2024 Hixpania Hard Enduro World Championship final round win for Billy Bolt, his first in two years ahead of Mario Roman as Mani Lettenbichler claims an emotional world title number four.

 

2024 Hixpania Hard Enduro main race in a nutshell:

  • In only his second event since returning from injury, Billy Bolt has dominated the Hixpania Hard Enduro main “El Camino Perdido” race with a start to finish victory.
  • Rain made the already slick rocks super-tricky to negotiate for the main event at this year's Hixpania, a short-ish lap “sprint” race. The multi-lap format suits Bolt more than the long, hard slogs and it is fair to say the Husqvarna factory rider looked back to his best with a fast pace in the early laps to establish a gap.
  • With a two-hour time limit before the final extreme section of the main quarry opened up, Bolt had established a lead and, after his fifth circuit, it was time to scale the final quarry hills. Without pressure of any rival, he was seven minutes clear of Mario Roman in second, Bill even had time for some showboating for the large crowd.
  • “I’m beyond words with this victory.” Said Billy. “To win here like this, means so much to me. It’s been a tough year with injury, and a long and difficult comeback to get to this point. I knew Sea To Sky was about getting back to racing, and I felt that if I rode like I could here, then winning was possible. All weekend I felt so good on the bike. Like my old self. Saturday went perfect, but Sunday was what it was really all about. I’ve lost out at this race in the past, so I knew how important the opening laps are here. I knew I had to stay in the fight in the early laps. I got tired in the middle of the race, but when the track started to clear out, I found my pace again and rode for the win. I’m so happy to have made it happen today.”
  • Claiming second in the race and third overall in the championship, Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman was a popular second rider to climb the final hill in front of the Spanish fans, despite the cold and wet weather.

 

  • Heading into the seventh and final round of the season with a 17-point advantage in the championship standings, the title was in easy reach of Lettenbichler who has basically won everything he has entered outdoors for the last two seasons.
  • Starting in the second row for Sunday’s main race after admitting his Sea to Sky wrist injury was pretty tough to ride with in qualifying, Lettenbichler climbed into second place before a costly (and painful) crash mid-race dropped him behind Roman and by his own account almost out of the race. 
  • Crossing the line in third place and with emotions you don’t usually see from the 26-year-old German, Mani claims his third consecutive HEWC crown and fourth in total after another dominant season.
  • “I’m so stoked to have won the championship for the third time in a row.” Said Lettenbichler. “And to get another podium is pretty cool after such a tough race! I had a massive crash in the middle of the race which hurt, so I’m glad to have had such a strong finish anyway. It’s been an incredible season with plenty of ups and downs, but it has all paid off in the end!”
  • Fourth place and backing up a very solid year (fourth at Erzberg, podium at Sea to Sky, day wins at Romaniacs and Xross), Graham Jarvis showed yet again there is plenty of life left in the old dog. When the going gets tough and all that. Graham was metronomic in his pace through the hardest of the rock sections and but for a better start position he could have challenged for the podium at least.
  • Wade Young was fifth and the first of the Pro class riders to not clock five laps, finishing ahead of the Brightmore brothers with the elder Mitch claiming sixth and the Junior World Championship title for the second consecutive year.
  • Fifth place was enough for Young to take second place in the HEWC standings, just one point ahead of Mario Roman it what has been a tight battle between the former teammates now the South African has formed his own team. 
  • Younger Brightmore brother Ashton was seventh ahead of Sherco’s Teo Kabakchiev who’s championship challenge faded in the final two rounds and concluded with eight place today. Matthew Green and Marc Riba complete the top 10.

HEWC Rnd 7, Hixpania Hard Enduro, results:  

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 5 laps, 2:08:55.93

2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 5 laps, 2:15:43.89

3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 5 laps, 2:25:35.65

4. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 5 laps, 2:35:51.34

5. Wade Young (GASGAS) 5 laps, 2:38:29.98

6. Mitch Brightmore (Husqvarna) 4 laps, 2:00:09.73

7. Ashton Brightmore (Husqvarna) 4 laps, 2:04:30.05

8. Teodor Kabakchiev (Sherco) 4 laps, 2:13:32.30

9. Matthew Green (KTM) 4 laps, 2:17:29.24

10. Marc Riba (KTM) 4 laps, 2:23:52.11

Final HEWC standings:

1. Manuel Lettenbichler 127pts

2. Wade Young 109

3. Mario Roman 108

4. Teodor Kabakchiev 92

5. Mitch Brightmore 79

6. Francesc Moret 63

7. Matthew Green 63

8. Alfredo Gomez 47

9. Billy Bolt 39

10. Marc Riba 39

 

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi