Manuel Lettenbichler is chasing the next title

If anyone is currently setting the pace in hard enduro, it's Manuel Lettenbichler. The German enters the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship season as the defending champion – and the situation is clear: anything other than another title would be a surprise.

The scale of the scene

Lettenbichler hasn't just ridden his way to the top in recent years, he's firmly established himself there. Five world championship titles speak for themselves, and four race wins and two further podium finishes in the 2025 season underscore just how consistently high his level is. It's this combination of control, race intelligence, and physical strength that currently makes him unassailable in hard enduro.

The fact that he also competed in the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship during the winter fits the picture. Despite missing two races, he still managed sixth place in the overall standings – not a result that immediately stands out, but one that demonstrates his versatility. Indoor, outdoor, extreme racing: Lettenbichler performs in every environment.

A season start with character

The new season kicks off with the Alestrem in France – a race known for its brutal conditions and which also serves as a benchmark for the rest of the series. Afterwards, the series traverses several continents: Portugal, the USA, Italy, Sweden, Italy again, Lesotho, and a final double-header in Turkey and Spain.

Nine races, diverse terrain, constantly changing demands – precisely the environment in which it's decided who is truly complete. For Lettenbichler, it's less a question of speed than consistency. Avoiding mistakes becomes the key currency.

More than just a World Cup

What makes the 2026 season even more special: In addition to the World Championship, two of the most prestigious individual races are on the calendar.

At the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Lettenbichler starts with the goal of securing his fifth consecutive victory – a historic statement, should he succeed. Hardly any race embodies the DNA of hard enduro as much as the Erzberg: short distance, maximum difficulty, no second chances.

With the Red Bull Romaniacs A completely different challenge awaits a few weeks later. Multi-day, tactical, and grueling – and also on terrain where Lettenbichler has long since set the standard. He already has two consecutive victories here; a third would further cement his dominance.

Self-confidence as a constant

“I feel really good ahead of the season,” says Lettenbichler himself. He is particularly looking forward to the opening race in France; the preparation has been intensive, and the package of team and motorcycle is just right.

What's striking isn't so much what he says, but how he says it. No grand pathos, no exaggerated pronouncements – rather a sober clarity. The ambition is there, but it's not staged. That perfectly matches his presence on the bike.

The real challenge

Lettenbichler's biggest challenge in 2026 lies less in the competition than in maintaining consistency across an extremely packed schedule. The World Championship series, Erzberg, Romaniacs – physically and mentally, this is a limiting factor, even for a dominant rider.

But this is precisely where his strength lies. While other riders shine in isolated bursts, Lettenbichler delivers consistently over months. This ability to maintain his performance could once again be the decisive factor this season.

The situation is therefore clear: The defending champion starts not only as the favorite, but as the benchmark. And everything indicates that this will not change anytime soon.

KTM Tops Enduro GP

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia and Andrea Verona have made an outstanding start to the 2026 FIM EnduroGP World Championship, securing multiple wins and podium finishes at the opening round in Custonaci, Sicily. Garcia claimed the overall victory on day one plus a podium finish on day two, while Verona secured a superb runner-up result on day two at his home event. The team leaves Italy leading the EnduroGP, Enduro1, and Enduro2 standings after a highly competitive opening weekend.

Friday night’s Super Test provided the perfect start to the new season, with Garcia setting the benchmark to take the win aboard his KTM 250 EXC-F. Verona impressed on his debut EnduroGP appearance for the team, placing third overall and immediately putting himself among the frontrunners.

Garcia carried that momentum into Saturday’s racing, delivering a composed and confident performance to take control of the event from the opening lap. Winning four tests and placing inside the top three on a further four, the Spaniard led throughout the day to secure the overall victory by just under six seconds, while also claiming top honors in the Enduro1 class.

On Sunday, Garcia faced a tougher challenge, with a handful of small mistakes dropping him down the order early in the day. Regrouping well, he pushed hard through the final laps to climb back to third overall and claim his spot on the podium. Josep also delivered when it mattered in Enduro1, charging on the final lap to secure his second class win of the weekend.

