KTM and Mani Lettenbichler wins 4th consecutive Erzbergrodeo
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler secured his fourth consecutive victory at the 2025 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. Riding his KTM 300 EXC CHAMPION EDITION, Lettenbichler took the lead around the 40-minute mark and delivered a strong performance at the iconic hard enduro event. His teammate from FMF KTM Factory Racing, Trystan Hart, was also running competitively for a podium finish. However, a minor technical issue late in the race unfortunately relegated the Canadian rider to fifth place.
This victory marks Lettenbichler’s fourth in a row at the Erzbergrodeo, bringing him one win closer to matching the record of five held by KTM ambassador Taddy Blazusiak.
Earlier in the weekend, during the Iron Road Prologue qualifying, Lettenbichler secured a front-row start for the main event after posting the 11th fastest time. The prologue was won by EnduroGP World Championship leader Josep Garcia, riding a KTM 250 EXC-F. 2025 Dakar Rally winner Daniel Sanders finished third in the prologue on his KTM 450 RALLY.
In the main event on Sunday, Lettenbichler had a good start, placing himself within the top five early in the race. He then pursued the initial leader, Billy Bolt. By the 25-minute mark, Lettenbichler had moved into second position behind Bolt. When the two entered the challenging Carl’s Dinner section, a mistake by Bolt allowed Lettenbichler to take the lead. From that point, Lettenbichler maintained his advantage, navigating the subsequent sections effectively.
Despite heavy rain around the one hour and 20-minute mark, Lettenbichler remained focused and completed the second half of the race without incident, finishing over 12 minutes ahead of the second-place rider.
Manuel Lettenbichler commented on his win, stating it felt “amazing” to win Erzbergrodeo again, acknowledging the pressure of the event. He noted Bolt’s initial fast pace but felt he had an opportunity to take the lead in the trees after a mistake by Bolt. He then focused on a clean ride. Lettenbichler also praised the track conditions and the fans.
Trystan Hart, starting from mid-pack, had progressed to third place by the Machine section, roughly an hour into the race. He maintained a good pace and was closing in on Bolt for second place. Unfortunately, near the end of the race, with only two checkpoints remaining, Hart experienced a small technical issue that required him to stop for repairs. Despite this setback, the FMF KTM rider managed to finish in a commendable fifth place. Hart expressed his disappointment at missing a potential podium due to the issue but was still satisfied with a top-five result and aims for a win next year.
This victory for Manuel Lettenbichler comes at a time when the future of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, of which the Erzbergrodeo is a significant event, is uncertain. The 2025 series was canceled after the KTM Group, a primary financial backer, withdrew its support due to ongoing financial difficulties. While some individual events like the Erzbergrodeo are expected to continue as standalone races, the cancellation of the championship brings a challenging period for the sport’s organization at the FIM level. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will now look towards the second round of the Hard Enduro World Championship, the Silver Kings event in the United States.
