Moto News Weekly | GNCC | MX | SX | Enduro | X-Trial

Moto News Weekly Wrap
April 21, 2026

What’s New:

• USA reveal Junior World MX roster
• Metnitztal to host Austrian Hard Enduro Spezial
• Bou tops Tarragona X-Trial – Marcelli runner-up
• Aprilia Tuareg Racing top Tout Terrain Rally Cup in Spain
• The Dukes GNCC Report
• Australian ProMX Round Two – Canberra Race Wrap
• Australian ProMX Round Two – Canberra Team Wraps
  • Yamaha Racing
  • Factory Honda
  • KTM Racing Team
  • Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing
  • Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki
• 24MX Alestrem Hard Enduro Wrap
• 2026 MXGP Round Five – MXGP of Trentino Wrap
• 2026 AMA SX Round 14 – Cleveland Wrap
• 2026 Racing Calendars

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USA reveal Junior World MX roster

The American Motorcyclist Association has set the 11-person roster for the 2026 United States Junior Motocross Team at the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, running July 4-5 in Jinín, Czech Republic.

In the 65cc class, the United States will be represented by Jax Baker, Yumena Berning, Carter Holmes and Abshur Hall. Berning joins Raycin Kyler (2025) as the only American female racers to compete in the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship.

Joey Vicari, Chase Brennan and Austin Keller will compete on behalf of the Stars and Stripes in the 85cc class in the Czech Republic. Racing in the 125cc class will be Noxx Lewin, Gauge Brown, Sawyer Gieck and Chase Dashiell.

Jeff Cernic will remain in his role as team manager, leading Team USA’s efforts during the distinguished international competition.

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Metnitztal to host Austrian Hard Enduro Spezial

Austria’s National Hard Enduro Elite is gathering in Carinthia’s Metnitztal, and Oberhof – a village of just 37 residents – which will become Austria’s Hard Enduro Mecca for three days with ‘Hell’s Ride’. A top-tier rider lineup is planned, including: Michael Walkner, Dieter Rudolf, Patrick Riegler, Manuel Preuhs, plus Leon Hentschel, German Hard Enduro Champion, and Dino Floricic, Romaniacs Gold Finisher from Croatia.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg of a 330-rider starting field from seven nations and an event that sold out completely within two weeks. Clearly, the new event format developed by Thomas Pirolt has proven its appeal to the athletes.

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Bou tops Tarragona X-Trial – Marcelli runner-up

The 2026 X-Trial World Championship concluded this Saturday in Tarragona, with Repsol Honda HRC rounding off a brilliant season. Toni Bou claimed the 99th race win of his career, while Gabriel Marcelli secured the runner-up position in the overall standings  after overtaking Jaime Busto.

From the start of the day, Bou was on form. On the first lap, the Repsol Honda HRC rider completed all six sections with just 3 penalty points, earning a spot in the final alongside his teammate Marcelli and Busto. Later, in the Super Pole, Bou was once again the fastest, completing the three sections in a time of 0:31.9 and earning a prime starting position for the final.

In it, the Montesa Cota 4RT rider was determined to finish the season well. With a solid performance and very few mistakes, Bou dominated the final to take the victory with only 8 penalty points. It was his 99th X-Trial race win, his eighth of the season from nine rounds held.

Marcelli secured his first runner-up finish in the X-Trial World Championship. He had a fantastic first lap, accumulating 6 penalty points and guaranteeing his place in the final. In Super Pole, he set the third fastest time, which put him second in the starting order.

In the final, Marcelli maintained a high level of riding, although it wasn’t enough to secure the victory. He concluded the 2026 campaign with a second-place finish in Tarragona, a result which allowed him to overtake Busto in the overall standings.

Repsol Honda HRC achieved an historic one-two finish in the X-Trial World Championship, with Toni Bou as champion and Gabriel Marcelli as runner-up. The team’s next challenge will be in Japan in a month’s time, with the start of the 2026 TrialGP World Championship.

Toni Bou – Round Winner

“It’s been a really special night as we’ve achieved our 99th X-Trial victory. Finishing the season with a win makes me incredibly happy, so now we have to enjoy this wonderful moment. I’m very proud of how we’ve handled my injury, and achieving so many wins is very impressive. Now, our next goal is the TrialGP World Championship. We start at Honda’s home round in Japan, a race with a lot of pressure, so we’ll work hard to be as prepared as possible.”

Gabriel Marcelli – Championship Runner-Up

“I’m finishing the season with a great feeling and very happy with the runner-up position. I think I’ve been very consistent throughout the season, although I missed out on my first victory, which was one of my goals. Even so, I’m very happy with the work we’ve done and I want to thank the team. I’m very positive about the TrialGP World Championship, which starts in less than a month. I have a great feeling about the bike and I’m very happy with the team, so we’ll try to do our best.”

2026 X-Trial Final Standings

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Aprilia Tuareg Racing top Tout Terrain Rally Cup in Spain

Aprilia Tuareg Racing has opened the European Championship in dominant fashion, securing both the overall victory and M5 class win at the Tout Terrain Rally Cup in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Jacopo Cerutti delivered a landmark result, taking a twin-cylinder machine to the top step of the overall standings – an exceptional achievement in a field of specialist rally bikes. Teammate Thomas Marini completed a commanding one-two finish, underlining the strength of the Aprilia Tuareg Rally package.

Across six stages, Cerutti was a constant front-runner, claiming three class wins (including the prologue) and two overall stage victories, finishing on the podium in every stage contested.

Jacopo Cerutti

“It was a great race – fast, fun and really satisfying. Thomas and I pushed hard all week and worked well together on stage. The Tuareg Rally was consistently strong: reliable, fast and effective in every situation. That made the difference against more specialised bikes.”

Marini matched the pace with a standout performance of his own, combining speed and consistency to secure second overall and second in class. He added three class wins and two overall stage victories, ensuring Aprilia Tuareg Racing controlled the rally from start to finish.

Thomas Marini

“A very positive start to the European Championship. Conditions were challenging early in the week, but we stayed competitive every day. The team did an excellent job, and my confidence with the bike continues to grow – even in difficult conditions.”

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Yamaha Racing

Held in perfect conditions with cool temperatures and clear blue skies, Yamaha riders won three of the four classes contested at round two with Jed Beaton completing back to back round victories on his Monster Energy CDR Yamaha YZ450F, while Hayden Draper snared the win the MX3 division while flying the Monster Energy WBR Yamaha flag and finally, Blake Bohannon continued his dominance of the 85cc class.

Monster Energy CDR Yamaha – MX1

The powerhouse CDR Yamaha team saw both riders mount the podium in a confidence-boosting outing for the team. Beaton claimed another round win in impressive fashion with a 1-1 result, while teammate Aaron Tanti burst through for a third-place finish with 3-3 results.

Beaton started off on the right foot, taking P1 in the Superpole event, and from there he was in control of the MX1 class for much of the day. He did come under some late pressure in the closing stages of Moto Two, but his cool head and supreme fitness had him well placed to fight off any challenges.

The 1-1 day now puts him 14 points clear in the championship and consolidated the great start made at Wonthaggi.

Jed Beaton

“Moto one was all smooth sailing and was able to take comfortable victory, which was nice, but things got a little more intense late in race two. It was difficult to see the pit board as the track was super rutted in that area and I thought it was Tanti that was behind me and I was marking him off in some of the switch back turns. I was unaware that Kyle got passed him and was closing in on me until I saw the guys hanging over the fence and then figured something was up. I was able to wick it back up again at the end and match Kyle’s pace and go on to win the race and make it a 1-1 day. Thanks for the team for a big effort today. The track wasn’t easy as it was so rutted, but the bike was good all day, so hats off to them.”

It was a welcome return to the ProMX podium for Aaron Tanti. The 2022 ProMX champ has endured a tough run of injuries in recent times and is only now starting to regain some continuity in his riding and training.

With his fitness returning to peak levels and his belief that he can race the full distance, things are starting to fall into place for Tanti, and third place this week was a good reward for his perseverance and dedication.

His starts were back on song, and with good track position early in the race, Tanti was able to fight all the way to the end and finish the day with a 3-3 result, jumping to third in the championship after two rounds.

Aaron Tanti

“Man, I don’t know how long it’s been since I have been on a motocross podium other than it’s been too long and it feels so good to be back,” Tanti begins. “That second race I was able to hold pace with Jed for a lot of laps and to stay in the fight that long gives me a lot of self-belief that I belong up front. The track was tough today and it was easy to make a mistake and go down in the long ruts. To not crash today was a big deal for me as in the past I might have tries to override the conditions, but I felt solid all day and happy to get back on the box for myself and the team.”

Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha

Things didn’t go so well for the Yamaha MX2 team with both riders well down the results sheet in a challenging day. Noah Ferguson has been in good form at the practice track and local races in Queensland, but was able to replicate that on the big stage over the weekend at Canberra.

He started the day with a fall in the opening practice session, and it didn’t get much better from there. His starts were off, and then the pace was at the level Ferguson can often generate. He finished the day with 9-9 results for ninth overall, and the only positives to take away from Canberra were that he is injury-free and wants redemption.

Noah Ferguson

“I didn’t show up today and that’s on me,” Ferguson commented. “I apologised to the team as they put in a huge effort between rounds one and two and I just didn’t execute when I needed to. I couldn’t get any flow going on the track and had no consistency in the ruts or my laps times. I’m super disappointed but will make sure I turn things around at Gillman.”

Souya Nakajima finished in 15th place for the round, and while that might not jump off the page, there was a significant improvement in his riding at Canberra. The conditions were much closer to those he races in back in Japan, and he was often in a battle with several riders in the top 10.

He was rubbing shoulders with many of the established names in the MX2 division, where his Wonthaggi experience often left him by himself, not racing in a pack towards the front. He finished with 15-12 results and took a lot from the day that will benefit his development as a rider.

Souya Nakajima

“Today was better for me and enjoyed racing many of the Australian riders. I liked battling with them and in race two, I could see there were many riders just ahead of me at the finish, so my goal is to keep improving and gain more positions at the next round. This track a little more like what I race back at home with the harder dirt and the ruts. Our tracks don’t get as deep as what we had here, but I felt more comfortable on the bike than I didn’t at round one.”

Monster Energy WBR Yamaha

It was an up-and-down day for the WBR Yamaha team in the MX3 class, in more ways than one. Hayden Draper had a great day, finishing with a 1-1 result to leapfrog into the championship lead, while Jack Deveson’s racing didn’t go as planned, as crashes or poor starts left him floundering in both races.

For Draper, he quickly adjusted to the Canberra circuit, as this was his first visit to the nation’s capital. He rides with maturity, and while many of his rivals were having issues, Draper stayed calm in both motos, minimised the mistakes and came away with the double moto victory and the championship leader’s red plate.

Hayden Draper

“We only really get four laps to learn the track before we get into qualifying so even though I wasn’t the fastest, I felt like I was the guy who would only get better as I worked out the track,” Draper explains. With each lap, I become more comfortable and familiar with the track, and the speed started to come. I didn’t panic and wasn’t going to try and overrode as I knew that would only hurt my lap times. I stayed consistent, stayed off the dirt, and ended up with a great result and I’m pumped to get the round win.”

Unfortunately, it was a great day for our round one winner, Jack Deveson. He leapt out to an early lead in race one, but after a few laps, he started making mistakes, and those mistakes compounded throughout the moto. He missed ruts, ran off the track, and eventually slid back to eighth place by race’s end.

Race two wasn’t any better as a terrible start saw him at the back of the pack, and then he crashed in the opening lap chaos. He went down again during the race and eventually crossed the finish line outside the top 20.

Jack Deveson

“It wasn’t the day I was wanting or expecting. I have raced here a lot, I like riding on hard pack and rutted dirt, but I was off today and didn’t ride well at all after the first couple of laps in race one. It was frustrating and it seemed the more I tried the worse it got. I want to rewatch the race and see the issues and mistakes I made so I can learn from them and be better next time we are faced with a track like this.”

It was also a tough day for MX2 rider Seth Burchell. Burchell got a great start in race one and was up the front early before he crashed and dropped well down the field. He battled all moto trying to move forward and could get back to 10th place.

