Day 2 – 24MX Alestrem Hard Enduro 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Round 1
Hey race fans! It’s your girl Paige Turner reporting live from the stunning Pôle Mécanique Alès Cévennes in Saint-Martin-de-Valgalgues, France, and I am still on cloud nine after an epic Saturday! Day 2 of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship turned up the heat even more, and the Minerva Prologue delivered absolute fireworks!
Saturday 18 April brought the big Super Enduro-style action. Riders faced a fast and technical course under seriously hot and dusty conditions. The day kicked off with heats for the Top 100 and Second Chance groups, followed by intense semi-finals, before the grand final decided the pole positions and crucial bonus championship points.
This prologue wasn’t just about bragging rights — it set the entire grid for Sunday’s main race with Le Mans-style start waves and handed out valuable early points. The format rewarded consistency, aggression, and smart racing across multiple short, sharp runs.
And the result at the sharp end? Pure domination!
Billy Bolt on the Husqvarna was on another level! He won his heat, dominated his semi-final, and then stormed to victory in the Top 100 Final, crossing the line a clear five seconds ahead of the field. Mitch Brightmore on GASGAS took second, with his brother Ashton Brightmore completing an all-British podium in third. The Brightmore duo showed incredible speed and sibling rivalry at its finest!
Lettenbichler, fresh off his razor-thin Xtrem Test win on Friday, comfortably won his heat but ended up sixth in the final — still a strong result that gave him a solid starting position for Sunday.
I’m telling you, the atmosphere was electric under that blazing sun and dust cloud. Onboard footage showed riders sliding through turns, launching over jumps, and battling wheel-to-wheel in true Super Enduro fashion. Bolt looked unstoppable, building momentum that carried straight into the championship battle.
Friday’s close duel between Lettenbichler and Bolt had already set the tone — Saturday just cranked it up another notch. The prologue results shaped everything for the big main event, giving Bolt the best possible launch pad while keeping the title fight wide open.
What a day! The talent on show is ridiculous, the racing is fierce, and the 2026 Hard Enduro World Championship is shaping up to be an absolute thriller from start to finish.
This is Paige Turner, grinning from ear to ear after another unforgettable day at Alestrem. The gates are dropping, the roost is flying, and I’m right here catching every single story as it happens. Bring on Sunday’s main race — I can’t wait to see how this one plays out!
🏁
Paige Turner