VOLUME 56 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 10, 2019 P61
was also much tougher and definitely
riskier. The Override sections were
lit up with lights suspended from the
trees to allow better viewing for the
many spectators that were on hand.
The start was unique, as well, in
that just 30 yards from the starting
line were three telephone poles set
in a triangle assuring all of the riders
would get some airtime right off the
start.
Lettenbichler, along with Herrera
and Didier Goirand launched off the
logs first after the start as they led
the 15 pros into the opening lap.
It didn't take long for Lettenbichler
to establish a lead and from there the
likable German began to pull away,
leaving Herrera, Trystan Hart (RPM
Racing KTM), Cory Graffunder (SRT
Husqvarna), Beta USA's Max Ger-
ston and Sherco's Nick Fahringer to
battle in the second group.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHAN MOORE
F
reshly crowned WESS World
Enduro Champion Manuel
"Manni" Lettenbichler (Red Bull
KTM) had little trouble winning the
inaugural Red Bull Override Hard
Enduro held in Decatur, Texas, as he
and Chilean Beta USA rider Benja-
min Herrera lapped the entire field
during the six-hour ordeal, which fin-
ished its final two hours in the dark.
The race was different from the
usual hard enduro in that there were
three special "override routes,"
which the Pro riders had to take
every lap after a specific time in
the race. These sections offered a
unique risk versus reward challenge
in the quest to attain victory, giving
the rider an option to take a longer
but easier route, or a shorter, and
potentially faster, way through, which
WESS WORLD ENDURO CHAMPION
MANUEL LETTENBICHLER CRUISES TO VICTORY IN TEXAS
LETTENBICHLER
MANHANDLES OVERRIDE
