Lettenbichler Wins FIM Hard Enduro Opener
M
anuel Lettenbichler won the
opening round of the 2023
FIM Hard Enduro World Champi-
onship in Serbia, May 18-21. The
Red Bull KTM Team rider topped
the four-day Xross Hard Enduro
Rally with a 33-minute gap over
his nearest river, Sherco's Mario
Roman.
Marking the first race of
this year's seven-round FIM
Hard Enduro World Champion
-
ship, the Xross Hard Enduro
Rally got underway with a short
Endurocross-style prologue on
the streets of Zlatibor. Three full
days of challenging racing then
followed, held in the region's
mountains with each of the three
legs covering 60 miles.
After claiming fourth in the
prologue, Lettenbichler made
his intentions for victory clear
on off-road day one by master
-
ing the wet and demanding
conditions to bring his KTM 300
EXC home well over 12 minutes
ahead of the rest of the field.
A close runner-up result on
day two saw "Mani" finish just
five seconds behind Billy Bolt
(Husqvarna) and, in doing so,
the German extended his overall
lead to 25 minutes.
Day three dawned with great
weather, and, once again, Letten
-
bichler captured another day
win. Topping the timesheets by
a further two minutes and 37
seconds, the series defending
champ secured the event victory
and his place at the top of the
WIND
IN THE
P60
Germany's Manuel
Lettenbichler opened the
2023 FIM Hard Enduro
Championship with the overall
win at the four-day Xross
Hard Enduro Rally in Serbia.
PHOTOS: FUTURE7MEDIA
