Lettenbichler Keeps Edge After Hixpania Drama – But Bolt Raises the Stakes for Title Run
Manuel Lettenbichler entered round four of the 2025 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship under pressure — and left it more complicated than ever. The Red Bull KTM rider crossed the finish of Hixpania in second, only to be demoted to fourth after an X-Loop controversy. Yet by championship rules, he kept the lead. With just three rounds to go, the margins between him and Billy Bolt have never felt thinner.
A Duel on Edge: Hixpania’s Twist and Turns
In the main race, Mani and Bolt found themselves in a relentless two-hour dance, exchanging the lead over and over. “We overtook each other at least ten times during the race,” Mani would later recall. “Billy was stronger on one half of the course, while I excelled on the other. Ultimately, I lacked just a bit of strength to launch a real attack.”
The course, however, took a downturn when rain forced riders to skip the X-Loop section because of safety concerns. Two non-championship riders opted to try it anyway, sending them soaring higher in the ranking and shifting Mani’s official finish to fourth. Since they do not score in HEWC standings, Mani’s points remained solid.
In the midst of the upheaval, Mani was keeping a level head. “I’m very close to Billy right now”, he declared, confident in his position sitting atop the table.
What Bolt Must Do to Catch Lettenbichler
Bolt, meanwhile, isn’t just an observer — he’s a threat. At Abestone (round 3), he delivered a decisive win over Mani, taking maximum points. He later described their duel as a constant exchange of positions, and claimed: “There, I risked everything one last time and brought the small lead to the finish.”
Three rounds from completion, Bolt’s path is clear but risky.
- Winning outright is essential; anything less allows Mani to widen his lead.
- Gap Mani where he can — even a narrow margin matters in late acting points.
- Be ready to think on your feet—the title fight doesn’t accommodate mistakes willingly.
- Push all the time—Bolt has to prove capable of matching Mani’s rhythm, not just on good days but across all rounds.
If Billy Bolt achieves a succession of almost flawless performances, then the title is still in his sights. But Mani, despite the scandal surrounding Hixpania, has the edge — looking unperturbed amidst all the drama