New ‘Hard Enduro World Ranking’ system announced by Erzbergrodeo and Romaniacs organisers aiming to unify international hard enduro races with ATP-style results-based points system.

Starting in 2026, the proposed Hard Enduro World Ranking (HEWR) will establish a new scoring system in hard and extreme enduro, based on the ATP/WTA world rankings in tennis. Participants will collect world ranking points throughout the year at all participating races in their respective categories.

The aim, they say, is to provide a transparent, global comparison of the performances of international Hard Enduro athletes throughout the season.

The idea is to recognise riders, organisers, and events in different parts of the world and make them count. To unify races without a championship title at the end of the year but still promote events throughout the world.

This plan will also give young up-and-coming riders the opportunity to step into the spotlight as well as give the ability for riders to be ranked at the type of events they excel at and not necessarily those which a series organiser decides.

Karl Katoch and Martin Freinademetz, the race directors of Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs who are the heads behind this new system, say they are aiming for an alternative to the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. A way of “unifying events under the hard enduro banner without inclusion or association with an actual championship” and to make it easier for young riders in particular to have a career.

“Hard Enduro has developed globally over the last few decades. From South Africa to Central Europe, from New Zealand to South America, North America and Australia. For several years now, the offroad motorcycle scene in Asia has also been moving increasingly towards Hard Enduro.

“Previous world championship formats have focused only on the highest-level competitions in the scene and tended to overlook positive developments in the junior markets. With the Hard Enduro World Ranking, we want to showcase the diversity of the sport and see it as an important task to support, bundle, and promote junior racing events and thus the next generation of Hard Enduro riders.” Says Red Bull Romaniacs organiser Martin Freinademetz, explaining the motives behind the Hard Enduro World Ranking.

Red Bull Erzbergrodeo organiser Karl Katoch adds: “Before awarding world ranking points to the participating athletes, the individual races must first be categorised according to specific quality criteria.

“Details such as the number of top riders participating, the nationality mix of the starting field, the infrastructure for spectators, the media coverage and reach of the event, the distribution of prizes or prize money for the winners, and the number of race days are used to transparently divide the racing events into different categories – from Supreme to Hobby.

“The number of world ranking points awarded to participants is then based on these categories. This scoring system allows organizers and their participants to move up to the next higher category at any time – and thus gain experience, competence, and reach.”

The aim should be to work together

The attempt to bring international Hard and Extreme Enduro events together under one roof is not new. Back in the 2000s the idea of merging renowned extreme enduro events resulted in the creation of the WESS (World Enduro Super Series) in 2018 and, finally, the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in 2021.

Turmoil and debate never seem far away from the FIM World Championship, not least for the WESS championship and it’s close association with Austrian motorcycle and drinks manufacturers.

The subsequent demise of WESS Promotions after four years running the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, a new promoter and calendar announced shortly before the start of the season in March 2025, the decision of Erzberg and Romaniacs to not be part of the world championship is all part of the ongoing debate.

The Hard Enduro World Ranking welcomes the recently founded WERA (World Enduro Riders Association) which has also been announced today. 

“We invite WERA members to contribute their opinions and expertise to the selection of HEWR races.” Adds Karl Katoch. “We are also keen to establish further cooperation with the FIM. The aim should be to work together rather than against each other. We see the Hard Enduro World Ranking as a supplement to the FIM World Championship, not as a competing event.”

The next step will be to present the official Hard Enduro World Ranking website and publish all the detailed information on how the world ranking points are awarded. Registration for all interested Hard and Extreme Enduro events for the Hard Enduro World Ranking will begin on January 1, 2026.

 

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi