Building momentum, the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship heads north to Scandinavia this coming weekend for round three of the series, the highly anticipated GP of Finland. Set to mark a welcome return to the EnduroGP calendar, the Finnish event, and the iconic terrain in Heinola, is steeped in enduro history and a firm favourite among riders.

Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman remains unbeaten so far in this year’s title hunt having claimed four wins from four starts. In the GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship Fantic’s Jed Etchells leads the way, while Fantic’s Jane Daniels will be aiming to top the Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship category.

• FIM EnduroGP World Championship set to return to Finland
• Beta’s Brad Freeman so far unbeaten in 2023
• GP of Finland marks first of two back-to-back Scandinavian races

After two exciting rounds in Italy and Spain, the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship heads to Scandinavia. Set to be a busy couple of weeks for competitors and teams, this weekend’s GP of Finland marks the first of two back-to-back races, with the GP of Sweden taking place the following weekend. With the championship chase in full stride, potential title contenders will be aiming to master the challenging Finnish terrain and hit their peak form in Heinola.

Famous for its lengthy forest special tests and loose, rocky, sandy terrain, Finland will no doubt put riders through their paces. With a full set of special tests – the ACERBIS Cross Test, JUST1 Enduro Test and POLISPORT Extreme Test – to contend with each day, plus Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, remaining sharp, strong, and mistake-free will be a big challenge.

Freeman aiming to keep EnduroGP win streak alive in Finland

With four EnduroGP victories from four starts, Beta’s Brad Freeman will be aiming to keep his win streak alive. The Brit has so far proved unstoppable this year and having achieved some come-from-behind rides to win, has proved his fitness and speed certainly isn’t in question. Already 20 points clear of his championship rivals, Brad knows that others will be focused on trying to reel him back in.

Tied for second overall are GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and Beta’s Steve Holcombe. Verona had a strong home round in Italy but didn’t quite hit the mark last time out in Spain. With the competition so tight, the defending EnduroGP champion knows he can’t let his game slip again.

Holcombe on the other hand has been a model of consistency, with four third-place results to his name. However, the seven-time world champ wants to win and will hope to get back on top in Heinola. This weekend’s tests may play to Steve’s smooth riding style, making him a rider to watch for.

Three points behind them, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia sits fourth overall. After a disappointing outing at round one, the Spaniard turned his fortunes around at his home round in Spain by challenging Freeman each day.

CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald is fifth overall in points. The New Zealander has been consistently strong so far, but still needs to find that little bit extra to bridge the gap to the top four. Red Moto Honda Racing’s Nathan Watson took his best result of the season last time out in Spain with fifth.

In Enduro1, Josep Garcia is beginning to edge clear with a 25-point lead thanks to his three wins to date. Behind him only five points separate second and sixth in the standings. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) holds second, with TM Racing’s Matteo Pavoni third. Zach Pichon (Sherco), Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna), and Theo Espinasse (Beta) are all in the mix too.

The battle for Enduro2 honours is being played out by Steve Holcombe (Beta) and Andrea Verona (GASGAS). Although tied on points, Holcombe provisionally tops the standings heading to Finland. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) completes the top three. Brad Freeman (Beta) leads the way in Enduro3. With four wins to his name, he’ll prove tough to beat this weekend. Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) is second in points and should figure highly in this Scandinavian leg of the championship. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) is third.

Finland set to challenge Junior Enduro riders

The GALFER FIM Junior Enduro World Championship has delivered some brilliant racing so far this season. Jed Etchells (Fantic) leads the way with two wins to his name. Class rookie Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) has enjoyed a great start to the season too. Claiming two wins, both on the second day of racing, shows he’s adapting well. Max Ahlin (KTM), Serjio Navarro (Husqvarna), and Albin Norrbin (Fantic) are all locked in a battle for third.

The Youth Enduro category has seen Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) come out on top every time this year. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) has challenged him hard but has been unable to gain an edge on the Italian. Leo Joyon (Beta) follows close behind in third.

Bumper entry for Women’s Enduro category

The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship will be racing in Finland. In total 17 riders have entered. Fantic’s Jane Daniels was a double winner at round one in Italy. The defending champion is always a tough rider to beat. Australia’s Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) holds down second overall, with Spain’s Mireia Badia (Rieju) in third.

Round three of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship takes place in Heinola, Finland on May 26-28.

