FIM Hard Enduro Heads To Canada For Red Bull Outliers

Canada is calling for what will be the penultimate round of the 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Red Bull Outliers. Entering the home straight in this year’s championship chase, round seven is set to take in a new landscape in the heart of Canada’s Badlands, in Calgary, where Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman will be looking to defend his championship points lead.

With the fight to become the 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Champion heating up, Roman holds just a one-point lead over his closest challenger, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler. However, championship newcomer and winner of round six at Red Bull TKO, FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart will be gunning for glory on home soil.

• FIM Hard Enduro makes first ever stop in Canada

• Red Bull Outliers takes place at the Badlands in Calgary

• Sherco’s Mario Roman holds a one-point championship lead

• Canada’s Trystan Hart is aiming for a home win

Hot on the heels of round six at Red Bull TKO in Tennessee, USA, the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship is set for its final North American stop of 2022, with Canada’s Red Bull Outliers. Although entering its third edition, the race will serve up new terrain for the majority of the championship’s top contenders.

Featuring a two-day format, racing begins on Saturday, August 27 with an urban prologue in downtown Calgary, before heading to the nearby historical Badlands for a mass-start, multi-lap Hard Enduro battle.

A unique location, the barren terrain of the Badlands is filled with steep climbs, technical descents, and is littered with deep sand holes. A true test of physical endurance and tough Hard Enduro elements, the race is set to put the large field of competitors through their paces.

Roman and Lettenbichler go head-to-head

With the battle for supremacy in this year’s title fight in full swing, it’s Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman who stands at the top of the points table. With two rounds remaining in the 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, the Spaniard holds a slender one-point lead over closest rival Manuel Lettenbichler. For either rider, there can be no holding back this weekend if they wish to gain the advantage heading into the season finale at the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro in Spain.

Roman has been impeccable this year, consistently recording podium results time and time again. Only once has he missed the top three – due to a broken toe – but he’s desperate to claim another win. He will give it his all at Red Bull Outliers to top the results. Lettenbichler too has been riding on top form despite missing the season opener and will look to claim his fourth win this weekend.

Hart chases home win

However, both riders will have to deal with a flying Canadian at Red Bull Outliers. Trystan Hart has proven himself a revelation this year in what’s essentially his rookie season of FIM Hard Enduro competition. The KTM rider pocketed a podium at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, before going on to win last time out at Red Bull TKO. Now he’s looking to win again in Canada and will be hoping home soil advantage pulls him through.

Sitting third overall in this year’s championship chase, Jarvis Racing Team’s Graham Jarvis will push to defend his advantage over Team Bulgaria powered by ECONT’s Teodor Kabakchiev in fourth. Jarvis can always deliver a surprise result wherever he lines up, so expect him to target a podium.

Kabakchiev will aim to make inroads into Jarvis’ point lead over him in Canada. The Bulgarian has come of age in 2022 and as a rider who’s now consistently pushing for top-five results will be hungry to prove himself once again.

After missing Red Bull TKO, GASGAS’ Michael Walkner returns for Red Bull Outliers and will no doubt be in the mix for a top result. So too will David Cyprian (KTM), who lies eighth overall in the championship.

Sherco’s Wade Young made good his return to racing with a fourth at round six and will be one to watch for success in Canada. He won in similar conditions last year at HERO Challenge in Poland and always performs strongly in multi-lap race formats. If he can put a wheel in front on Sunday, he will be hard to stop.

The seventh round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship takes place at Red Bull Outliers, Calgary, Canada on August 27-28.

Championship Standings (Provisional After round 6)

1. Mario Roman (Sherco) 88pts
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 87pts
3. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 69pts
4. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 63pts
5. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 62pts
6. Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS) 57pts
7. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 49pts
8. David Cyprian (KTM) 47pts
9. Wade Young (Sherco) 46pts
10. Dominik Olszowy (GASGAS) 37pts