Competing on home soil, Verona delivered a strong and consistent ride aboard his KTM 450 EXC-F to secure third overall on Saturday. Charging into contention early, the Italian set the pace with a third-place result on the opening lap and remained firmly in the fight throughout the day. Pushing hard on the last lap, Verona capped off his performance with a powerful final test to lock in a well-earned podium finish. In the Enduro2 category, Verona was dominant, controlling the class from start to finish to claim a convincing victory.

Verona built on that performance on Sunday with an impressive ride to second overall. Settling into a strong rhythm early on, he moved into podium contention by the end of lap two before delivering a standout final test to secure second place overall. At the same time, Andrea completed a clean sweep in Enduro2, taking his second class victory of the weekend and capping off a hugely successful home round.

After the opening round, Garcia leads the EnduroGP standings by three points over teammate Verona, while also heading the Enduro1 standings following his double class victory. Verona sits second overall and leads the Enduro2 championship by eight points, securing a 1-2 in the overall standings for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing after round one.

The 2026 FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round two at the GP of Spain in Oliana on May 1-3.

Josep Garcia: “The first race of the year is done and Saturday went perfectly. Today I was feeling really good, but I had a crash in the cross test where I twisted my ankle a little, and after that it was difficult to get back into my rhythm. Still, I’m happy to finish the day strong, take third overall, and secure another win in Enduro1. Leaving Italy with the overall lead is a great way to start the season, and I’m already looking forward to my home round in Spain.”

Andrea Verona: “We’ve completed the first weekend of the EnduroGP season, and it’s been really close from the first test to the last. Today I felt good on the bike and was able to improve compared to yesterday, making fewer mistakes and staying consistent throughout. The gaps were very tight, so I’m happy to come away with the Enduro2 win and second overall, just a few seconds from the victory. It’s a strong start to the season, and I’m looking forward to round two in Spain.

Eli & Jorge...What a Day!

Eli Tomac: “What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result! I was comfortable with my setup all day, so I’m just frustrated not only with the bad gate selection – I should have avoided the inside on the start – but also the crash. That bad start really put me in a tough spot from the get-go and I had my work cut out for me trying to make passes on such a slick, tight track. I lost a bunch of points today, but all I can do at this point is ride my best at the remaining rounds and let the chips fall where they may.”

Tomac then added on social media: “It’s been a tough month of racing. Really thought yesterday was going to be a turnaround, had an awesome qualifying and heat race and then all I did was make mistakes in the one that mattered.”

 

Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Spanish standout Prado recorded the fifth-fastest combined qualifying time – highlighted by P3 in the opening session – before powering to the holeshot and a third-place finish in 450SX Heat 2.

The 25-year-old ran up front during the early stages of the Main Event, crossing the line in third on Lap 1, and was contending for a podium position through the first half of the race. An incident around the midway point unfortunately dropped him outside the top 10, as Prado would go on to claim 13th position.

Jorge Prado: “It was a frustrating Main Event in Nashville. I felt good all day, and I’m just upset with myself that I wasn’t able to execute the plan I had in my head for the race. I knew I had to push hard – push it to the limit every lap – if I wanted to be on the podium. I feel I had what it took to be on the podium tonight, so I’m disappointed. My bike was good all day and good enough to be up there, so it’s frustrating to know that one mistake cost me what could have been a great night. But the positive is I’m here to learn this year, and learning every week is what I’m doing. I will regroup, keep putting in the work this week, and be even better next weekend.”

Lucas Coenen on a statement 1-1 ride in Riola!

Lucas Coenen might just be the fastest man on the planet right now after he went head-to-head with Jeffrey Herlings in the deep Riola sand and came out on top both times!

Coenen caught and passsed Herlings in race one to pull away to the win but Herlings was up for it in race two and kept Coenen in sign and within six seconds until the last ten minutes with third place 40 seconds back!