Race two didn’t fare any better, and the technical track created issues for a lot of riders, and Burchell brought it home in 14th to finish out the day in 13th overall.

GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing

The team had five riders flying the team flag with Blake Bohannon and Kye Sproule in the 85cc class, while Lachlan Allen, Jobe Dunne, and Heath Davy fronted up for the MX3 class. All five riders put in a huge effort and showed flashes of brilliance on a track that was no joke.

Bohannon kept on his winning ways, taking both race wins in the 85cc class. Bohannon overcame an average start in race one to eventually clear out to a 45-second lead, while in race two he weathered early challengers on the opening laps before getting out to a 25-second lead by race’s end. After two rounds of the three scheduled for the 85cc Cup, Bohannon has a 25-point lead and can wrap it up with a good moto at the next round in Toowoomba.

Kye Sproule also showed he was feeling more at home in the big wheel division and was inside the top five in the early stages of race one. He faded back to sixth by race end, but it was still a good effort from the young gun. He finished 14th in race two and rounded out the day in 11th place, and plenty to take away from the weekend.

Jobe Dunne led the charge in the MX3 class and was only a few laps away from claiming his first ProMX podium. Dunne showed plenty of hustle in the early stages of both races and found himself as high as second place in race one and fourth in race two, before he made some costly errors. He finished with 4-10 results to claim a personal best fifth-place result for the round.

Heath Davy had his first national race since breaking his wrist back in January, and despite a hiccup here and there, did well. He finished sixth for the round, highlighted by a top-five finish in the final MX3 moto.

And for Lachlan Allen, crashes at the wrong times really affected his overall results. He, too, was inside the top 10 and making waves before crashing down the results sheet.

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Factory Honda

Round 2 of the Australian Motocross Championship in Canberra delivered strong results for the Factory Honda Team partnered by SCT Logistics, with winning form across multiple classes. However, despite the positives, the focus remains firmly on championship outcomes.

Yarrive Konsky – Team Director

“Winning both races with two different riders in MX2 shows the strength and consistency of our bikes and program. In MX1, while we didn’t take the overall, we were the fastest. Kyle is back to full fitness, and that was clear with the way he charged through the field after mistakes. You don’t do that without speed and strength. We’ll take the positives, but we all know there’s more to do, riders and team and that’s where our focus is heading into Round 3.”

In MX1, Kyle Webster qualified second, opting for a measured approach on a track that proved inconsistent throughout the day.

Race day told a story of raw speed mixed with missed opportunities. In Race 1, Webster fought through the pack multiple times after a poor start and two crashes.

Race 2 followed a similar pattern. Another average start, another crash and early time losses of more than 17 seconds forced Webster into an aggressive recovery ride, setting the fastest laps of the race and closing to within two seconds of the lead.

Kyle Webster

“The track was tricky, overwatered in sections and dry in others. I knew I had more pace but didn’t want to overcommit in qualifying,” Webster explained. I lost around five seconds on the opening lap and another eight seconds later in the race. When you’re setting fastest laps and still losing by 7.5 seconds, it’s frustrating. It feels like a missed opportunity. The speed was there, and the bike was near perfect, we’ve made strong progress with the chassis and suspension. We just need to clean up a few areas. I’m excited for Round 3.”

Wilson Todd showed clear improvement from Round 1, finishing fourth overall despite costly mistakes.

Wilson Todd

“The bike was good, I wasn’t. I need to be better. I’m still building back after breaking my leg late last year, and I only returned to riding in late January. This weekend was a step forward, but there’s more work to do.”

Kayd Kingsford delivered a standout performance, securing his first Pro MX2 overall victory in just his second appearance in the premier 250 class.

Kayd Kingsford

“Race 1 was probably the best I’ve ever ridden. I felt strong and focused. I was disappointed to crash late, but I had built enough of a gap to still win. In Race 2, I was happy to sit in second, learn from my teammate, and not take unnecessary risks. I’m really pumped to take my first overall.”

Alex Larwood rebounded from adversity to win Race 2 after a challenging opening moto, where a damaged gear shifter left him finishing 16th.

Alex Larwood

“Race 1 was tough, I didn’t do anything wrong, but something damaged the gear shifter, either a rut, brick or something. To come back and win Race 2 was one of the best rides of my career. It’s a big boost for the championship.”

Ryder Kingsford endured a difficult weekend, with crashes and starts impacting his results. Despite finishing sixth overall, he remains focused on progression.

Ryder Kingsford

“We’ve made a big step forward since Round 1, even if it didn’t show in the results. There’s a long season ahead, and we’ll keep building.”

Kayd and Alex sit first and second in the MX2 championship, respectively.

Heath Fisher delivered a breakthrough performance in Race 1 of MX3, with a podium finish, before a crash in Race 2 limited him to 16th and ninth overall.

Heath Fisher

“Race 1 was a step forward, but Race 2 was disappointing. The crash knocked me around, and I couldn’t find my rhythm again. I’ll reset and come back stronger.”

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KTM Racing Team

Sunday’s second round of the 2026 Australian ProMX Championship saw KTM Racing Team riders Dylan Walsh and Byron Dennis capture MX2 podium results for the second consecutive round in Canberra, where Walsh achieved a well-earned second position overall, and Dennis claimed P3.

Walsh was in form from the outset aboard his KTM 250 SX-F, setting the third-fastest qualifying time around the technical Canberra layout, just 0.223s from pole position entering the two-moto format.

Clear skies greeted riders in the nation’s capital, with Walsh charging to a hard-fought third in the opening MX2 moto, before recording fourth in Moto 2. His 3-4 scorecard earned him P2 overall for the second round, and sees him ranked equal third in the championship standings.

Dylan Walsh

“Canberra was a tough day, but also a positive one in the end. A first moto crash that I had was quite big and caught me off-guard, so I’m a bit sore from that, and then I tried to manage it during the second moto, but made a mistake by leaving the door open at the last turn and paid the price. We’ll take second overall after what was a difficult day, because the end result was good and we salvaged a spot on the podium again.”

Alongside him in MX2, Dennis carried his podium speed from the season-opener into Round 2, taking his KTM 250 SX-F to the top position on the qualifying timesheets with a 1:39.020s lap-time, before converting that to a second-place finish in Moto 1.

