I just watched the Red Bull video from Erzberg and was curious as to why there are no four-strokes competing in that race? They are at the front of the Enduro GP world and, of course, all facets of motocross. I would think that since they’re all electric-start and fuel-injected, the four-stroke’s ability to grab traction and not spin would be an advantage.
If you paid close attention to the Erzberg show, you would have seen GasGas Factory Racing’s Enduro GP World champion Andrea Verona winning the prologue on his 350 four-stroke. Andrea Verona is hugely successful winning the FIM E1 Enduro World Championship in 2020, 2021 and 2022, as well as the FIM Enduro GP World Championship in 2022. So, there is no doubting Andrea’s ability, and without enough time to set up a 300 two-stroke, he raced his factory 350, naturally with suspension settings and tire combos that work on Erzberg’s rocky skin.
Over the last decade, the sport of Hard Enduro has morphed from tough and technical to brutal. There have been several catalysts to this evolution—the 300 two-stroke and traction are at the forefront. David Knight, Taddy Blazusiak, Graham Jarvis, Jonny Walker, Alfredo Gomez and Mani Lettenbichler have dominated the mountain on two-stroke machines. Gummy tires and mousse insert technology have given the riders crucial traction on the trials-based obstacles. And, back to the question as to why there are no four-strokes at Erzberg: The reality is that the new 300 two-strokes throttle down far better than a four-stroke, and they do not flame out like four-strokes suffer when short-shifted and attempting to carry a high gear to enhance traction and reduce spin. The bottom line: The 300 two-stroke won’t stall; they make traction, and they’re easier to handle in the Hard Enduro rock-and-roll environment.
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Chase Sexton, the current 450SX Champion, has joined the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for the upcoming 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season.
Chase Sexton: “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing organization. The equipment is top-notch, and the team is driven to win. From the moment I joined, Roger [De Coster], Ian [Harrison], the team, and KTM have been incredibly welcoming. I believe we have a bright future together, and I can’t wait to start working.”
The 24-year-old will defend his 2023 AMA Supercross Championship title on a KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION bike starting in January at Anaheim 1. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Sexton and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.
Sexton has made a multi-year commitment to KTM, competing in the AMA Supercross Championship, AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and the prestigious SMX Finals Series. He will also sport the number four, a new single-digit career number, as he enters this phase of his professional career.
Before diving into his partnership with KTM, Sexton, who was raised in Illinois, will defend his 450SX title. He is already focused on preparing for the upcoming season at the highest level.
Sexton secured his first premier class Supercross Championship in May of this year with six Main Event victories. He also finished fourth in the final 450MX standings, despite missing several rounds in the first half of the outdoor season. In the inaugural SMX post-season, he finished third overall, winning the hybrid-style Charlotte event and proving himself as a strong contender in each discipline.
Ian Harrison – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager:“Our goal with Chase is to make him feel welcomed and at home with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team. We are working on developing a race package that will set the foundation for success. I believe we can provide the full factory support system he desires and deserves, and I have no doubt that Chase will elevate the team and our riders. We are excited for the 2024 season and grateful for his trust in us.”
Roger De Coster – Director of Motorsports, North America:“We have been following Chase’s progress closely, and he has impressed us. His determination and professionalism both on and off the track are admirable. Our entire U.S. team is thrilled to have the opportunity to work and grow with Chase over the coming years. Our values align with Chase’s, and we are excited to see what we can accomplish together in the future.”
Sexton and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team will make their competitive debut at Round 1 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, which also serves as the SMX season opener in Anaheim, California, on Saturday, January 6.
Red Bull and AlphaTauri, the two sibling teams in Formula 1, are not just competing on the race track. They have been participating in the (Un)Serious Race Series on YouTube. In the latest episode, Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson raced tiny Honda kei trucks through a series of thrilling challenges at Tokyo’s Ariake Stadium prior to the Japanese Grand Prix.
The first challenge was a reversing competition, which was won by AlphaTauri’s Tsunoda. Perez, driving the Honda truck for Red Bull, had some difficulty with the parallel parking part of the challenge.
These small trucks from Japan gained popularity as work vehicles due to their ability to navigate narrow roads and dense urban areas. Their compact size and practical design made them highly maneuverable, as showcased in the second challenge – navigating an obstacle course blindfolded.
Verstappen and Lawson wore blindfolds while Perez and Tsunoda gave them directions. The drivers had to pilot the trucks without losing any of the stacked boxes in the truck bed, which proved to be a challenge for Lawson. He pressed too hard on the gas while crossing the finish line, causing several boxes to fall off and earning him time penalties, similar to F1. On the other hand, Red Bull completed the course without losing any boxes.
AlphaTauri won the oversized bowling challenge, while Red Bull finished first in the final race. During the last race, Lawson slid across the truck’s interior, accidentally shifting into neutral and causing them to lose.
This was the third round of Red Bull’s (Un)Serious Race Series. Prior to the Miami Grand Prix, Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo engaged in a head-to-head mini jet boat battle, which Tsunoda won. He also claimed another victory before the Austrian Grand Prix. In another event, Tsunoda and Verstappen raced monster trucks.
Verstappen took his kei-truck victory and used it as momentum to win the Japanese Grand Prix. His first-place finish secured enough points for Red Bull to win the F1 Constructors’ Championship for the second consecutive year. Red Bull has twice as many points as Mercedes – 623 to 305.
Unfortunately, teammate Perez did not have the same luck in the race, retiring due to car damage and receiving two penalties.
AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s sister team, finished the race in the middle of the pack. Lawson finished 11th, ahead of Tsunoda in 12th place. The team currently sits at the bottom of the constructors’ championship with five points.
In the penultimate race weekend of the DTM season at the Red Bull Ring, René Rast celebrated his first victory as a BMW M works driver. He finished in first place in Sunday’s race, breaking the DTM record for pole positions in the process. Sheldon van der Linde secured second place, resulting in a 1-2 finish for Team Schubert Motorsport. Marco Wittmann narrowly missed out on a podium finish, coming in fourth.
After a mixed performance on Saturday, the BMW M works drivers bounced back on Sunday. Rast claimed pole position, while van der Linde started in second place. The two drivers held on to their positions throughout the race, with Wittmann also battling for a podium spot but ultimately settling for fourth place. Sandro Holzem retired on Sunday, after finishing 24th on Saturday.
As the season finale approaches at Hockenheim, van der Linde and Rast are currently in fourth and fifth place in the driver’s standings. Schubert Motorsport holds fourth place in the team standings.
Here are some reactions from the DTM weekend at the Red Bull Ring:
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): Congratulated Rast, Schubert Motorsport, and everyone involved with BMW M Motorsport on their fantastic performances. He praised Rast for his first win as a BMW M works driver and for breaking the pole position record. Roos also commended van der Linde for his second-place finish and Wittmann for his fourth-place finish.
René Rast: Expressed his joy and described his first win with BMW M Motorsport as a special moment. He credited his team for their excellent work and expressed his hopes for continued success. Rast also mentioned the upcoming birth of his second child.
Sheldon van der Linde: Said he was proud of his performance on Sunday, especially after a weak race on Saturday. He attempted to overtake Rast early on but was unsuccessful. Van der Linde congratulated Rast on his victory and acknowledged that defending his DTM title is unlikely. He now aims to challenge for third place in the driver’s standings at Hockenheim.
Marco Wittmann: Described his eighth and fourth-place finishes as good results. He admitted that he had hoped for better considering the strength of the BMW M4 GT3 at the Red Bull Ring. Wittmann acknowledged the impressive performance of Schubert Motorsport, but mentioned that a longer pit stop prevented him from securing a podium finish. He remains determined to make a strong push at Hockenheim.
Hart tops Bolt at Red Bull Tennessee Knockout Lettenbichler rounds out the podium
For the second year in a row, Trystan Hart from FMF KTM Factory Racing was the champion at the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout (TKO). This was Hart’s third win in the last four years, and he dominated the 2023 event by winning three out of the four rounds of racing on the challenging Trials Training Center terrain. Hart also won the AMA Grand Championship for Extreme Off-Road racing and the US Hard Enduro Series championship. Billy Bolt from Husqvarna Factory Racing finished in second place, 23 seconds behind Hart, and Mani Lettenbichler from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing took the third spot on the podium.
Trystan Hart won his third Red Bull Tennessee Knockout win in the last four years. The FMF KTM team rider won three of the four rounds of racing, including the main event. Photo Kenny King
The Sunday event consisted of three rounds of racing for the fifty-six riders who earned a spot. It started with Knockout round one on the eleven-mile “long course”. Hart set the fastest time with a time of 47 minutes and 17 seconds. The relatively dry conditions provided more traction than usual on the rocky terrain, resulting in faster times. Jordan Ashburn, the 2022 GNCC Champion, surprised many with a second-place finish, and Lettenbichler took third place. Will Riordan from RPM KTM and Cody Webb rounded out the top five. Bolt, LeBlond, Matthew Green from South Africa, Walker, and Alfredo Gomez finished sixth through tenth, respectively.
Billy Bolt: “It’s awesome, the crowd was insane the whole way around the track and you could barely hear the bike out there so that was pretty sick to see so many people out here supporting the race. As far as the race went, it was a struggle, I felt the pressure from behind just about the whole race to be honest. Jonny and Mani were on my wheel and that made it hard to concentrate and not make any mistakes. Trystan was nearly mistake free and opened a gap early on and I could not make it back to him.” Photo Kenny King
A last-chance qualification race took place on the straight rhythm course for the four riders who missed the top thirty. Pro Hillclimb racer Logan Cipala secured the final spot to advance to the second round.
In the second round, the thirty-one riders were placed into five groups for head-to-head racing. Four groups had six riders, while the fifth group had seven riders, including the last-chance race winner. The riders tackled the long loop with an additional mile of extremely challenging sections. The top four finishers from each group qualified for the twenty-rider main event, with the group winners earning front row starting positions.
• Hart won group one after battling with Bolt. US Trials Champion Pat Smage and James Flynn finished third and fourth to secure their spots in the main event. • LeBlond won group two in a close battle with Ashburn. Colton Haaker and Gauge Logan-Key also advanced to the main event. • Lettenbichler dominated group three. Green finished second, while Quinn Wentzel from Rieju and Tim Apolle from Beta took third and fourth place, respectively. • Group four was won by Jonny Walker from the UK. Riordan finished second. Logan Bolopue from Sherco and Daniel Lewis from Beta secured the last two spots in this group. • Webb won group five over Spain’s Gomez. David Knight, a multi-time Erzberg winner, finished third, and Mason George earned the final spot in the main event, his first TKO appearance.
Mani Lettenbichler and Trystan Hart dancing through the Straight Rhythm portion of the TKO. Mani had to chase back to the front after a big crash on the first lap of the main event. He caught Bolt but was unable to make a pass to move up any further than third. Photo Kenny King
The main event returned to the short course for a 35-minute plus one lap race, which took 44 minutes and 34 seconds for Hart to complete. Lettenbichler took the lead into the woods, with Hart and Bolt close behind. Hart and Bolt passed Lettenbichler before reaching the critical Red Bull Ravine hill climb. At the top, Bolt lost momentum and Lettenbichler collided with his rear wheel, causing him to flip over backward. Lettenbichler lost several positions as his bike tumbled down the hill. Hart quickly pulled ahead of the field, maintaining a 12-second lead over Bolt at the start of the second lap. Hart gradually extended his lead to as much as 45 seconds before easing off on the final lap to secure a 24-second victory.
Beta’s Jonny Walker was in the hunt all weekend, fighting with Bolt and Mani, ultimately finishing fourth. Photo Kenny King
On the final lap, Bolt, Lettenbichler, and Walker were separated by less than ten seconds. The order remained the same until the finish. Webb finished fifth with a strong performance. LeBlond recovered after getting held up on the first lap and finished in sixth place. Riordan was the last rider on the lead lap in seventh. Gomez took eighth place on his Rieju. Ashburn finished ninth after recovering from a crash in the first turn with Green. Smage completed the top ten in his first Hard Enduro event of the season after winning the US Trials championship.
Sherco’s Cody Webb, a 6-time TKO champ fought hard all weekend and finished fifth overall. Photo Kenny KingHawaii’s Kamakana Waiwaiole used a rented GasGas to take the overall Amateur Grand championship win during the Saturday racing. Photo by Brandon Krause.Kirsten Landman made the long trip from South Africa pay off with a win in the women’s pro class. She thrived in the tough high temperatures and tough conditions. Photo by Brandon Krause.Spenser Wilton (center) won the ECR eMoto electric motorcycle championship on an Electric Motion and finished twenty-eighth overall in the pro class Knockout round one to move on to the second round. Joseph Van Roekel finished second on a KTM and Bridger Greenman finished third on another KTM. Photo by Brandon Krause.
2023 Red Bull Tennessee, Knockout Main Event Results
The 20th edition of Red Bull Romaniacs, held from July 25 to 29, 2023, is considered one of the toughest hard enduro events in the world. Completing the race is already a significant achievement, let alone winning it.
In the 2023 edition of Romaniacs, KTM riders dominated the podium. Manuel Lettenbichler claimed first place, followed by Trystan Hart. Although Husqvarna’s Billy Bolt initially held onto third place, KTM rider Teodor Kabakchiev surpassed him and took the spot.
One interesting aspect of the event is Billy Bolt’s motovlog, where he provides insights into the experiences of the riders. This motovlog gives viewers a glimpse into the highs and lows of participating in a week-long event like Romaniacs.
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It is worth noting that Billy Bolt participated in Romaniacs 2023 while still recovering from a shoulder injury. Due to this injury, he couldn’t train as much as he wanted to before the event. In his motovlog, you can even spot the shoulder tape. Despite feeling some weakness, he managed to endure the race without any pain and believes he is now ready to resume full physical training for the next round in Canada.
Although Bolt didn’t make it to the podium at Romaniacs 2023, he considered the race a learning experience. He expressed his intention to be better prepared for the event next year based on what he learned.
Finishing fourth in the race allowed him to maintain his third place in the overall 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship standings. Manuel Lettenbichler currently holds the top position, followed closely by Trystan Hart. Teodor Kabakchiev is trailing behind Bolt by six points, and Michael Walkner from GasGas occupies fifth place overall.
Mani Lettenbichler wins the 2023 Red Bull Romaniacs, his fourth victory at the Hard Enduro World Championship round, finishing one hour clear ahead of Trystan Hart second for a KTM one-two. Photo: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content Pool
Manuel Lettenbichler from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has emerged as the winner of round three of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship at Red Bull Romaniacs. Lettenbichler showcased an impressive week-long performance, securing his fourth victory at the world’s toughest Hard Enduro Rallye. He finished over one hour ahead of second-placed Trystan Hart, making it a KTM one-two victory. This win also marks Lettenbichler’s third consecutive win in the 2023 season.
In the battle for the remaining spots on the podium, FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart claimed a podium finish for the first time, securing second place overall. He became the first Canadian rider to achieve this feat. ECONT Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev secured third place, overtaking Billy Bolt from Husqvarna Factory Racing.
• Manuel Lettenbichler continues his unbeaten run, winning all three races in 2023
• Lettenbichler secures his fourth Red Bull Romaniacs victory
• Trystan Hart and Teodor Kabakchiev join him on the podium
Trystan Hart from FMF KTM FACTORY RACING was one of the few riders who successfully conquered the infamous final hillclimb at the finish, securing second place overall and a one-two finish for KTM. The series now moves to his home round in Canada. Photo: Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content PoolFastest in three of the four checkpoints before the service point, Teodor was on a mission. Clean and fast through the remainder of the day, he won Offroad Day 4 on corrected time and with it earned his place on the podium with third. Photo Red Bull Content PoolThere was a big fight for third place between Billy Bolt, starting with a four minutes advantage over Teo Kabachiev. After two very solid days where he went 1-2 on the daily classification, Kabakchiev had closed right in on Bolt who admitted he’d “hit the wall” during day three. Photo: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content PoolSherco Factory rider Wade Young finished fifth overall, one hour and forty-six minutes behind Lettenbichler’s pace. Photo: Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content PoolMario Roman had mechanical issues on day one and two but finished strong with third-place finishes on day three and four, securing seventh place overall. Photo: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content PoolGraham Jarvis, despite his damaged machine, managed to climb one of the brutal hills at the Romaniacs. The experienced rider finished eighth overall. Photo: (Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content Pool
The Red Bull Romaniacs, a 4-day hard enduro race, faced brutal weather conditions on day one. Despite the storm, Manuel Lettenbichler dominated and established a significant lead over his competitors. The organizers considered canceling or shortening the course due to the horrendous weather, but decided to proceed as planned.
Manuel Lettenbichler dominated the wicked storm and brutal conditions on day one, and takes a huge lead after a strong day two into the third Romaniacs day. Photo: Future 7 Media / Red Bull Content Pool
Lettenbichler finished first on day one, but faced several challenges along the way. His KTM teammate, Trystan Hart, lost 20 minutes to Lettenbichler in the closing stages due to the bad weather. Billy Bolt, who had been off the bike for seven weeks, came in third, over 30 minutes behind Lettenbichler.
Trystan Hart sits in second, but lost 15 minutes to Billy Bolt which tightens up the battle for second! Photo: Future 7 Media / Red Bull Content PoolDay two’s drier conditions were good for Billy Bolt, who finished third on the day and is third overall. Photo: Future 7 Media / Red Bull Content Pool
Day two had less drama, with Teo Kabakchiev winning the day, two minutes ahead of Lettenbichler. Lettenbichler maintains a 37-minute lead over Trystan Hart. Teo had a difficult first day, finishing an hour and twelve minutes behind the Red Bull KTM rider. Behind Lettenbichler, the standings include Billy Bolt, Trystan Hart, and GasGas rider Michael Walkner.
Theodor Kabakchiev had a tough first day and rebounded on day two. Photo: Future 7 Media / Red Bull Content Pool
Wade Young (Sherco): “It was a fun day. After yesterday’s slog, it was a nicer day. There were plenty of hard sections, but at least it was drier today and a chance to enjoy the mountains.”Photo: Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content PoolGraham Jarvis sits seventh overall, but a whopping hour and forty nine minutes behind the leader. Photo: Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content PoolSherco’s Mario Roman struggled on day ones miserable conditions yet sits in the top ten (eighth overall). Photo: Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content Pool
Celebrating their dynamic partnership, Tudor and Alinghi Red Bull Racing has unveiled two exceptional Pelagos FXD models inspired by the thrill of yacht racing. These innovative timepieces, a chronograph and a time-only watch, boast cases of high-tech carbon composite, titanium, and stainless steel, embodying the spirit of yacht racing. Marking a debut in Tudor’s history, these are the first watches born from their alliance with Alinghi Red Bull Racing, solidifying Tudor’s first venture into the competitive world of yacht racing since 2022. These horological wonders are not just similar to an AC75 racing yacht; they embody it.
Employing carbon composite for the first time, Tudor has crafted the Pelagos FXD watches to echo the robustness of an AC75 hull. Integrating a chronograph Calibre into a fixed strap-bars case is another groundbreaking first. Just like the maritime marvel, the Alinghi Red Bull Racing AC75, the Pelagos FXD models showcase high-tech engineering and materials to achieve a 200-meter water-resistant FXD case design. Keeping legibility a priority, the matte dials sport the AC75’s hue, with luminous ceramic composite hour-markers and Snowflake hands. Paying homage to one of the hallmarks of Tudor, each watch comes equipped with single-piece Team Blue fabric straps with red accents and a titanium buckle. The new Tudor x Alinghi Red Bull Racing Pelagos FXD models are currently available through authorized dealers starting at $3,675.
Red Bull racer Max Verstappen, known for pushing the limits in extreme sports and competition, had the unique opportunity to drive a monster truck. The unconventional race took place in Austria at the Erzberg Mines as a warm-up for the Austrian Grand Prix. Verstappen’s opponent was Yuki Tsunoda, the reigning Unserious Race Series champion, and the goal was to dethrone him.
The monster trucks used in the race were massive, standing over 10 feet tall and measuring 16 feet long. With 500 horsepower, they raced around a recreation of Austria’s Red Bull Ring. Unfortunately for Verstappen, his engine misfired as soon as the race started, giving Tsunoda the advantage. Despite qualifying in pole position with a three-second margin, Verstappen couldn’t secure the win. This victory marked Tsunoda and Scuderia AlphaTauri’s second consecutive win following their victory against Daniel Ricciardo in a boat race in Miami. Regardless of the outcome, the race showcased the impressive skills of both drivers, even in the unconventional setting of driving monster trucks instead of traditional race cars or exotic cars.
