Round three of the 2025 Hard Enduro World Championship in Italy turned into a classic showdown, as Billy Bolt (Husqvarna Factory Racing) beat Manuel Lettenbichler (Red Bull KTM) in a head-to-head battle that went down to the wire.
Bolt Back on Top
After dominating Erzbergrodeo and Romaniacs, Mani Lettenbichler arrived in Abetone as the man to beat. But this time, it was Bolt’s weekend: winning the prologue, the sprint races, and then sealing the main race for a flawless result.
“I didn’t feel that good all weekend, but I managed to keep it together,” Bolt admitted at the finish. “The clock was going down so slowly, but it was an amazing battle. I’m just happy to be back making Mani’s life difficult.”
Lettenbichler Keeps the Fight Close
Lettenbichler pushed Bolt all the way, the two trading places lap after lap. “What a race,” said the reigning world champion. “We went back and forth so often. I almost had him at the last downhill—I even tried a block pass, but Billy’s a big guy to move! Big congrats to him. It’s been a while since we had this kind of battle.”
Brightmore Rounds Out the Podium
Behind the leading duo, Mitch Brightmore (X-Grip Racing) recovered from an earlier crash to claim third. James Moore delivered his best HEWC finish in fourth, while the evergreen Graham Jarvis rounded out the top five.
The results sheet also showed some heartbreak—Mario Roman, a podium finisher in the sprint races, was forced out with electrical issues.
Gold Class Results – Main Race
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Billy Bolt (Husqvarna)
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Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM)
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Mitch Brightmore (X-Grip Racing)
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James Moore
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Graham Jarvis