A fifth-place result in Moto 2 saw Dennis earn the final step on the MX2 podium for the weekend and hold P3 in the series standings – now joint with Walsh – just five points out of the lead as the series heads to Gillman on May 10.

Byron Dennis

“It wasn’t a bad day for me in Canberra and we made a couple of steps in the right direction again. I posted the fastest qualifying time, so I was pretty happy with that, and then had a solid first moto. I let myself down a bit in Moto 2, so we’ll go back to the drawing board and work on getting two consistent motos together, then come out fighting for it again in Gillman.”

KTM Racing Team MX1 rider Zac Watson made his second ProMX appearance with the team on board the KTM 450 SX-F at Canberra, initially qualifying in 10th before posting the sixth-fastest time during the MX1 Pole Shootout.

Watson then charged to sixth place in Moto 1 before taking eighth at the conclusion of Moto 2 in difficult conditions, despite being under the weather. His combined scores across the opening two rounds of 2026 position him seventh in the MX1 standings.

Zac Watson

“My day started a bit slow in Canberra – the track was very technical and tough, so took some time to get comfortable. In the first moto I was sixth, so that was pretty good, and then Moto 2 I was struggling – I’ve got a bit of a flu going on, so my energy levels were quite low. We’ll recover in between now and Gillman and come out strong for Round 3.”

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Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing

Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing Team’s Todd Waters delivered a consistent performance at the second round of the 2026 Australian ProMX Championship in Canberra, where the former national MX1 Champion earned an encouraging fifth overall.

Waters entered Round 2 with momentum after posting a P4 result at Wonthaggi’s season-opener last month, guiding his Husqvarna FC 450 to fifth on the initial MX1 qualification timesheets, before improving to fourth in the Pole Shootout courtesy of a 1:40.273s lap-time.

In what were technical, challenging conditions – including a mixture of both wet and dry sections – the 36-year-old leant on experience across the two-moto format, eventually achieving a 7-5 scorecard after charging forwards to finish fifth overall for the Canberra weekend.

Waters is now positioned fifth in the MX1 standings, two points from P4 as the Australian ProMX Championship heads to Gillman on May 10.

Todd Waters

“Our weekend started quite well with the feeling on the bike and track being very positive,” said Waters. “I was fifth in qualifying and then P4 in the Shootout, although I was very disappointed by not giving myself the best possible opportunity off the starts. Riding from 17th to fifth in Moto 2 for fifth overall was a good ride, although I needed to be up front to give my full potential. We’ll head back to the start gates and work on those for the next few weeks, and focus forward to Round 3 in Gillman. Thank you to the entire Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing program for the great support.”

In the MX2 division, Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing Team entry Reid Taylor was equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 and impressively recorded the fourth-quickest qualifying time following the morning’s session.

Taylor would also display his speed in the first MX2 moto by claiming P7 –which included the second-fastest lap time of the race – before a more difficult Moto 2 saw him withdraw from the race during its early stages, leaving him credited with 16th overall for the round.

Reid Taylor

“I felt a lot more comfortable at Round 2 after we made good progress since Wonthaggi,” commented Taylor. “I qualified well in fourth and then in Moto 1 I was inside the top-five until the last lap, where I had a silly tip-over with a lapped rider, although it was still a solid race. Then in Moto 2, we had an unfortunate issue early, which forced me to retire after getting a good start. That was a bummer, but all-in-all I’m feeling more comfy with the set-up, and am looking forward to continue making progress leading into Gillman.”

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Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki

Round two of the 2026 Penrite ProMX Championship in Canberra delivered no shortage of intensity, and Kawasaki’s Team Green riders rose to the occasion across both MX1, MX2 and MX85 classes.

There was no denying the speed at round two of the 2026 Penrite ProMX Championship in Canberra for Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki’s Dean Ferris, highlighted by the second-fastest lap in a rough and technical MX1 race two aboard the KX450. Unfortunately, untimely crashes in both motos limited his overall result to P8, leaving the capital now sitting P4 in the championship standings.

For teammate Brad West, Canberra marked a clear step forward, finishing 12th overall, with race two in particular showing strong signs of progression. West ran inside the lead group during the opening laps, holding a podium position for a period and gaining valuable experience at the front of the MX1 field.

The JPM 360 Kawasaki team made significant gains at round two, with MX2 contender Ryan Alexanderson narrowly missing the overall podium with P4. A consistent 5-3 scorecard saw the Queenslander climb to P6 in the championship standings.

Teammate Jayce Cosford also showed improvement from the opening round in his second national appearance with the JPM 360 Kawasaki team, continuing his return from off-season shoulder surgery to finish P14 courtesy of 11-15 scores in Canberra.

Continuing that upward trend, Kawasaki Team Green NZ’s Madoc Dixon was one of the standout performers of the weekend, charging through the MX2 field in moto one to claim P4, just a second shy of the podium. He would finish P7 overall, with the New Zealander demonstrating impressive front-running speed in Canberra.

Also in MX2, Japanese fan favourite Haruki Yokoyama recorded a 14-10 scorecard to secure P12 overall aboard his KX250 in the ACT, where no less than 10 Team Green-supported riders took on the Australian championship round this weekend.

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24MX Alestrem Hard Enduro Wrap

The 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship got underway in France with a dramatic opening round at 24MX Alestrem, where Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler took the overall win, but Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt left Alès with the early championship lead.

Set against the iconic backdrop of the Pôle Mécanique Alès Cévenne, this year’s April running of Alestrem brought a different complexion to the famous event. The terrain initially offered drier conditions and more grip than the colder winter editions traditionally associated with the race, but that changed as the weekend unfolded and the main event was hit by worsening weather.

Lettenbichler ultimately finished 48 seconds clear of Bolt after officials cut the main event short and called the results at the end of lap two.

Sherco’s Teodor Kabakchiev completed the podium. Husqvarna’s Mario Román was fourth, while KTM-mounted Wade Young completed the top five.

An official statement was released clarifying the situation on Facebook:

24MX Alestrem Official Statement

“Following the conclusion of Round One of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship at 24MX Alestrem, the championship wishes to clarify the process that led to the final classification of the race. During the Main Race, changing weather conditions required an adjustment to the course.

