World Enduro Riders Association (WERA) launched to “elevate hard enduro racing” – group of riders lead by Alfredo Gomez and including Billy Bolt, Mani Lettenbichler and Mario Roman unite to bridge gaps and drive professionalism in their sport.

Born from “a shared vision to amplify riders’ voices and foster collaboration”, WERA says it aims to change the sport by working with race organisers and promoters to provide more transparency, consistency, and excitement in the sport. The idea being to unlock the potential of Hard Enduro for everyone involved, they say.

The noise created by the riders during the recent 2025 Hixpania Hard Enduro world championship round was loud. Riders protested in the race, the organiser got pissed off, the fans didn’t get a race conclusion any of us understood and certainly none of those involved came out of it too well.   

We covered it a bit more here: Enduro21 comment: Hard Enduro crisis at Hixpania – it’s been coming

What was clear, following the unity of the riders at the race and the subsequent dining out of the parties involved, is that something needs to be done to help the riders voices to be heard on how the events are run and the sport is developing.

The WERA leadership team

Alfredo Gomez – President

Mario Roman – Vice President

Billy Bolt – Secretary

Manuel Lettenbichler – Spokesperson

Trying to park to one side the idea in our minds of Billy Bolt as a secretary, sitting at a desk, taking notes with a pencil, typing out memos and the like…WERA says key initiatives include simplifying rules and improving the overall quality of the races. Items on the agenda include track designs and fairness, streamlining championship logistics, calendars, and improving standards for “the entire racing eco system”.

“At its core, WERA is about riders coming together to make a real impact,” said Alfredo  Gomez, President of WERA. “We’ve all pushed our limits on the toughest terrains, but we’ve also seen areas where the sport can evolve. By working hand-in-hand with organisers and promoters, we’re committed to building a brighter, more professional future that draws in new fans and nurtures the next generation of talent.”

Mario Roman, Vice President of WERA, emphasises the urgency of change: “For too long, riders’ voices have been more or less ignored in the decisions that shape our sport –decisions that impact our safety, fairness, and passion every time we hit the start line. WERA is our platform to finally be heard, to collaborate meaningfully, and to ensure Hard Enduro thrives for the riders who make it what it is.”

This is nothing new, athlete representatives exist in other sports and, for example, the World Enduro Championship had figures like Ivan Cervantes previously in a position to speak for the riders at events.

A bit of unity and clarity of direction is overdue in the sport of hard enduro which is beating itself up repeatedly in recent years. It is worth pointing out a lot of what the riders are advocating should anyway be happening between the promoters of the HEWC series, the FIM and the race organisers. It is only right that the riders have a place at the table.

WERA say they draw inspiration from successful models in other extreme sports – such as snowboarding – where professional athletes got together to improve their working conditions and elevate the sport.

Early discussions between Manuel Lettenbichler and Alfredo Gomez at the start of the year laid the groundwork, culminating in this official launch. “It’s incredibly cool to see this finally happening,” said Manuel Lettenbichler.  Billy Bolt added: “This isn't just talk, it's action toward a sport we all love.”

The association invites riders, organisers, promoters, and fans to join the conversation and contribute to Hard Enduro's evolution.

You can find weride.enduro on social media or contact them at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Nicki Martinez