This June, The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship crossed the Atlantic for the first time in 2026 and arrived in Idaho with a question to answer: could Silver Kings live up to its reputation as one of North America’s toughest races?
Three days later, the answer was emphatically yes.
Mitch Brightmore delivered one of the most significant victories of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship season, winning the Silver Kings Hard Enduro in Kellogg, Idaho by just a few seconds after a three-way battle that was not resolved until the final metres of the King Slayer hillclimb.
The result re-energises the championship title fight heading into the second half of the season. Manuel Lettenbichler retains the lead on 88 points, but Brightmore’s victory narrows the gap to 13 points. A title race that was beginning to look comfortable for the Red Bull KTM rider just weeks ago has now been thrown wide open on North American soil.
WATCH RECAP→THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN NORTH AMERICA
The transatlantic leg delivered exactly what the global series demands: a different landscape, a different challenge, and a different kind of reckoning for riders who have grown comfortable on European terrain.
Silver Kings Hard Enduro, set against the dramatic mountain backdrop of Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho, hosted Round 3 of eight across a three-day format that tested every dimension of hard enduro ability.
DAY 0
For the championship paddock, Silver Kings represented far more than another race weekend. Teams travelled from Europe, many relying on rental motorcycles, rental vehicles, and temporary workshop setups to compete thousands of kilometres from home. Yet despite the logistical challenge, the atmosphere throughout the paddock reflected the significance of bringing Hard Enduro to a truly international audience. Thanks to businesses like Moto Adventures various teams were able to have bikes set up and ready for their US leg.
Following smooth administrative and technical controls, riders were welcomed by enthusiastic American fans during the official press conference, autograph session, and traditional bike parade through Kellogg, setting the tone for a memorable weekend.
RACE SUMMARY
Thursday — Super Kings Prologue
The weekend opened with all classes tackling a Super Enduro-style circuit. Riders had two opportunities to set their fastest qualifying time before the top 20 progressed into the evening finals. In front of a packed crowd, Jonny Walker delivered a commanding performance aboard his Triumph, setting the benchmark pace and taking victory in the Prologue.
Mitch Brightmore took 2nd, Trystan Hart 3rd and Ashton Brightmore finished 4th, while championship leader Manuel Lettenbichler found himself only 10th.
Friday — Big Mountain Race
Friday’s Big Mountain Race shifted the challenge dramatically. Riders faced a brutal 30km course featuring more than 3,500m of elevation gain across the rugged terrain surrounding Silver Mountain Resort. Local favourite Trystan Hart mastered the demanding conditions to claim victory by over three minutes, establishing himself as the rider to beat heading into the weekend finale.
Lettenbichler used the mountain stage to work his way methodically back into contention, converting his unfavourable starting position into a performance that set up Saturday’s defining showdown.
Saturday — Thunder Bowl Finale
Saturday’s Silver Kings Thunder Bowl Finale provided the defining moment of the event.
Over two hours of racing across six laps, Mitch Brightmore, Trystan Hart, and Manuel Lettenbichler separated themselves from the rest of the field and engaged in a battle that showcased Hard Enduro at its very best. The trio exchanged positions repeatedly as the race unfolded, each rider taking turns at the front while navigating the demanding multi-lap course.
With the famous King Slayer Hillclimb looming as the final obstacle between victory and defeat, the outcome remained impossible to predict.
In the end, it was Brightmore who found the decisive move. After more than two hours of racing and countless lead changes, the British rider secured victory in the final metres, crossing the line in just 5 seconds ahead of Hart. Lettenbichler completed the podium in third after another measured, championship-focused performance, crossing 1 minute behind the winner.
Behind the leading trio, Teodor Kabakchiev came home fourth for Sherco — almost 13 minutes down on the pace set by the front three, but securing vital championship points. Ashton Brightmore completed the top five for X Grip.