“The Clerk of the Course (CoC), whose primary responsibility is the safety of all participants, made the decision to implement a deviation to the race route. Under FIM regulations, the CoC holds full authority to make immediate course adjustments where safety is a concern.

“Following Checkpoint Eight, one rider (no. 304) misunderstood the implemented deviation. It has been established through video evidence that this occurred at no fault of the rider. Subsequently, rider no. 57 and the following riders were directed through the correct deviation.

“This situation directly impacted the order in which riders crossed the finish line and therefore did not accurately reflect the true race progression. A formal protest was submitted by rider no. 304.

“The matter was reviewed by the event Jury, in accordance with FIM sporting procedures. It is important to note that the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (HEWC) is not part of the Jury decision making process.

“Following a review of all available evidence and a formal vote, the Jury determined the most accurate and fair sporting outcome was to establish the final classification based on the position at Checkpoint Eight, prior to the point of deviation. This decision has been applied to the official results of Round One.

“While the final classifications required clarification, the event itself delivered an outstanding opening round to the 2026 season. Despite torrential downpours affecting sections of the course, the atmosphere in Ales remained exceptional with large crowds supporting riders from start to finish.

“The championship would like to thank the 24MX Alestrem organisers for delivering a world class event under challenging conditions and for their continued contribution to the growth of Hard Enduro. HEWC remains committed to ensuring fair competition, rider safety, and transparent sporting procedures at every round of the championship.”

Lettenbichler gets the win, Bolt takes the points lead

Lettenbichler was strong throughout the weekend. The reigning champion topped Friday’s Xtrem Test to get his campaign off to a fast start, then backed it up with another solid showing in Saturday’s Minerva Prologue before delivering in the main event.

In Sunday’s feature race, the German quickly established himself near the front, moved into the lead on lap two and looked to have the race under control as conditions became increasingly difficult.

When torrential rain hit and the course rapidly deteriorated, Bolt worked hard to close the gap to Mani and was reeling the German in, but ultimately, the race was shortened by one lap, giving Lettenbichler a hard-earned opening victory.

Bolt, meanwhile, had put together an equally impressive weekend. After finishing a fraction off the top in Friday’s Xtrem Test, the British rider dominated Saturday’s Minerva Prologue to secure maximum points from that segment and the best possible starting position for the main race.

His Sunday, however, was more complicated.

Bolt admitted he did not feel completely comfortable with the pace on the opening lap, while Lettenbichler settled quickly into a strong rhythm at the front. But once the rain arrived and conditions became more technical and slippery, Bolt began to come on strongly and closed back onto the German late in the race.

That late charge is what gives the result an extra layer.

Bolt said the worsening conditions actually suited him better, allowing him to focus on riding clean and building rhythm, and he felt there was still more to come as he chased Lettenbichler down. But with the race shortened by one lap, that final opportunity disappeared, leaving him second overall rather than with a chance to attack for the win.

The result still worked well for Bolt in the title race. Thanks to his prologue victory and runner-up finish in the main event, he leaves France with 29 points and a one-point lead over Lettenbichler, who sits on 28.

Kabakchiev on the podium, Román and Young close behind

Teodor Kabakchiev opened his 2026 campaign with a strong podium finish in third for Sherco, the Bulgarian continuing to establish himself as one of the championship’s genuine front-runners.

Mario Román followed in fourth for Husqvarna, only 19 seconds further back, while Wade Young rounded out the top five on his KTM.

The Brightmore brothers also made a solid start to their campaigns, with Mitch Brightmore taking sixth and Ashton Brightmore seventh for GASGAS. South African KTM rider Matthew Green was eighth.

Electric bikes make their mark

Electric machinery also had a notable weekend in France, with Stark riders Toby Martyn and Eddie Karlsson finishing ninth and 10th respectively to put two electric bikes inside the top 10 at the opening round of the championship. Graham Jarvis also brought his Jarv-E machine home 26th, giving the Alestrem opener an interesting electric subplot. They were not a factor in the battle for victory, but two Stark top-10 finishes at one of hard enduro’s toughest events was still a significant result.

Bolt leads after round one

So while Lettenbichler won the race, Bolt emerged from France leading the points.

Billy Bolt

“It was a pretty chaotic race and not an easy one to manage. I didn’t feel completely comfortable with the pace on the first lap, and Mani was riding really well, so I had to work hard to stay in the fight. Once the rain came, it changed everything. It made the track a lot more technical and slippery, which suited me better and allowed me to focus on riding clean and finding a good rhythm. On the final lap, I was pushing to get back to the front and felt like there was still more to come, but with the race being shortened, that opportunity was taken away a bit. Still, second place and the prologue win means we leave here leading the championship, which is a solid way to start the season. The atmosphere was incredible all weekend. The fans in France were amazing, and you could feel the energy the whole way around the course. It’s been a tough race, but a good one to build from heading into the next round.”

Manuel Lettenbichler

“It’s a great way to start the season with the win at Alestrem. It was a really tough weekend with a lot of different conditions, and everything kept changing, especially in the main race after the rain came in. I felt good from the start and was able to control the race early on, but once the conditions got worse it became really tricky and you had to stay focused every single meter. In the end, I’m happy with how I managed everything, and it’s always nice to leave the first round with the win and good points for the championship. It’s just the beginning, but this is exactly the kind of start we wanted.”

Kabakchiev sits third in the standings on 22, with Mitch Brightmore fourth on 20 and Ashton Brightmore fifth on 17.

Next stop: Lagares

The series now moves on to Extreme XL Lagares on May 1-3, with round one having already delivered the sort of shifting conditions, physical punishment and tactical complexity that defines hard enduro at world championship level.  The 2026 HEWC calendar spans nine rounds across Europe, North America and Africa.

2026 24MX Alestrem Hard Enduro Results

2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Standings

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2026 MXGP Round Five – MXGP of Trentino Wrap

See results here:
Jake Cannon breaks through in Trentino as Herlings, Coenen and Ernecker win at Pietramurata

Young Australian Jake Cannon gave the MXGP of Trentino an Australian headline by taking his first overall EMX250 victory, banking a pair of second-place finishes to edge Nicolai Skovbjerg by a single point. Around him, Jeffrey Herlings claimed the MXGP overall for Honda, Sacha Coenen went 1-1 in MX2, and Moritz Ernecker dominated EMX125 with a clean 1-1 sweep. Class-by-class reports and full results continue further below.