Herlings seemed to finally relent as Coenen got the gap to 12 seconds but then he went down and suddenly Herlings was back within striking distance and probably wishing he hadn’t eased off! At one point a resurgent Herlings got alongside Coenen but couldn’t quite make the pass as the two sand masters put on a clinic in the final few laps in a lesson in pure determination to win.

Coenen held on to make it a perfect day and maintain a 14 point lead over Herlings in the championship – if Herlings had found away past it would have been down to eight points!

An exhasted but happy Coenen said: “Yeah, we know the Bullet, (Herlings) but I made a gap and then I think he kind of relaxed and then somehow I was finding a better flow and like it (sand) grabs you so quick so I went on my ear and then didn’t breathe!

“I saw 84, I knew he was on my back and I said, ‘I can’t lose this one, I need to win it.’ I made a statement in the sand, so I’m so pumped! Thanks to the team, we worked really hard, I didn’t feel good at all in the warm-up so we made it happen and I’m so happy to win.:

It’s looking like Herlings v Coenen for the title with Vialle still lurking in the shadows but, right now, even Jeffrey Herlings is looking for a tiny bit more pace to beat Lucas Coenen for this title as the 18 year old sensation shows the world that he just might be in the conversation as the fastest rider in the world right now.

What a performance!

Supercross Penalties

As we've seen with the past few rounds, the AMA has ramped up its investigation into on-track incidents and potential infractions. For the 2026 Nashville Supercross, there was a total of 16 potential issues or infractions that were looked into from qualifying and race situations. A total of 7 of those instances received some form of penalty.

Here's the complete list and description of each decision from Race Direction.

---

Race Reviews that Resulted in Penalties

• 450 Heat 1 – RD reviewed contact between rider #719 (Friese) and #711 (Lane). No penalty was issued for the contact. However, rider #711 was reviewed for a track cut (after the contact) in section 7. It was determined he gained an advantage while off track. He received a 1-position penalty. 
• 250 LCQ – RD reviewed rider #140 (Buccheri) for a track cut at the start of the race. It was determined he gained an advantage and multiple positions while off track. He received a 12-position penalty (11 positions gained, plus one for the offense).
• 250 LCQ – RD reviewed rider #188 (Hudson) for a track cut at the start of the race. It was determined he gained an advantage and multiple positions while off track. He received a 3-position penalty (2 positions gained, plus one for the offense).
• 250 Main – RD reviewed rider #10 (Hammaker) for a track cut after crashing in a corner. It was determined he gained an advantage and a position while off track. He received a 2-position penalty (1 position gained, plus one for the offense). Hammaker moved from 3rd to 5th overall.
• 250 Main – RD reviewed a series of red cross flag/red light violations. Riders #87 (Hand), #105 (Phelps), #296 (Floyd), #35 (Adams), and #101 (Clout) each received a 5 championship point penalty along with a deduction of 2 purse positions for jumping under red cross flag/lights in section 5. (Triple Jump)
• 250 Main – RD reviewed rider #77 (Kelly) for jumping under red cross flag/lights and passing another rider. He received a 1-position penalty, 5 championship points, and a deduction of 2 purse positions for gaining a position while jumping under red cross flag/lights in section 5. (Triple Jump)
• 450 Main – RD reviewed rider #14 (Ferrandis) for a track cut exiting the sand section. It was determined he gained an advantage while off track. He received a 1-position penalty, moving from 5th to 6th overall.

