2019 WESS Champion signs up with Red Bull KTM

Red Bull KTM creating a powerhouse factory team

Manuel "Mani" Lettenbichler has recently completed his most successful season to date, with the young German clinching the 2019 WESS Enduro World Championship title following a winning ride at the final round of the series, the GetzenRodeo.

Throughout 2019, Lettenbichler established himself as one of the world’s leading enduro competitors. With victories at Red Bull Romaniacs and GetzenRodeo, plus podium results at Extreme XL Lagares, Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble, and the Hawkstone Park Cross-Country, he achieved a total of seven top-five results from eight championship starts, on route to securing his debut WESS world title.

“I’m really excited to join Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2020 and beyond. I’ve ridden KTM motorcycles since I started in enduro but joining the factory team really feels like the next chapter of my career is really beginning now,” said the 21-year-old rider.

In addition, Mani added further silverware to his 2019 trophy cabinet by winning the AMA Extreme Off-road Grand Championship when he became the first non-American rider to win the Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro. Mani first switched to extreme enduro in 2014 at age 16, just after securing his fifth German Youth Trials Championship. Quick to show promise, he became the youngest-ever finisher at the Erzbergrodeo, Red Bull Sea to Sky, and GetzenRodeo, all during his debut season.

In 2016 he convincingly won the FIM SuperEnduro Junior World Championship with 15 race wins from 18 starts. A debut international enduro podium result at the inaugural round of the World Enduro Super Series in 2018 was followed up by two further podium results at Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs. These performances established the then KTM privateer as one of the championship’s leading contenders.

Mani’s approachable and friendly attitude has meant he’s quickly become a firm favorite with enduro fans around the world and is now one of the most exciting, entertaining and professional enduro prospects.

Lettenbichler joins Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders, Jonny Walker, Josep Garcia, and Nathan Watson for the 2020 season, where he’ll aim to successfully defend his WESS Enduro World Championship crown. Additionally, the young German will also contest selected AMA U.S. Extreme Off-road events.