MXGP

Jeffrey Herlings took the MXGP overall with a 1-2 scorecard after coming through the pack in both motos, while Tim Gajser’s 4-1 gave Yamaha second overall and Tom Vialle’s 3-6 secured the final podium position. The result leaves Lucas Coenen still leading the championship, but his advantage over Herlings is down to just four points after a difficult 12-3 day in the Dolomites.

Gajser’s second-moto win was a significant one. Still sore after Sardegna, he rode to fourth in race one before taking victory in race two for his first MXGP race win on Yamaha machinery, enough to move to fourth in the standings. Herlings, meanwhile, left Trentino with the overall and important championship momentum heading into the break.

Just off the podium, Kay de Wolf finished fourth overall on countback from Maxime Renaux after a 7-4 return, with the Dutchman also taking his first MXGP holeshot. Romain Febvre recovered from Saturday’s trouble to finish second in race one, but 12th in race two, limiting him to sixth overall. Coenen salvaged seventh overall and kept the red plate despite crashes across the day.

There were also encouraging signs further down the order. Calvin Vlaanderen rode to 13-9 finishes for Ducati, Pauls Jonass cracked the top 10 overall for Kawasaki, and Oriol Oliver continued to impress by ending the weekend ninth overall in MXGP.

Jeffrey Herlings 1-2 / P1

“I need to work on my starts but otherwise my speed was really good all weekend. I came from 15th to first in the first moto and 10th to second in the second moto so it was good. I found a good flow and had some good lines in both races and even though it is a small track, I had to be creative. It was really good to pay back all the hard work from all of Honda HRC PETRONAS, they’ve all worked really hard to put me in the position to win and it was important to get these points for the championship standings, even though we have a lot of racing to go.”

Tim Gajser – 4-1 / P2

“I’m almost speechless and I’m super happy with this result. Coming into the weekend I knew it was going to be a difficult one because I was still in a lot of pain after the crash last week in Riola, but I gave everything I had. The fans really helped push me on, especially in the second moto, so a huge thank you to everyone who travelled here and supported me. I also want to thank the whole team and everyone around me, from the physios to the staff, because we worked so hard during the week to get me ready to race. It makes this result even more special. Now we have a break, which gives me time to recover properly, and then we’ll be ready to go again in four weeks.”

Tom Vialle – 3-6 / P3

“I had a bad crash right after the wave mid-moto and lost a lot of time and lost some positions and that made things tough. I had to really work hard for this podium in that second moto and I didn’t know that I had managed it when I crossed the line. Overall, I had a lot of fun overall this weekend, it was a slow track but technical and that’s something I enjoy. Now we have a bit of a break from the GPs and I hope to keep this season going well for when we return.”

Kay de Wolf – 7-4 / P4

“Overall, I think there are a lot of positives to take from Trentino. In the first race, the crash was frustrating because I felt good and I was right there in the fight, so to come back to seventh was important for the points. Then in the second one, getting the holeshot and leading those first laps in MXGP was a really nice feeling. It shows the speed is there and that we’re making progress every weekend. Of course, when you are that close to the front, you want more than fourth, but to be battling with those guys and stay in it until the end is something we can build on. I feel like I’m learning all the time in this class and this weekend gave me a lot of confidence.”

Maxime Renaux – 5-5 / P5

“Today was OK. I didn’t get the starts I needed, though. The first one was poor, and in the second race I got boxed in at the first corner, which made things difficult from the beginning. The track was tough, but I felt like my pace was good, just not quite enough for where we want to be. It’s a little disappointing to come so close to the podium again, but there are still positives to take from the weekend. Now we have a short break, so we’ll reset, then go back to work, and aim to come back stronger for the second half of the season.”

Romain Febvre – 2-12 / P6

“We had an issue yesterday which cost me everything today. I had some luck in the first moto that I could find a gate on the inside so I could make the holeshot and lead for most of the race, but I made a mistake with five laps to to and that cost me the win. There was no gate free in the second moto so I was completely outside at the gate. I took another good start but I was too far outside to make it across before the first turn. I tried to push too hard on the first lap and made a mistake and then it was too far to catch the leaders.”

Rubén Fernández – 9-7 / P8

“Tough race day today, and I felt like I was always involved with another rider in some sort of battle. My life would have been a lot easier if I could have got the starts, but instead I was around the top 10 and it just wasn’t easy to find a good rhythm in either moto. Now we have a few weeks off so I’ll keep working hard and just trying to work my way towards to front guys, which I really don’t think I am too far behind.”

Pauls Jonass – 11-8 / P10

“My speed was good in both practices but I’m just lacking a bit of confidence in the longer motos. I don’t get physically tired but you need to be on your top game to battle up front at this level; sometimes you just need to pin and not be scared in sketchy moments. The second moto was a step in the right direction and now we have one month to regroup and come back swinging for the rest of the season.”

MX2

Sacha Coenen was the class of the MX2 field, taking both motos for a maximum 50 points and closing to within three points of championship leader Simon Längenfelder. Guillem Farres went 3-2 for second overall, while Mathis Valin’s 2-7 gave Kawasaki third overall and his first podium of the season.

Coenen controlled the wet first moto from the front, then repeated the effort in race two, even surviving a late mistake to complete the sweep. Farres was one of the most consistent riders all weekend and moved up to third in the championship, while Valin’s recovery in the second moto after first-lap trouble proved decisive in getting him onto the podium.

Behind the podium, Julius Mikula continued his strong form with fourth overall thanks to 6-4 finishes, and Karlis Reisulis delivered his best GP result of the season in fifth with two fifth places. Längenfelder limited the damage with a 10-3 day for sixth overall, while Liam Everts ended seventh after crashing out of third in race two and charging back to ninth.

Kay Karssemakers was solid again in eighth overall, Janis Reisulis took ninth, and Camden McLellan rounded out the top 10. Ferruccio Zanchi’s weekend was one of frustration, with the Ducati rider 15th in race one before a technical problem ended race two while he was running inside the top 10.

