Enduro future for Wales secured as ACU lands new forestry deal

The future of Welsh enduro racing has been given a major boost after the Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) announced a new five-year agreement with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), guaranteeing access to national forests through to the end of the 2030 season.

The deal follows years of uncertainty after the previous master agreement expired in 2018, leaving organisers facing ongoing questions over long-term access to some of the UK's premier enduro venues.

The country remains the beating heart of British enduro, hosting around 30 events annually from clubs meets to World Championship rounds.

The new agreement also strengthens planning for the 2027 ISDE, which is set to return to Britain for the first time since 1983, bringing with it a seven-figure economic boost to the Mid Wales area.

Negotiations between the ACU, Welsh organisers and NRW have been ongoing for several years, with discussions having proved ‘challenging’ in recent years according to British motorcycle sport governing body.

Matters became even more challenging following Storm Darragh in late 2024, which caused extensive damage across Welsh forests and temporarily halted motorcycle sport activity on NRW-managed land.

Despite the setbacks, a new framework designed to provide long-term security to enduro competition has now been agreed and laid out.

ACU President Tim Lightfoot said: "Securing this agreement is hugely significant for Enduro in Wales and for the future of the discipline in the UK," he said.

“This is about much more than securing permissions for events. In the last year, we have worked closely with organisers and NRW to develop a more consistent and collaborative approach around environmental stewardship, route management and event operations.”

Andy Waters, Vice Chairman of the Enduro Commission, added: “It’s been a real challenge and has taken a lot of hard work by a number of ACU personnel to get to this stage, so I’m personally very glad we’ve secured a long-term agreement with NRW because gaining access to land is becoming more and more difficult."

Photo credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi