In what became an unforgettable day of riding for the German, Manuel Lettenbichler secured a near start-to-finish win in front of thousands of passionate enduro spectators to win GetzenRodeo and with it become the new Ultimate Enduro World Champion in style.
A show-stopper ending saw Alfredo Gómez pass a stricken Taddy Błażusiakin the final Red Bull X-Loop to grab second and with it jump from fourth to second in the final championship standings.
Błażusiak took third with Billy Bolt and Graham Jarvis completing the top five. Sixth on the day saw Jonny Walker lose second to Gómez ending his year in third.
“I’m over the moon,” said an emotional Lettenbichlerat the end of a gruelling day’s racing. “I can’t describe it. To be honest I nearly cried on the podium.
“It was such a long, tough race and it’s been such a long season. To finish the year with a first place in front of my home fans is amazing, but to win the championship as well is unbelievable. I’m on top of the world right now.”
Arriving at the GetzenRodeo with a healthy championship lead, Lettenbichler held a firm grasp on the world crown, but was determined to clinch it in winning style. With the support of his home nation behind him, he didn’t disappoint.
From the off he set the pace in the morning qualifier, pulling clear in the two-hour race to win comfortably. Błażusiak showed form with second and with Walker, Gómez and Jarvis all in tow, the stage was set for the final.
A cannon blast saw the 20 qualified riders charge into the 80-minute-plus-one-lap race. Lettenbichler jumped into the lead with Gómez, Błażusiak and Jarvis behind.
As the race wore on, the gruelling nature took its toll on the now-weary riders. Up front, Lettenbichler worked his way clear, but Błażusiak was not to be outdone. Entering the final lap he drew level with the exhausted German and the fight for victory was back on.
The duo went head-to-head on the final lap, only for Błażusiak to crash midway, handing advantage to Lettenbichler entering the final Red Bull X-Loop. And that was all he needed to win.
But for Błażusiak drama struck. Inside the X-Loop his bike ground to a halt and with Alfredo Gómez the only other rider on the same lap as the leaders, the Spaniard rode past him to take second and with it grab the championship runner-up.
“It’s never over in racing until it’s over,” said Gómez. “And today that was so true. I feel a little sorry for Taddy, but I actually broke my own subframe on lap two and that meant I had a disadvantage for the rest of the race.
“I’m really pleased with my result and so happy with second in the championship – it’s what we were aiming for and it makes all the hard work worth it.”
For Błażusiak the heartbreak was clear. Second or better would have leapfrogged him into the final standing top-three but it was not to be.
“I rode my heart out, only to lose out just at the end,” told a dismayed Błażusiak. “It’s racing I know, but it seems I get a little more bad luck than others.
“To catch Mani near the end and take the lead was fantastic. I was really pushing as hard as I could because I knew what I had to do to get second in the championship, unfortunately it just wasn’t to be. I have to be proud – I’ve not given up all year and that's the main thing.”
With Bolt fourth, Pol Tarrés carded his best result of the season with fifth. Forced to watch the championship outcome change in front of him with sixth, Walker had to be content with third overall.
“I’m a little disappointed not to get second in the championship,” commented Walker. “I really tried my best and it wasn’t quite good enough.”
With the 2019 season complete, the eight-round 2020 WESS Enduro World Championship begins with Extreme XL Lagares in Portugal on May 8-10.
Results – World Enduro Super Series, Round 8
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Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM – GER) 10 laps 1h 52m 29.720s
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Alfredo Gómez (Husqvarna – ESP) 10 laps 2h 01m 32.662s
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Taddy Błażusiak (KTM – POL) 9 laps 1h 35m 24.393s
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Billy Bolt (Husqvarna – GB) 8 laps 1h 40m 49.789s
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Pol Tarrés (Husqvarna – ESP) 7 laps 1h 36m 36.490s
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Jonny Walker (KTM – GB) 7 laps 1h 38m 07.331s
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Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna – GB) 7 laps 1h 46m 21.162s
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Mario Roman (Sherco – ESP) 6 laps 1h 45:55m 845s
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Eddie Karlsson (Sherco – SWE) 5 laps 1h 36:54m 766s
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Ib Anderson (Gas Gas – NOR) 4 laps 1h 46:32m 079s
Final championship standings (after Round 8 of 8)
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Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM – GER) 6,110pts;
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Alfredo Gómez (Husqvarna – ESP) 4,884pts;
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Jonny Walker (KTM – GB) 4,810pts;
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Taddy Błażusiak (KTM – POL) 4,620pts;
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Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna – GB) 4,450pts;
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Josep Garcia (KTM – ESP) 4,165pts;
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Nathan Watson (KTM – GB) 4,136pts;
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Mario Roman (Sherco – ESP) 3,560pts;
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Billy Bolt (Husqvarna – GB) 3,415pts;
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Pol Tarrés (Husqvarna – ESP) 3,130pts
