Mitch Brightmore claimed his first victory in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship at the Silver Kings Hard Enduro after a nail-biting finale in Kellogg, Idaho. The GASGAS rider beat Trystan Hart by just 5.55 seconds after an intense battle that was decided in the final metres of the King Slayer hillclimb.

Round three of the championship took the series to North America, with three days of racing around Silver Mountain Resort. Jonny Walker kicked off the weekend with victory in Thursday’s prologue on his Triumph, while Trystan Hart dominated Friday’s demanding Big Mountain Race, a 30-kilometre course with more than 3,500 metres of elevation gain.

The decisive race came on Saturday with the Thunder Bowl Finale, a two-hour, six-lap final in which Brightmore, Hart and Manuel Lettenbichler broke away from the rest of the field. The trio were in a league of their own, swapping positions throughout the race before Brightmore made the decisive move on the final climb to take a hugely important win for the championship.

Hart finished second, with Lettenbichler completing the podium — a result that allows the German to retain the championship lead on 88 points. However, Brightmore has now reduced the gap and sits just 13 points behind the KTM rider. Teodor Kabakchiev finished fourth on the Sherco, with Ashton Brightmore completing the top five.

Results – 2026 Silver Kings Hard Enduro

1. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS), 6 laps
2. Trystan Hart (KTM), +5.55s
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM), +1:04.42
4. Teodor Kabakchiev (Sherco), +12:53.40
5. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS), +15:01.53

Standings – 2026 FIM HEWC (after round 3)

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM), 88 points
2. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS), 75 points
3. Teodor Kabakchiev (Sherco), 68 points
4. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS), 49 points
5. Mario Román (MR74), 48 points

With this result, the Hard Enduro World Championship tightens up ahead of the next round, the Forza Orza Hard Enduro in Sweden, on August 20–22.

Credit photos: KTM