Following a turbulent start to the year with the cancellation of the 2025 season due to a financial shortfall, the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship is officially back on track.
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has confirmed that ProTouchGlobal GmbH has been appointed as the new promoter for the series, effective immediately.
The previous season was shelved following the withdrawal of major backer KTM Group, whose financial difficulties left the championship without sufficient support. Despite efforts from then-promoter WESS’ Winfried Kerschhaggl to secure new funding, the timing proved too tight. “The pull-out of our main sponsor in December 2024, for reasons that are well known, did not leave us enough time to secure alternative funding,” Kerschhaggl explained. With most partners having already committed their 2025 budgets, the window for new support had closed.
After the self-imposed deadline passed in late February, organisers made the difficult decision to cancel the season, marking a significant setback for one of the most popular and physically demanding off-road series on the calendar.
Now, the championship has been handed a lifeline. ProTouchGlobal GmbH will lead the next chapter for Hard Enduro, bringing with them a clear focus on long-term sustainability, global growth, and athlete experience. ProTouchGlobal, headquartered in Switzerland, is an international sports event management and athlete development company with an operational footprint spanning Europe, Asia, and Australia.
“We’re honoured to take the reins of such a prestigious and adrenaline-charged championship,” said Robbie Hunter, Managing Director of ProTouchGlobal. “The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship events are not just your average races—it’s a battle between rider, machine, and nature to the extreme. Our mission is to elevate the sport while preserving its raw, untamed essence.”
ProTouchGlobal will manage the full scope of promotional activities, including event coordination, broadcast rights, sponsorships, and fan engagement. Ross Whitehead, newly appointed HEWC Director, added, “We are already in talks with the riders, the teams, and the event organisers finding ways to improve the championship for the long-term future of this sport. We’re here to push boundaries and build a championship worthy of the legends who race it.”
The FIM also expressed its support and optimism. John Collins, FIM Enduro Commission Director, said, “The FIM welcomes our new Promoter for the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship and it promises to be exciting times with many new initiatives planned to raise the status of this series. A lot of work will be needed but I am confident the future of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship is now secure and will grow and be something we will all be proud of.”
Further announcements, including team, rider, and sponsorship updates, are expected in the coming weeks.
The preliminary 2025 calendar features eight events across Europe, North America, and Africa:
10–11 May – Valleys Hard Enduro (UK)
12–14 June – Silver Kings (USA)
22–26 July – Red Bull Romaniacs (Romania)*
6–7 September – Abestone (Italy)*
20–21 September – Hixpania (Spain)
9–11 October – Sea to Sky (Turkey)
24–25 October – Getzen Rodeo (Germany)
20–22 November – Roof of Africa (Lesotho)
(*Events subject to final negotiation)
