FIM HARD ENDURO: FINALE PREVIEW

It’s crunch time for the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship as competitors prepare to head to Germany for this weekend’s final round of the series, the 24MX GetzenRodeo. In what’s set to be an explosive eighth and final round, only three points separate Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) and Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) in the battle to become the first FIM Hard Enduro World Champion!

It’s been one heck of a season. After a delayed start, the inaugural FIM Hard Enduro World Championship roared into life at the now-infamous Abestone Hard Enduro in Italy. Red Bull Romaniacs followed hot on its heels for an epic week of action in Romania, before the series crossed the Atlantic to the USA for the Red Bull TKO. A return to Europe saw some incredible racing at HERO Challenge in Poland, and most recently the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro in Spain.

While the championship has seen four different race winners in that time – Bolt, Lettenbichler, Wade Young (Sherco) and Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) – it’s been Bolt and Lettenbichler who have remained most dominant. Bolt has collected two wins to Lettenbichler’s one (at Red Bull Romaniacs) and the Brit now holds a slender three-point lead over the German entering arguably the most important race of either rider’s career to date.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER

While the 24MX GetzenRodeo is a race Bolt will naturally want to win, it’s not one he must win in order to secure the world title. However, if Lettenbichler wins, Billy must cross the finish line in second to clinch the title by virtue of a tie-breaker (equal on two wins each, Billy would secure the title due to having more second-place results this season).

For Lettenbichler, his game plan has to be nothing less than victory and then hope that the cards fall his way. With 24MX GetzenRodeo a home race for the German, he will look to use home support to his advantage. A formidable force around the tight and technical forest track, “Mani” has won the previous two editions (2018, 2019) of the race, winning the 2019 WESS Championship despite considerable pressure.

Sitting 17 points behind Bolt in third place, Sherco’s Wade Young is the only other rider with a mathematical chance of becoming champion. While that scenario is a tall ask for the South African, he can’t afford a mistake at the final round if he wants to end his championship campaign on the podium. Teammate Mario Roman is nine points behind in fourth and ready to pounce.

Beta’s Jonny Walker is six points behind Roman in fifth, with Gomez a further two points adrift in sixth. Gomez enters 24MX GetzenRodeo with momentum on his side having delivered a stunning victory last time out in Spain. Gomez also placed second in Germany in 2019 and so another result like that from the Spaniard could see the final championship standings dramatically change for all.

24MX GETZENRODEO – HOW IT WORKS

A one-day race, 24MX GetzenRodeo is anything but easy. In fact, it’s really two brutally tough races squeezed into a condensed timeframe. On a technically demanding course, the morning’s two-hour GetzenRace will see 60 competitors battle for a place in the afternoon final. Following a short break, the top-15 qualifiers take on the GetzenChamp race to battle it out for victory on an intensified course, run in the opposite direction to the GetzenRace.

LIVE ON RED BULL TV

A restricted spectator entry for 2021 due to Covid health regulations will see 5000 fans line the course to cheer on the world’s best Hard Enduro riders. But for those unable to attend, the crowning of this year’s FIM Hard Enduro World Champion will be played out live on Red Bull TV, with full coverage of the GetzenChamp race, including a pre-show, starting at 13.30 local time.

Watch it live on Red Bull TV here: https://win.gs/getzenrodeo

Meantime, for an insight into the Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing Team’s experience at the championship’s penultimate round, the recent 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro in Spain, check out this cool vlog.