A New Sound at 24MX Alestrem Hard Enduro

There is something different coming to the start line at 24MX Alestrem 2026.

For the first round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, electric motorcycles will line up alongside traditional machines, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the sport.

Toby Martyn will showcase his Stark VARG EX, bringing his precision riding style into one of the toughest environments in motorsport. Known for his smooth control and technical finesse, Martyn represents exactly the kind of rider suited to electric power delivery. 

Joining him is Eddie Karlsson, a rider who has already proven what electric motorcycles are capable of in extreme terrain. 

In 2025, Karlsson made history by winning the Silver Class at Red Bull Romaniacs on a Stark VARG EX. This proving electric bikes could survive, compete and they could win. Now, he steps onto the world championship stage. And then there is a name that defines the sport itself. 

Graham Jarvis. 

A rider whose career spans decades at the very top of Hard Enduro, known for multiple victories at the sport’s most iconic events and a level of consistency that has set the benchmark for generations. At 24MX Alestrem, Jarvis will line up on the Jarv-e Raw Edition, bringing electric technology into the hands of the most experienced rider the sport has ever seen. 

If there was ever a moment where past, present, and future meet on the same start line, this is it.

Electric motorcycles change the way you race. 

• Instant power with no delay 
• No clutch or gearbox 
• Smooth traction across technical terrain 

For riders, it becomes less about managing the machine and more about line choice. In sections where control matters more than outright speed, that can be a serious advantage. 

The challenge is managing power and endurance. The sport is defined by time, terrain, and rider and machine survival. For those on electric bikes, you need to be spot on with your energy management, battery strategy and overall race-day logistics. 

Karlsson’s Romaniacs victory showed what that looks like in reality, managing multiple battery swaps across brutal off-road days while staying competitive. In Hard Enduro, adapting is crucial and now, adaptation includes energy. 

Jarvis’s presence at this moment is important. Having seen the sport evolve over decades, he recognises that Hard Enduro is entering a new phase, one that balances progression with the core identity of the sport. The challenge, as always, remains the same. “Hard Enduro will always test you,” he explains. 

Whether it’s a petrol bike or an electric one, the terrain does not change. What changes is how riders approach it. 

The introduction of electric bikes is not about replacing what exists. It is about expanding what is possible. Hard Enduro needs to be built on progression: 

• Tougher diverse races 
• More riders 
• And various categories 

Now, that evolution includes a new form of power. And importantly, it sits within a championship that is becoming more structured, more global, and more accessible for riders at every level. At 24MX Alestrem, you will see a comparison. Two technologies. Two approaches. One course. You’ll hear the difference, you’ll see the difference and you might just witness the start of something bigger. 

Electric motorcycles are here. With riders like Martyn, Karlsson, and Jarvis on the start line, the question is no longer whether they belong in Hard Enduro. 

The question is: How far can they go? 

ABOUT HEWC

The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship unites the world’s toughest off-road motorcycle races into one global series. Born from legendary events like the Roof of Africa and other iconic hard enduros, it brings together professional and amateur riders on the same demanding terrain, celebrating endurance, camaraderie, and adventure. Sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and promoted by Hard Enduro Promotions Marketing Management LLC, HEWC showcases the full potential of hard enduro as a modern, global motorsport platform.

ABOUT THE FIM

The FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme), founded in 1904, is the global governing body for motorcycle sport and the worldwide advocate for motorcycling. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the FIM oversees a wide range of world championships including MotoGP, Superbike, Motocross, Trial, Enduro, Cross-Country Rallies, Speedway, and Hard Enduro, while also working in areas such as public affairs, road safety, and touring.

Media Contact

Adam Nunn
Media Manager, FIM Hard Enduro World Championship
📧 adam@fim-hardenduro.com