RIDER QUOTES
Mitch Brightmore (1st, X Grip): "Oh my God, that feels good. I am speechless to be honest — my first win of the World Championship. What more can I say."
Benjamin Diesel (X Grip Team Owner): "To be honest, it’s the best feeling. We have such a good team, I have such good riders and a really cool team, and today we proved we can reach anything. It’s our second year, and between Mitch and Ashton, who are super nice guys, the people in our team really work well like a family — and today everything pays off."
Trystan Hart (2nd, KTM): "It was a really cool race and a great battle all weekend. The three of us were fighting at the front for almost the entire race, trading positions and pushing each other the whole time. I felt strong all day and was able to put myself in contention right until the finish.
Manuel Lettenbichler (3rd, KTM): "I’m pretty happy with how the weekend went. I think Trystan, Mitch and myself showed just how high the pace was because we were able to pull away from the rest of the field. It was probably one of the closest races we’ve had in the last few years, and those kinds of battles are what make racing so enjoyable."
CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS
The result marks one of the most significant victories of Brightmore’s career and tightens the championship battle as the series approaches its second half.
While guest riders such as Jonny Walker, Trystan Hart, and Ryder LeBlond added depth and excitement throughout the weekend, the championship fight continued to intensify among the registered FIM Hard Enduro World Championship contenders. Lettenbichler leaves Idaho still leading the standings on 88 points, but Brightmore’s victory reduces the gap to just 13 points heading into Round 4.
Kabakchiev remains firmly in contention in third, continuing to bank consistent points with an approach that keeps him relevant in the title fight. Billy Bolt, who had held third in the standings entering Idaho, slips to sixth as the season’s midpoint approaches — rebuilding championship momentum will be the priority across the rounds that remain.
More importantly, Silver Kings demonstrated the value of a truly global championship. Events such as Silver Kings, Roof of Africa, and Sea to Sky provide unique challenges, expose riders to new terrain and cultures, and introduce the sport to new audiences. The Idaho round proved that world-class Hard Enduro can thrive far beyond Europe — and reinforced the importance of continuing to build an international calendar.
For the championship, it is not just about where the points are decided. It is about where Hard Enduro reaches.
Silver Kings Thunder Bowl Finale Results
Mitch Brightmore (GBR) – X Grip
Trystan Hart (CAN) – KTM Factory Racing Team
Manuel Lettenbichler (GER) – KTM Factory Racing Team
Teodor Kabakchiev (BUL) – Sherco Factory Racing Team
Ashton Brightmore (GBR) – X Grip
FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Standings
Manuel Lettenbichler – 88 pts
Mitch Brightmore – 75 pts
Teodor Kabakchiev – 68 pts
Ashton Brightmore – 49 pts
Mario Roman – 48 pts
WHAT’S NEXT
As the dust settles on an unforgettable American debut, attention now turns to Sweden and the inaugural Forza Orza Hard Enduro on August 20–22. The Scandinavian forest terrain will offer a markedly different challenge to the Idaho mountains .
If Silver Kings proved anything, it is that the future of Hard Enduro is global.
ABOUT HEWC
The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship unites the world’s toughest off-road motorcycle races into one global series. Born from legendary events like the Roof of Africa and other iconic hard enduros, it brings together professional and amateur riders on the same demanding terrain, celebrating endurance, camaraderie, and adventure. Sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and promoted by Hard Enduro Promotions Marketing Management LLC, HEWC showcases the full potential of hard enduro as a modern, global motorsport platform.
ABOUT THE FIM
The FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme), founded in 1904, is the global governing body for motorcycle sport and the worldwide advocate for motorcycling. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the FIM oversees a wide range of world championships including MotoGP, Superbike, Motocross, Trial, Enduro, Cross-Country Rallies, Speedway, and Hard Enduro, while also working in areas such as public affairs, road safety, and touring.
Media Contact
Adam Nunn
Media Manager, FIM Hard Enduro World Championship
📧 adam@fim-hardenduro.com