---

Race Reviews that Didn't Result in Penalties

• 250 Group A Q2 – RD reviewed rider #10 (Hammaker) crashing in a corner after contact with #37 (Davies). This was determined to be a racing incident; No penalty assessed.
• 450 Group A Q2 (Red Cross Flag Review) – Rider #17 (Savatgy) crashed in the sand. RD reviewed for any red cross flag infractions; No penalties were assessed.
• 250 Heat 1 – RD reviewed contact between rider #22 (Schock) and #492 (Hartz) in corner 15 (puck corner) prior to the mechanics area, along with Schock going off track through the mechanics area. No penalty assessed.
• 450 Heat 1 – RD reviewed contact involving rider #784 (Clason) and a subsequent off-track excursion in corner 15 prior to the mechanics area. No penalty assessed.
• 450 Heat 1 – RD reviewed rider #4 (Sexton) going off track in section 8. No penalty assessed.
• 450 Heat 2 – RD reviewed rider #26 (Prado) going off track in the mechanics area. No penalty assessed.
• 450 Main – RD reviewed contact between rider #27 (Stewart) and #17 (Savatgy) in section 17 (corner after the mechanics area). No penalty assessed.
• 450 Main – RD reviewed rider #17 (Savatgy) going off track in section 17. No penalty assessed.
• 450 Main – RD reviewed rider #94 (Roczen) re-entry onto the track. No penalty assessed.

• ·         Penalty Report | 2026 Nashville Supercross

Starts Do Matter...Ask Eli

Eli Tomac and Nashville: When an entire Saturday in the Main Event goes to waste.

Until the evening, everything looked like one of those typical Tomac weekends. Fastest in both qualifying sessions, a clear benchmark time, plus the heat race win after a controlled maneuver against his own teammate. No chaos, no uncertainties – just a driver who had his car under control.

That's precisely why the result of the Main Event seems like a break that cannot be explained by a lack of speed.

Nashville as a setup trap

One point that's easily overlooked in the context of this race: Nashville wasn't a typical setup weekend. The track evolved throughout the day in a way that made adjustments unlikely to yield any tangible benefits.

Tomac consistently stuck to his basics: no big clicks, no hectic changes. An approach that was certainly shared in the paddock.

The reasoning is logical: On such a hard, slippery track, it's less about finding the perfect setup and more about not making a working one worse. Traction here doesn't come from the setup – but from feel.

Or to put it another way: those who look for solutions on the bike often overlook the real problem.

The start that was no start

The decisive moment, therefore, didn't come from the technology, but from the starting position. A poor start, the wrong line choice, and immediately caught in traffic. Tomac himself clearly states it: the inside line was the wrong decision.

That sounds like a minor detail – but on this particular track, it's a structural problem. Nashville offered little room for creative lines. If you're not in front after the first corner, you lose not only positions, but also options.

And that is exactly what led to Tomac's downfall.

A comeback attempt without real access

What followed wasn't a collapse – but a race that never truly opened up. Tomac worked his way forward, found his rhythm, and had a feel for the bike. But: He never got into a position where he could actively influence the race.

That's a crucial difference. While riders like Hunter Lawrence at the front were able to control the pace, Tomac was forced to react. And that's precisely what costs time on a track like this.

The fall as a logical consequence

The late crash appears at first glance to be the decisive moment – ​​in reality, it was more a consequence of the initial conditions. Those competing in the field have to take more risks. More attempts, more line changes, more uncertainty. On a track that is already operating at its limit, this automatically increases the potential for errors.

The crash itself was unspectacular. The effect, however, was not. Twelfth place. No chance of closing the gap to the leaders. Maximum damage in the title race.

From hunter to hunted – and back

The situation before the race in Nashville was open, the momentum at least stable. After Nashville, the situation is clearer – but from his perspective, significantly more difficult. 15 points behind, four races remaining.

This changes the dynamic. Not dramatically, but noticeably. Because while consistency was enough before, now active results are needed again. Victories, not just podium finishes.

What Nashville shows about Tomac

What's interesting isn't so much the result itself, but the pattern behind it. Tomac was fast. The bike worked. Saturday was well set up. And yet, the weekend hinges on two factors: starting position and race environment.

This is no coincidence, but rather an indication of how tight the field currently is. Small decisions have a greater impact than sheer speed.

Title race: less room for maneuver, more risk

With four races remaining, the calculation is simple: Tomac can't afford any more weekends like this. His approach, however, remains unchanged – a focus on his own performance, no playing around with scenarios. That's typical of him. But therein lies the challenge now. Because while other drivers can currently control races, Tomac has to start actively shaping them again.

