Factory rider Manuel Lettenbichler faced an unexpected hurdle during the Forest Race at the Sea to Sky event after receiving a heavy ten-minute time penalty. The sanction came down after his father and mechanic poured a small amount of water onto the overheated rear brake during a pit stop.
The ruling sparked immediate discussion within the paddock, especially since competitors like Mario Roman and Thomas Scales also received identical ten-minute penalties for keeping their engines running during refueling. Further drama unfolded when Teo Kabakchiev initially received a time penalty for outside assistance, which was later converted into a full disqualification following an official protest.
Reflecting on the controversial decision, Manuel Lettenbichler did not hold back his frustration regarding the rigidity of the sporting regulations. "For 200 ml of water on the brake, a ten-minute time penalty was a bit harsh. Difficult. I think the FIM really needs to look into this, especially regarding time penalties, and structure it properly," he explained.
The championship leader emphasized the lack of graduated steps within the current rulebook regarding outside assistance. "Right now, outside assistance can be penalized anywhere from ten minutes to disqualification, but there is no middle ground. I was expecting one or three minutes. When the ten minutes came up, I thought to myself, you guys are out of your minds," he added.
Despite being forced to start the grueling Mountain Race from 15th position due to the penalty fallout, the KTM star delivered an exceptional masterclass. He immediately sliced through the pack from the moment the lights went out, taking over the race lead within the opening two minutes.
An intense tactical battle ensued near the tree line as rival contenders kept the pressure high until an unfortunate mechanical snag involving wire slowed down the chasers. Capitalizing on the situation, the German rider successfully defended his position and cruised toward another impressive victory.
Looking ahead to the final round of the season at Hixpania in Spain, the primary objective shifts entirely toward championship management. With a comfortable points buffer, the strategy will focus on clean riding, avoiding costly mistakes, and safely securing the ultimate season crown.
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