The Serbian mountains are calling as the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship heads to Xross Hard Enduro Rally for round two. A new event to the series, all eyes are on the world’s top Hard Enduro riders to see who can tame these exciting new trails.

Championship Standings (after round 1 of 8): 1. Mario Roman (Sherco), 2. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna), 3. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna), 4. Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS), 5. Wade Young (Sherco)

After a winning start to the season in Israel, Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman will look to add another victory to his tally. The Spaniard rode incredibly well in the hot, dry, and dusty Dead Sea terrain, but Serbia promises to be a very different race to Israel, where rocky and root-infested forest tracks, mixed with wild and isolate mountain peaks await.

However, Roman has always performed well in these type of conditions, and at similar multi-day Hard Enduro races like Red Bull Romaniacs, so will be eager to put his Sherco on the top step of the podium once again.

Wade Young Of the top Hard Enduro competitors starting the Xross Hard Enduro Rally, Sherco Factory Racing’s Wade Young is the only rider to have won it. And he’s done it twice! Wade will be hoping to put that past experience to excellent use next week when the going is sure to get tough.

Runner-up in Israel, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt arrives in Serbia focused on winning. The defending champion was nursing a wrist injury last time out but looks to have put that behind him and is hungry for his first victory of the 2022 campaign.

After sitting out round one due to injury, KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler makes a very welcome return to the Hard Enduro paddock. Runner-up to Bolt in the 2021 season, along with winning multiple races, it will be exciting to see the formidable #304 back on track. Having worked hard on his recuperation, Lettenbichler will be fighting hard to make his presence felt in Serbia.

With 300 kilometres of riding to cover in Serbia, it’s hard to rule out Hard Enduro legend Graham Jarvis when thinking about possible final podium results. The Jarvis Racing Team Husqvarna rider impressed everyone with third in Israel. With conditions likely to favour the Brit in Serbia, expect Graham to be in the mix when it matters most.

Debuting his new AG Racing Team 89, Alfredo Gomez rode well in Israel for fourth. He’s since spent some time in Romania testing with his new GASGAS preparing for what he believes will be similar conditions in Serbia. Leaving no stone unturned, the Spaniard wants to hit the podium this time out.

GASGAS Factory Racing’s Michael Walkner put in one of the best rides of his young career at round one, despite a missed checkpoint pushing him down the running order. He looks to make amends at round two. Teodor Kabakchiev (Team Bulgaria powered by ECONT), Dominik Olszowy (GASGAS) and Francesc Moret (RIEJU) will also be riders to watch. (source: hewc)

STORY: Manuel Lettenbichler Wins Xross Hard Enduro Rally In Serbia (May 2022)
STORY: Historic Stage Win For Teodor Kabakchiev At Xross Hard Enduro Rally (May 2022)
STORY: FIM Hard Enduro Heads To Serbia For Xross Hard Enduro Rally (May 2022)
STORY: Mario Roman Wins Big At Minus 400 (April 2022)
STORY: FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Introduces Junior World Cup (February 2022)

LINK: Xross.rs

photos (c) Future 7 Media/Red Bull Content Pool