Hixpania Hard Enduro results, from the qualification day in Spain where Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt goes fastest ahead of X-Grip Racing’s Mitch Brightmore with HEWC champion Mani Lettenbichler on the Red Bull KTM in third.

Billy Bolt picked up exactly where he left off at round three of the Hard Enduro World Championship in Italy two weeks ago, and where he finished last year’s HEWC season here in Spain, by topping the timing sheets on day one, qualification.

The track was a little more technical this year as riders set out on their sighting laps followed by fast laps which they set individually, not racing each other. The HEWC riders got a sighting lap plus two flying laps with most going fastest on the second loop.

Bolt didn’t walk the track

It was a short one by HEWC standards but about the length of a decent EnduroGP test for good measure at 7m29.33s for Bolt: “It was a pretty similar track to the last couple of years and I usually go quite well round there. I didn’t actually have time to walk the track before so my second lap was quickest because I remembered it better. I made two quite big mistakes on the first lap which I didn’t on the second but the dust was much worse.
“I caught up to Mani and the dust was so bad I didn’t even try to pass him. I knew catching up with him would mean the time was pretty good overall. So far so good.
“I think it will be an intense race tomorrow. Mitch is riding good and with it being a home race for Mario and Alfredo I expect them to be strong. And Mani is strong every week so it will be a good race and let’s see what the weather does. That could be a big question mark.”

Strong start position for Mitch

Mitch Brightmore followed his British rival home just under 18 seconds adrift for the X-Grip rider on his fastest flying lap. “I think I just pipped Mani for P2 which I’m happy with. It means a P2 start position from the cave in the main race and I’m ready to roll. The track dried out during the sighting lap and the two quali runs and it was super-technical compared to previous years. But that suits me and that showed in my result.
“I’ve done this race a few times now and I know it can be pretty intense from the get-go. I’ve given myself a good start position so I will try and run with the front guys, try and keep mistake free and ride my own race.”

X-Loop “too much”

Third placed Mani Lettenbichler says bike feeling wasn’t the best as he finished narrowly third, under two seconds behind Brightmore. The top 10 riders tomorrow will enter a harder “X-Loop” section in the main spectator area at the finish of the race. Hixpania organisers have used it previously but ramped up the severity this year to try to hold riders up and entertain more in the style of Romaniacs for example, but the riders aren’t happy with how hard the course is and this may well change.
“I didn’t have the best of feelings with my bike set-up yet,” says Lettenbichler, “so a little bit scared in some ways [to push harder]. But other than that I’m happy enough but it was a bit of a bummer to get third. That will make it harder tomorrow. We just have to be the fastest. I will try to save some energy for the end because I think it will be hard work on this track. The X-Loop looks too much, I think they have to change somethings but we have a meeting later to discuss this.”

The Aussie who races the US Hard Enduro series is back in Europe and mixing it with the Hard Enduro World Championship boys this weekend. Will Riordan was best-placed Sherco rider with fourth fastest time, 38 seconds behind Bill. The top five was completed by South African James Moore clocking in 46 seconds behind the scratch time.

Hixpania Hard Enduro 2025 Qualification Results:

Spanish National class results:

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Nicki Martinez