Manuel Lettenbichler has delivered another masterclass performance at round five of the 2025 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, claiming victory at the iconic Sea to Sky in Kemer, Turkey.
The defending world champion dominated across all three days of racing, extending his lead in the championship standings with just two rounds remaining.
The weekend kicked off on Thursday with the Beach Race along the Mediterranean shores, where Lettenbichler immediately signalled his intent by topping qualifying. In the evening six-lap grand final, the German rider fought hard to secure third place, finishing just four seconds behind second, a solid start that set the tone for the weekend.
Friday’s Forest Race showcased Lettenbichler at his finest. Tackling the 45-kilometre course filled with fast single trails, steep climbs, and technical canyon sections, he set a blistering pace from the outset. The reigning champion completed the race over a minute ahead of his nearest rival, moving into the overall lead and setting himself up for the decisive Mountain Race on Saturday.
The Mountain Race provided the ultimate test, with riders climbing from the beach to the 2,365-metre summit of Mount Olympos. Leveraging his first-pick start, Lettenbichler jumped into the lead and maintained a strong, consistent rhythm throughout the gruelling course. Crossing the line first, he secured both the day’s win and the overall victory, marking his second consecutive Sea to Sky triumph.
Lettenbichler reflected on his performance: “I felt really good this weekend! The last two races I struggled with some health issues, so to come here stronger was all I wanted. I got the holeshot this morning, pulled a gap early, and focused on saving my tyre while building my lead at each checkpoint. It was amazing to see the finish flag first and take the win.”
Factory Racing’s Mario Roman held his own across the weekend, riding with calculated precision and energy management. The Spaniard was comfortable through the checkpoints and technical challenges, gradually losing time to Lettenbichler but finishing strongly on the final climb to the gondola. Roman crossed the line just under six minutes behind, adding another Sea to Sky podium to his career. His approach combined patience and strategic pacing, carefully managing risk while steadily closing on top riders during the later sections. Roman’s bike performed flawlessly, contributing to his confident run to second overall.
British riders Mitch Brightmore and Wade Young completed the podium with third and fourth respectively, while veteran Graham Jarvis finished fifth. Billy Bolt crossed in 11th after a challenging weekend.
Bolt battled illness throughout the three-day event. Despite strong performances in the Beach Race and Forest Race, a navigation error during the punishing 64-kilometre Mountain Race combined with his impaired condition saw him drop back from the leaders. Bolt remained determined, finishing the grueling course and salvaging points, with his focus now turning to the penultimate FIM HEWC round at Germany’s GetzenRodeo.
With this victory, Lettenbichler further cements his championship credentials as the series heads to Germany for the legendary GetzenRodeo on October 24-25, where he will be aiming to continue his dominant form in front of a home crowd.
Provisional Results – 2025 Sea to Sky
1 Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 3:49:24.25
2 Mario Roman (ESP), Sherco, 3:55:12.01 +5:47
3 Mitch Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 4:02:41.37 +13:17
4 Wade Young (RSA), GASGAS, 4:20:33.90 +31:09
5 Graham Jarvis (GBR), KTM, 4:23:20.48 +33:56
6 Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 4:44:28.52 +55:04
