Results from the 24MX Getzenrodeo in Germany where Red Bull KTM’s home hero Mani Lettenbichler was in a class of his own for the win and claims the 2025 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship with a round to spare.

A devastatingly easy-looking win in the two-hour qualification GetzenRace in the morning was a cold wake-up call for everyone that Mani Lettenbichler wasn’t just here to win his home race but was aiming at the world title.

The KTM rider needed to win and take the maximum points for the morning race and main event, and have Billy Bolt lower than second place to be crowned ’25 world champion.

Despite Mario Roman and Mitch Brightmore’s effort in the morning race it was not even close as Lettenbichler sailed through the intense course on a wave of home support from the impressive German crowd.

This was the pre-cursor to the main event in the afternoon, meaning some riders were reserving energy but even so, Lettenbichler lapped everyone up to Brightmore in third, Billy Bolt twice and Graham Jarvis three times over.

Mani aims for gold as Billy turns it around

Whittled down to just 20 riders for the main GetzenChamp race, the elite had a couple of hours to relax before they tackled a tougher course which ran reverse direction to the easier morning race.

It was a case of eat, refuel and repeat for Letti who set a blistering pace with laps minutes faster than his nearest rivals and a title in sight as he ticked off the laps.

Mitch and Mario were yet again closest but ultimately were racing each other, out of sight of Mani and with Billy Bolt hounding fourth.

Bolt had a mountain of work to do after his poor P11 in the morning race but worked his way up to have a shout at the podium within three laps. Working hard to catch on the tails of Mitch, as Mario made second place his own, Bolt was attempting to a) fight for the race and championship podium and b) deny Letti a world title on home soil.

Bolt’s eventual move for the overtake was a bit unbelievable – he basically took a hero line and dropped in off a high rock in front of Mitch.

The Getzen main race includes a mandatory and more technical X Loop which every rider must take once technical section. Shout out to a new recruit to the championship, former TrialGP rider Lorenzo Gandola riding for the TTR Squadre Corsa team who was impressive in this section on his way to a top 10, beating some very experienced HEWC riders in the process.

Lettenbichler five-times champion

Unchallenged and seemingly putting together an effortless race, Lettenbichler eventually almost lapped everyone but sadly had to settle on just up to second place – think about that for a moment, he lapped everyone including Bolt and almost got Roman in P2. The reigning champ went on to record victory by a whopping 12m:48s: 

“I’m speechless! The crowd here at my home race is simply the best. I won the quali race which was pretty cool but I didn’t expect it like this. I made a gap and it just went up and up and up.  

“That put me first for the main race and it was go time. I really wanted to win this race and I didn’t really think about the championship at all but it was cray to clinch everything here. The crowds was so, so good and I’m speechless about how good they were. I think I showed my best here today and a big shout out to my team. We’ve clinched the world title one round before the final race is amazing Today we’re having a beer, we’ve really earned it!”

Solid second for Roman on a 250 Sherco

Mario Roman was in great form on the Sherco clocking second place and finishing the only other rider on eight laps inside the time limit, although he nearly got caught as Mani had him in sight on that final loop.

“I’m very happy, thanks to everyone and especially the spectators here in Germany!” Said Mario. “This is such a great event here and I’m proud to be on the podium for the fourth time. It feels very special and it wasn’t an easy track again, certainly one of the most difficult of the year. You can’t make any mistakes.

“Congratulations to Mani, he just flew. I tried everything, but he was just too fast. I was expecting a shorter race to be honest, the main race for me was like one hour 40 and longer than I expected but I’m super-happy with my results. Mani was riding so good and congrats to him.” Added Roman who was surprisingly riding a Sherco 250 two-stroke in Germany, saying he loved it and makes less mistakes on it compared to the 300.

Fight for second in the championship continues

The fight for second best in the championship has not abated with Billy getting the better of Mitch at Getzen. Third and fourth meant Mani had the title but the pair of Brits are still separated by just two points. Mario isn’t far behind in fourth either.

“That wasn't my best race,” said Bolt, “I had to contend with a list of things in the first race, which I was able to reduce in the second race, but not enough. Third is not where I want to be but congrats the two ahead of me and especially Mani, who was able to win the world championship title again. The atmosphere here is unique, the fans can follow everything and it's just a great race. I hope we can continue to develop the sport in the direction that the GetzenRodeo always shows here. Respect to the GetzenRodeo organisers, who, in my opinion, put on an amazing race.”

Ninth place was also enough for South African James Moore to lay claim to the Junior Hard Enduro World Championship after a very consistent season.

Getzenrodeo “Champ” (main) race results:

GetzenRace (2hr morning qualifier) results:

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi