Kabakchiev Wins Sea to Sky Forest Race by 50 Seconds
Teodor Kabakchiev delivered a powerful late-race charge to win the Sea to Sky Forest Race in Kemer, Türkiye, taking victory in Round 7 of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. The Bulgarian Sherco Factory rider finished the demanding mountain course in 1:45:02.4, beating South Africa‘s James Moore by 50 seconds, with Mitch Brightmore completing the podium.
But while Kabakchiev’s performance stole the spotlight, penalties transformed the final classification and added another layer of drama to an already unpredictable championship weekend.
With the Mountain Race still to come, the battle for Sea to Sky honours remains wide open.
Kabakchiev Finds Another Gear After CP6
The Forest Race covered approximately 40 kilometres, featuring nine checkpoints and a demanding route through the mountains surrounding Kemer. Riders faced elevation changes from around 270 metres to a high point of 1,430 metres, testing their endurance, machine control and ability to maintain pace over technical terrain.
Kabakchiev did not dominate from the opening kilometres. James Moore and Thomas Scales traded fast sector times early in the race, while Kabakchiev sat fourth at CP4.
Moore moved into the lead at CP5, holding a 24-second advantage over the Bulgarian. However, the race changed at CP6, approximately 24 kilometres into the course.
Kabakchiev took the lead and never looked back.
He recorded the fastest time at every subsequent checkpoint, extending his advantage from just two seconds at CP6 to 50 seconds at the finish. He also posted the fastest time on four of the race’s ten sectors, with three of those coming after CP6.
His victory underlined the importance of managing energy and finding speed when the terrain becomes increasingly demanding.
Moore pushed hard to maintain contact, finishing second, while Mitch Brightmore secured third, 1:43 behind the winner. The top six riders finished within 4:27, highlighting just how competitive the Forest Race was.
Refuelling Penalties Shake Up the Results
The biggest controversy came away from the battle for the lead.
Mario Román and Manuel Lettenbichler crossed the course in fourth and fifth positions respectively, but both received 10-minute penalties that dramatically affected their final results.
Lettenbichler’s penalty followed an incident at the refuelling point where his father, Andreas, used water to cool the KTM rider’s overheated rear brake. Officials deemed the assistance unauthorised under the race rules.
Román and South African rider Thomas Scales were also penalised for leaving their engines running during refuelling.
The consequences were severe.
Lettenbichler dropped from fifth on the road to 15th in the final classification, while Román fell from fourth to 14th. Scales finished 19th after his penalty.
The decisions handed valuable positions to the riders behind them, moving Ashton Brightmore into fourth, David Cyprian into fifth and veteran Graham Jarvis into sixth.
In Hard Enduro, speed can put you in contention, but following the rules can determine where you finish.
Despite the penalty, Lettenbichler remains the championship leader with 179 points after the prologue and sprint events, ahead of Mitch Brightmore on 150. Kabakchiev’s victory moves him to 136 points in third.
A Mountain Course That Punishes Mistakes
The Forest Race’s elevation profile demanded more than outright acceleration. Riders had to negotiate changing terrain, manage traction and preserve their machines through a route that climbed to 1,430 metres before returning towards the finish.
Kabakchiev’s Sherco, Moore’s Beta and the Brightmore brothers’ GASGAS machines all faced the same challenge: maintaining control while pushing hard enough to gain seconds at every checkpoint.
Equipment reliability remained crucial throughout the race. Tyres had to provide grip across varying surfaces, while protective components and bearings faced the punishment associated with hard enduro terrain.
Kabakchiev’s ability to increase his pace in the second half showed how effective race management can separate the winner from the chasing pack.
South African Riders Deliver Strong Results
Moore’s second-place finish was a standout result for South African Hard Enduro, putting him within striking distance of victory after an aggressive ride through the mountain course.
Luke John Walker also finished inside the top ten, taking tenth place in the official classification.
Moore now sits fifth in the championship standings on 96 points, while Matthew Green holds ninth with 58 points. Their progress adds another dimension to South Africa’s presence in the international series.
Mountain Race Set to Decide Sea to Sky
With Mitch Brightmore winning Thursday’s Beach Race and Kabakchiev taking the Forest Race, neither rider has established a decisive grip on the overall Sea to Sky weekend.
For Kabakchiev, another strong performance could strengthen his position in the championship fight. For Lettenbichler, the priority will be recovering from the Forest Race setback while protecting his points advantage.
After Türkiye, the championship moves to Spain for the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro from 23–25 October.
One thing is certain: the Forest Race has shown that in Hard Enduro, the fastest line is only part of the equation. Pace, precision and discipline will decide who survives the final showdown.
