- Xross Team®
The 10th Xross Hard Enduro Rally lived up to its reputation as the Serbian Hard Enduro thriller! After four grueling days of intense, dusty rides through the Serbian mountains, Wade Young claimed victory, shaking things up on the world championship rank list and taking the lead with 49 points. To put it in the words of LL Cool J - "Don't call it a comeback, he has been here for years!" We will explain this, but first things first.
Xross was the 3rd stop of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship and the 3rd time our race has been part of this prestigious world-class series. As always, unpredictable Serbian mountains have something new in store for everyone. With the current world champion and a two-time Xross winner, Manuel Lettenbichler, being out due to an injury and without Billy Bolt for the same reason, we knew that the Xross would bring some changes in the championship. But we couldn't imagine such an intense battle.
Dust, exhausting heat, excellent tracks, and a friendly atmosphere among riders marked this edition. Each day, there was a thrilling battle in all classes, and we had a new winner on each day of the event.
Photo by Predrag Vuckovic / Extreme Photographer
The event traditionally began with the qualification round - the Prologue—a demanding course with obstacles in the center of Zlatibor. Unbelievably hot weather messed up riders who felt exhausted and dizzy, yet they stubbornly tackled obstacles such as huge logs, tires, and stone pits. In the thrilling Akrapovic Prologue Finals, we saw the best 16 riders in each class going for the fastest lap, leaving the audience in awe and clouds of dust. Britain Mitch Brightmore was the fastest guy that way, and rightfully, he stood on the highest spot on the podium. Next to him was his brother Ashton Brightmore in the 2nd and Bulgarian Teodor Kabakchiev in the 3rd spot.
After the thrilling Akrapovic Prologue, riders were set to tackle the 100-kilometer challenge on the first Off-Road day. And what a day it was—packed with fierce battles and heart-pounding action. The scorching heat took its toll on the competitors, but the dry track allowed blistering speeds. South African rider Wade Young emerged as the star of the day, blazing through the course to finish as the fastest rider. Hot on his heels were Michael Walkner and Teodor Kabakchiev.
Photo by Predrag Vuckovic / Extreme Photographer
Imagine this: you start a world championship race in 16th position, facing a grueling track through rugged mountains on an intensely hot day, and you win the race! Only one man in the hard enduro world can pull off such a feat – Graham Jarvis. Early in the race, we saw Wade Young and Teodor Kabakchieve fighting for the first spot, with Michael Walkner close behind.
Then came the man who once again lived up to his nickname, the Silent Assassin – Graham Jarvis. Using his vast experience and unmatched skills, Jarvis masterfully overtook the lead, crossing the finish line 19 seconds ahead of Young, with Kabakchiev finishing third.
Due to the enormous heat, all classes' tracks for the third day were a bit shortened. Everyone was ready for the final showdown. And again, we witnessed riders bringing their A game, not just against the obstacles but also against the weather conditions. It was an intense and uncertain battle until the very end; while Kabakchiev was the first through the finish line, Wade Young had the best time after three combined days of race, and he won the Xross once again. Let us remind you that the South African rider, the favorite of the local audience, won the Xross in 2018. and 2019. He also did a masterclass for Serbian enduro riders, sharing his world-class experience with local riders back then.
Photo by Predrag Vuckovic / Extreme Photographer
We also have to give kudos to riders in other classes for showing true hard enduro spirit and enduring the harsh weather conditions. In Expert Class, we saw a young Romanian rider, Sergiu Grecu, take his first victory in the world championship race. We also have to mention Brendan Fairclough's fantastic debut. The MTB downhill star changed his MTB for a motorcycle and tried out his luck in his first-ever hard enduro race, ending up among the top 10 riders in Expert. Tjasa Fifer triumphed in the Hobby class, while 17-year-old Kaj Taro won the Amateur class.
XROSS HARD ENDURO RALLY 2024 WINNERS
PRO CLASS
EXPERT CLASS
HOBBY CLASS
AMATEUR CLASS
JUNIOR CLASS
BEST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
BEST RANKING RESULT
