the finish line approximately 12
minutes from Bolt. GasGas rider
Mitch Brightmore was fourth
overall after an epic battle with
Kabakchiev. Their race for the
final podium spot was decided
on the final climb to the check
-
ered, and they finished just two
seconds apart.
"I'm proud to have reached
my first Erzberg podium," Ka
-
bakchiev said. "It's probably
the most technical race in the
world, and I proved to myself
that I have improved and can be
strong also in technical races."
Trystan Hart of FMF KTM
Factory Racing surged from a
mid-pack position to reach third
place around the one-hour mark,
after a great run through the
Machine section. He held his
position and navigated the chal
-
lenging course with good speed,
gradually catching up to Bolt,
who was in second place.
Unfortunately for Hart, di-
saster struck for the 2024 AMA
Endurocross Champion with
only two checkpoints to go when
loose sprocket bolts required
Hart to make repairs trackside.
Getting underway again, he was
able to secure fifth place at the
checkered flag.
"I'm gutted, to be honest,"
Hart said. "Any finish at Erzberg
is good, but I was definitely on
course for a podium when I had
a small issue with only a couple
of sections to go. I was able to
get back on the bike and bring it
home in fifth, but it wasn't where I
wanted to be. I had a tough start
but managed to get into a strong
rhythm and started passing the
riders ahead. [Everyone was]
riding well, but it's my fourth time
here and my fourth top five. I'll be
back again next year, aiming to
fight for my first win."
Sixth place went to Triumph's
Jonny Walker, who rode a 250cc
four-stroke. Sherco's Mario Ro
-
man was seventh, finishing well
ahead of hard enduro legend
Graham Jarvis, while Australian
Will Riordan took ninth overall.
Beta's Alfredo Gomez rounded
out the top 10.
CN
OVERALL (Top 10)
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM)
2:49:17.58
2. Billy Bolt (Hus) 3:01:57.565
3. Teodor Kabakchiev (She)
3:13:44.942
4. Mitch Brightmore (GG) 3:13:46.895
5. Trystan Hart (KTM) 3:18:32.642
6. Jonny Walker (Tri) 3:26:53.833
7. Mario Roman (She) 3:29:17.323
8. Graham Jarvis (KTM) 3:39:39.218
9. Will Riordan (She) 3:42:03.376
10. Alfredo Gomez (Bet) 3:44:55.805
VOLUME ISSUE JUNE , P51
(Above)
Lettenbichler
leads runner-up
Husqvarna's Billy
Bolt. (Top right)
Sherco's Teodor
Kabakchiev took
a hard-fought
third to get on the
podium. (Right) A
mechanical late
in the race ended
Trystan Hart's
hopes of getting
on the podium.
