Motorcycling stars to converge on Kemer for a crucial Hard Enduro race

The championship battle in the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship will come to a critical turn in Kemer, where the world’s leading riders will face one of the sport’s most distinctive courses. Turkey will host the seventh round of the eight-race series from October 7 to 10.

Organized by the Kemer Enduro Motorcycle Club, Sea to Sky starts on the Mediterranean shore and climbs toward the peaks of the Taurus Mountains. The route takes competitors from sea level to high-altitude terrain, creating a demanding test that combines speed, technical skill and endurance.

Manuel Lettenbichler leads the standings with 150 points, while Mitch Brightmore follows on 126. The 24-point gap makes Kemer especially important in the fight for first place. Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev is third with 94 points, meaning the race will also have a major bearing on the podium order.

The German Red Bull rider Lettenbichler has built his advantage through victories at Alestrem, Lagares, Forza Orza and Abestone. He will aim to protect his lead and maintain his dominance at Sea to Sky. Brightmore, also a Red Bull rider, will try to close the gap after a strong season so far. Other prominent competitors include Ashton Brightmore, Billy Bolt, Wade Young and Mario Roman.

Sea to Sky is divided into three sections. The Beach Race emphasizes speed and physical competition, the Forest Race tests technical riding, and the Mountain Race climbs from sea level to the summit of Mount Tahtalı, about 2,365 metres above sea level. Lettenbichler has won the overall classification at Sea to Sky for the past two years, while Wade Young won the 2018 championship and knows the course well. Billy Bolt, who won the Beach Race at the 2025 Sea to Sky, will also be among the leading contenders. The series’ sixth race will take place in Africa at The Roof of Africa from September 23 to 26.