Sacha Coenen 1-1 / P1

“I’m really happy to win three motos this weekend and for the first time. I had the holeshot in the first moto, made a lead and was able to cruise until the end. Really good. In the second one I was feeling better and had an even better flow. I led every lap until three to go when I made a big mistake and crashed: I hate that corner! Anyway, I was able to pick up and manage the race to win again.”

Guillem Farres – 3-2 / P2

“It’s been a good GP for me. I had a decent start in the first moto and moved from fifth to third pretty quickly. I felt like my speed was better than the two riders in front, but I couldn’t make any more passes. My start in race two was terrible and I was outside the top 10. I then had to work super hard for the whole moto and got into second. Again, my speed was good, so it’s frustrating about my start in that one.”

Mathis Valin – 2-7 / P3

“We have been getting closer step-by-step and it was good to have my first podium of the season before the break. I found a good flow in the first moto to finish second but Everts crashed right in front of me on the first lap of the second race. I knew I had to push hard to get on the box after that but I managed it.”

Karlis Reisulis – 5-5 / P5

“Overall, it was a positive weekend. On Saturday I wasn’t feeling completely comfortable on the track. The bike felt good, but I just couldn’t quite link everything together and find my flow through the corners. On Sunday things improved. In the first moto I got a decent start, made some passes, and stayed focused throughout the race. In the second moto I didn’t have the best start, but I worked my way forward again and was pushing hard to fight for the podium. In the end, we just came up a little short, but there are plenty of positives to take away from here and I was only a small step away from being on the podium.”

Simon Laengenfelder – 10-3 / P6

“I started to feel a bit better in the second race. We had been making changes, and I had been struggling to get a good feeling and to push; I had to push anyway to get 3rd at the end! Some weekends are better, some are worse and I was ‘off’ today.”

Liam Everts – 4-9 / P7

“Yeah, I was feeling really good actually. Just crashing in moto two cost me quite a bit, and then I had another crash with a lapper, which was a bit unfortunate. But still, coming from last to ninth, the riding was outstanding in that second moto, so that was great. Moto one, I just struggled a little bit to find the groove, but overall I’m really happy with the mental state, the physical state, and even where the riding is at, especially without riding during the week. The pace was really good and I was feeling good. It’s just a shame we didn’t get the result, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. I’m actually happy these races are over now so I can fully recover from the injury and come back swinging in France.”

Camden McLellan – 8-11 / P10

“A pretty tough weekend for me, especially on Sunday. I had to come from way back in both motos and it wasn’t easy at all. Not the best of days results-wise, but I felt good and strong on the bike. We now have four weeks off, so the goal is to recover fully, get the body feeling good, and then come back stronger in France.”

EMX250

Cannon’s first EMX250 overall came via the sort of weekend that rewards consistency. The Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki rider finished second in both races, and that was enough to beat Skovbjerg 44 points to 43, with Francisco Garcia salvaging third overall after winning race one and then recovering from a start-line problem in race two to finish 12th.

Race one saw Garcia take the win from Cannon and Adria Monne, with Cannon making his move into second on the last lap.

In race two, Skovbjerg won from Cannon and Gyan Doensen, but Cannon’s pass for second proved decisive in the overall calculation. His pace was underlined by the fastest lap of EMX250 race one, set on the final lap as he pushed to the flag after forging his way through the field from outside the top ten early on.

The result moves Cannon to third in the EMX250 standings, four points behind Skovbjerg and 45 behind leader Garcia, who did well to retain the red plate after the race-two drama. Fellow Australian Liam Owens scored 17th in race one and 20th in race two.

Jake Cannon 2-2 / P1

“This one feels good. I’m lost for words to finally do it; awesome! And it’s Lily’s birthday today; that makes it even sweeter for the team. I left everything I had out there on the track and I’m so proud of my efforts. I didn’t get the best start but I always push to the end of every race and it paid off today; if I hadn’t pushed to the very end I wouldn’t be here on the top step of the podium. It’s not easy to come over here from the other side of the world to race and I miss my family but I’m adjusting to the environment, all the hard work is paying off; I have more confidence in myself and have made a big step this year. My mom had planned to be here this weekend but she couldn’t get over at the moment. That’s a pity; she would have enjoyed this win.”

EMX125

Moritz Ernecker was the dominant rider in EMX125, winning both motos to claim the overall from fellow Austrian Ricardo Bauer, with Sleny Goyer third overall. Ernecker’s 1-1 gave him maximum points and extended his championship lead to 178, ahead of Bauer on 138 and Goyer on 126.

Ernecker won race one from Goyer and Bauer, then backed it up by beating Bauer and Lucas Leok in race two. Goyer’s recovery to sixth in the second outing was enough to secure the final podium position for the weekend. Emil Ziemer finished fourth overall, while Leok climbed to fifth thanks to his race-two podium.

The world championship now heads into a short break before returning at Lacapelle-Marival for the MXGP of France on May 23-24, with Cannon carrying fresh momentum and a breakthrough European overall into the next round.

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2026 AMA SX Round 14 – Cleveland Wrap

See full report and results here:
Roczen closes to one point with Cleveland Triple Crown victory

450

Ken Roczen left Cleveland with the biggest prize of Round 14, turning consistency across the three-race Triple Crown into the 450SX overall at Huntington Bank Field as Monster Energy AMA Supercross returned to the city for the first time since 1995.

Roczen’s 2-2-1 scorecard in changing conditions gave the Suzuki rider the win ahead of Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper, while Hunter Lawrence’s difficult final race dropped the Honda rider to sixth overall and cut his championship advantage to a single point with three rounds remaining.

Lawrence had looked well placed early, taking Race 1 from Roczen and Justin Cooper, before Justin Cooper struck back in the second encounter ahead of Roczen and Chase Sexton.

The final leg then swung the round decisively in Roczen’s favour. He grabbed the start, cleared out, and won by more than eight seconds over Webb, while Justin Hill came through for third in the race and Sexton finished fourth.

Lawrence crashed while trying to recover through the field and eventually came home 14th in that last outing, which proved costly in both the round classification and the title race.