And that begins – significantly earlier than in Nashville – at the starting gate.

2026 MXGP of Sardegna

Supercross 2026 - Round 13, Nashville

Roczen Revival

The 450 class qualifying showed a clear separation among the riders, with pace differences becoming more noticeable as the session went on.

Ken Roczen and Chase Sexton both carried strong momentum from last weekend, looking composed and consistent on a track that demanded precision. Their ability to put together clean, fast laps stood out compared to much of the field. On the other hand, championship leaders Eli Tomac and Hunter Lawrence didn’t look quite as comfortable during qualifying, appearing to struggle at times with the technical aspects of the layout. The rhythm sections and evolving track conditions seemed to catch a few riders off guard, which showed in their lap times. That said, qualifying only tells part of the story. Once the gate drops, race pace, starts, and line choices often shift the outcome entirely. Jorge Prado and Malcolm Stewart were also standouts earlier in the day, both showing the speed and confidence needed to contend up front. If they can execute strong starts and maintain that pace over the full race, they have a real shot at fighting for podium positions.

Hunter Lawrence grabbed another holeshot on the night, followed by Jorge Prado and Ken Roczen. The first lap was an all-out battle where Prado made a pass for the lead, Hunter responded back, and then Roczen tookLawrence to the top of the berm and into the lead. He then began pulling the lead and running away from the rest of the riders. Tomac was sitting in fifth early and just seemed to lack the intensity he had earlier in the season. In front of Tomac, Justin Cooper was able to make the pass on Hunter Lawrence into the third position. Justin Cooper wasn’t done there as he began to look for a way into second as he was battling with Prado. Chase Sexton was having a tough night as he went down before the finish line, and then in one of the rhythm sections, he came up short, which put him down again. Back up front, Ken Roczen had nearly a ten-second lead. Hunter Lawrence began catching Justin Cooper and Jorge Prado. Feeling the pressure, Justin Cooper started trying harder to make that pass into second. Cooper and Lawrence would make the pass, pushing Prado to fourth. The track was destroyed as they got into the closing laps of the race. The only rider who could get a smooth lap was Ken Roczen out front. Ken would go on to take the win.

1. Ken Roczen

2. Justin Cooper

3. Hunter Lawrence

Tomac and Lawrence are now tied for the series lead.

Roczen’s big opportunity for his first Supercross title

Jeff Emig always said he would prefer momentum over a points lead in the championship run in, and if that proves true, it is Ken Roczen who has the momentum going into the final six rounds of the series and is just 14 points off the points lead.

Eli Tomac has the points leads but is, in his words, in a bit of a slump. Hunter Lawrence might have most of the boses ticked, but he just had a huge crash last weekend – is he 100% healthy? Of course, you can never count out Cooper Webb who is still 26 points back but give him an inch and he will take a mile – and he was just given an inch!

It seems that Eli Tomac may be carrying some sort of minor injury given his subdued performances over the last two weeks – will whatever the issue may be have vanished in a week? Roczen is fourteen off Tomac but only ten off Lawrence, and with Tomac not his usual speed right now, being just ten off Hunter makes it even more realistic that charismatic German is back in the hunt for this title.

But, just imagine if Hunter hadn’t accidently knocked Roczen off in Seattle or even if Roczen would have had an electric start – there is a chance that collision could top the title balance in Hunter’s favour if it comes down to a handful of points at the final round.

 Even if Roczen got fifth in Seattle instead of tenth, he would only be five off Lawrence right now and nine off what appears to be an ailing Tomac. The small margins are coming into play and Roczen has, until last weekend, been the one to get burnt the most when it has went wrong.

But now things has FINALLY went his way. He has hope and even more importantly, belief, that he can really win this title. Of all the contenders he is riding the best, he is not fading at the end despite what the critics say and, mentally, appears to be where he needs to be. This could be his best chance since that gruesome arm injury for a Supercross title.

It won’t be easy, but it if he pulls this title off on a Suzuki after all those injuries and related illnesses, it would be a story for the ages.