and Ashton step up again.  

And then there is the enigma, the GOAT some call him, Graham Jarvis. Surely reason enough for anyone to get themselves to Walters Arena this weekend and watch some racing. 

The 2025 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship kicks off with the Valleys Hard Enduro in the United Kingdom, then heads to the USA for Silver Kings in June. From there, the series returns to Europe for Abestone in Italy (TBC), Hixpania in Spain, and Sea to Sky in Turkey. Mani’s home race at GetzenRodeo lands in late October, with the Roof of Africa in Lesotho wrapping up the season in November.

Most the Pro riders are expected to race the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs which do not form part of the FIM World Championship.

2025 Valleys Hard Enduro Pro Class entry list: 

Valleys Hard Enduro schedule

The Valleys Hard Enduro is on May 10-11 and promises a festival of a weekend on the vast Walters Arena venue in South Wales. 

A bumper entry of British riders will join Pro and Championship classes and Experts, plus a good entry for the AM and Lite classes will serve up racing across two days.

Saturday sees the Valley’s X Lite race, plus Sunday AM and PM qualifying laps followed by a spectator-friendly knockout-style race in the evening next to the paddock, trade and food/drink areas.

Sunday’s racing includes a multi-lap AM race for amateurs using some of the same course (not all the hard stuff!). That’s followed by the main event which promises big prize money for the podium places and reward stretching back to 12th place.

Tickets: www.valleyshardenduro.com/spectator-tickets-2/

Entries: www.valleyshardenduro.com/register/

More information: www.valleyshardenduro.com

Photo Credit: KTM