Behind the podium, Joey Savatgy finished fifth overall for Honda, Lawrence was sixth, Malcolm Stewart placed seventh for Husqvarna on 4-6-12 results, and Hill’s late-race charge in the final leg helped lift the KTM rider to eighth overall.

Jorge Prado endured a difficult afternoon for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, finishing 15th overall with 14-15-15 results, while Eli Tomac did not make the gate after a qualifying crash left him with a hip injury concern.

The standings now show Lawrence on 286 points, Roczen on 285, Webb on 264 and Tomac on 255.

450 Round Points

Ken Roczen – P1

“Wow. I had no idea I was one point back [in the championship]. I am so blown away with the gamble we took with the weather. It was supposed to be clear for the last two races, but it kept raining. That affected my decision with goggles, and I kept sticking with roll-offs just to be safe. After I got the holeshot in the last race I had a clear track and just felt really comfortable. Once I had a gap, I just made sure I didn’t do anything silly. I’m just so grateful I’m able to ride like this.”

Cooper Webb – P2

“What a crazy day. Qualifying was great, then the rain came and we had the Triple Crown. I rode bad in the first race but got better for the last two. I didn’t think I had a chance for the podium after the first two [races], so I rode free in the last one. Kenny [Roczen] rode those first laps like it was dry and got away. I was a distant second. Overall, I’m happy with it. We had a good day.”

Justin Cooper – P3

“This track was very tricky, and things could go wrong very quickly. I’m happy to get up from the crash unscathed, the concrete hurt. Just glad to be up on the podium still [despite the crash]. I spun off the gate but somehow came out top five and then had that crash. It was a bummer to go down and give away a spot [overall] but just thankful I’m okay. It was still a great night.”

Chase Sexton – P4

“Cleveland was a tough night with how much the track changed from start to finish, but I’m taking a lot of positives out of it. I felt more comfortable on the bike as the night went on and started to find a better flow in the later races, which is something we’ve been building toward. The results don’t fully show it, but I feel like we’re getting closer each weekend. Now it’s about putting everything together for a full night in Philly next week.”

Hunter Lawrence – P6

“For this Triple Crown, we had a lot of weather coming in. The day started out really good, as I was P1 in qualifying. In the first race, I had a good start and checked out. In races 2 and 3, I just didn’t get the best starts, just couldn’t get the traction I needed, and made it tough on myself. When you don’t get a good start, you get put in not the best situations, and the last race kind of all came undone. I had a crash in the rutted whoop section, and then another rider hit my front wheel. We salvaged only losing nine points, which feels better than what I thought it was going to be, for how bad the last one was. On to Philadelphia now.”

Malcolm Stewart – P7

“The vibes were high in Cleveland – the crowd was awesome! Qualifying was great for me, and then of course we had the Triple Crown with the weather beginning to roll in. I felt really good in Race 1, and then in the second one, I started making some mistakes, with the third one being pretty sloppy after the rain. I lost the flow in Race 3, but we brought it home in seventh overall, and we’ll look at improving next weekend!”

Jorge Prado – P15

“It was a rough day in Cleveland. The Triple Crown format is still new to me and the conditions were challenging also, but I gained more experience and that is what is important this year. Three to go – we will keep learning, and I’m excited for the next few races to finish the season.”

450 Championship Points

250

In 250 East, Nate Thrasher emerged with the overall after a measured 2-1-4 performance in the changing conditions. Landen Gordon produced one of the rides of the day to take second overall with 4-2-2 finishes, while Cole Davies salvaged third overall after winning the final race. Seth Hammaker won the opener and remained in contention, but a fall in the final outing left him fourth on the tie-break, with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Daxton Bennick completing the top five on 3-5-3 scores.

The Triple Crown format again placed a premium on minimising mistakes, particularly as the weather and track conditions deteriorated. Hammaker took the first race, Thrasher controlled the second after a red-flag restart, and Davies closed the day by converting the holeshot into victory in Race 3.

Bennick was there throughout, opening with third, backing it up with fifth in the second leg, and then taking another third in the final encounter to secure fifth overall and valuable championship points.

Davies’ podium was enough to extend his 250 East points lead to 21 over Hammaker, while Bennick strengthened his hold on third in the standings.

The official points now list Davies on 181, Hammaker on 160, Bennick on 138, Coty Schock on 119 and Thrasher on 116 with two races left in the eastern division.

250 Round Points

Nate Thrasher – P1

“It’s awesome [to be on top of the podium]. The offseason was unreal, honestly. I felt like I was going to be able to contend for the championship but had a little mishap [and injured his shoulder]. That’s part of it, though. We’ve done what we can–fourth [place], second [place], and now first. We’re trending [upward] and it feels good to be back up here.”

Landen Gordon – P2

“If you would have told me after last weekend [finishing last] I’d be sitting on the podium, that’d be unbelievable. I’ve put in so much work into this. I’m backed by the best team, so I expect this, but it’s truly unbelievable. I have no words. I’m sure it’ll sink in, but right now I’m in shock.”

Cole Davies – P3

“It was a rough day, but we still managed a podium. I didn’t give up and fought through. Just reset for the last [race] and got the win. It is what it is. Congrats to my teammates, they were riding good.”

Seth Hammaker – P4

Today was pretty good. Qualified second and felt solid early while the track was still in good shape. In the first race, I got off to a good start, made my way into the lead, and felt really good taking that win. Race two got pretty hectic with the rain. The track got super slick, and after the restart, I just tried to stay smooth and make smart passes, which got me up to third. Going into the final race, I was in a good spot, but went down off the start and had to fight from the back. I charged as far as I could and got up to sixth, which put me fourth overall. It’s frustrating to just miss the podium because I feel like I’m riding the best I have all season, but the last couple weekends haven’t gone my way. We’ll keep pushing and get ready for Philly.”

Daxton Bennick – P5

“Qualifying was dry in Cleveland and I felt like I rode pretty well. The first race was also dry and I was third, but then it rained really heavily in the second one, which made conditions probably the worst that they were. I didn’t start well in that one, but got back to fifth, and then the third race I was P3, but in the end it was a little short of the podium. Overall, I’m excited for next weekend!”

250 East Championship Points