2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship calendar

Round 1 – Italy – San Remo/Arma di Taggia – 31 March-2 April
Round 2 – Spain – Lalin – 5-7 May
Round 3 – Finland – Heinola – 26-28 May
Round 4 – Sweden – Skovde – 1-3 June
Round 5 – Slovakia – Gelnica – 30 June-2 July
Round 6 – Portugal – Valpacos – 29 September-1 October
Round 7 – Portugal – St Andre/Santiago do Cacem – 6-8 October

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S HARD ENDURO ACE ENDURES TOUGH CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER IN SERBIA WITH 10TH PLACE FINISH

The opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Serbia proved to be one of mixed fortunes for Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt. Returning to the championship after being sidelined through injury in 2022, the newly crowned FIM SuperEnduro World Champion was in high spirits arriving to the Xross Hard Enduro Rally.

Staged over four days in Serbia, the event took in an action-packed endurocross prologue on Wednesday, before setting out on three 100-kilometre-long days of Hard Enduro racing with GPS navigation.

Hitting the ground running, Billy was on flying form around the short endurocross course on his TE 300. Fastest in qualification, the SuperEnduro champ stepped it up another level for the six minute plus one lap race. With a clear holeshot, he quickly distanced himself from the rest of the pack to win by an incredible 37 seconds. Importantly, his prologue victory also earned him three championship points.

With the option to start Offroad Day 1 in third, Billy began the wet and rainy day confident of a strong result. Clocking in some incredibly quick times, he was pushing hard for the win. However, a navigation error in the closing stages of the day unfortunately saw him drop down the leaderboard from a potential top-three placing to ninth thanks to a 43-minute penalty.

Bouncing back, the Husqvarna rider won the following day in style. Charging hard through traffic, he consistently set the pace all day on his TE 300. Reaching as high as second overall on the road, he triumphed with a six-second margin of victory on corrected time. Climbing back up to third in the outright standings, second overall suddenly looked possible.

Unfortunately, despite a strong start to the final day, bad luck struck again. Battling a technical issue as he arrived at the midday service, Bolt lost a lot of time. Regrouping, he soldiered on to finish the day in 22nd and 10th overall in the final classification.

The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship continues with round two at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in Austria on June 8-11.

Billy Bolt: “It’s been quite the up and down sort of week for me. Everything started off great by winning the prologue. On day one I was riding really good in the rain. In the afternoon I got my navigation mixed up and unfortunately that led to a 43-minute penalty, which dropped me to ninth. I bounced back to win the following day and got back in podium contention. Sitting third, I felt second was possible and if I could achieve that then I would still tie on points for the championship lead thanks to my prologue victory. However, I ran into some problems and despite the team’s best efforts at the service point I had to ride steady to the finish line. There are a lot of positives to take though. My riding is good, and the bike setup is very nice to ride. We’ve a long season ahead of us and although this week wasn’t meant to be, I know there are better races to come.”

FIM Hard Enduro World Championship – Round 1

Xross Hard Enduro Rally Provisional Event Classification

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 9:49:28.60; 2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 10:22:38.10; 3. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 10:29:04.12; 4. Trystan Hart (KTM) 10:33:04.42; 5. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 10:36:49.98… 10. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11:41:41.05…

Championship Standings (After round 1)

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 20pts; 2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 17pts; 3. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 15pts; 4. Trystan Hart (KTM) 14pts; 5. Alfredo Gomez (Rieju) 11pts; 5. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 11pts… 8. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9pts

Freeman Edges Out Garcia For EnduroGP Victory
On Day Two Of ACERBIS GP Of Spain

Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman has claimed victory on day two of the second round of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship. Keeping his unbeaten run of form alive, Freeman came out on top following a day-long battle with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia to secure his fourth day win of the season. Mirroring day one’s results at the ACERBIS GP of Spain, Steve Holcombe (Beta) joined Freeman and Garcia on the EnduroGP podium in third.

The GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship saw rookie Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) secure his second victory of the season with a win on Sunday, while Fantic’s Kevin Cristino made it two wins from two starts in Youth Enduro in Lalin.

• Brad Freeman wins again in EnduroGP class at ACERBIS GP of Spain
• Josep Garcia and Steve Holcombe mirror yesterday’s EnduroGP results with second and third
• Jeremy Sydow tops the Junior Enduro category

Freeman and Garcia go blow for blow in EnduroGP

Landing an early blow to his rivals, Beta’s Brad Freeman topped the opening POLISPORT Extreme Test by a sizeable five seconds from Josep Garcia (KTM) with Antoine Magain (Sherco), Andreas Verona (GASGAS) and Steve Holcombe (Beta) in close succession.

Fastest in the following ACERBIS Cross Test and JUST1 Enduro Test, Freeman made a clean sweep of the special tests on lap one, and then backed that performance up by remaining unbeaten a further four times.

However, those wins were extremely hard fought with Garcia shadowing him across the line every time. With only fractions of a second at times splitting them, the fight was unquestionably on and the result set to go either way.

But those fractions gradually added up and despite Garcia’s best efforts of winning the final ACERBIS Cross Test, he couldn’t deny Freeman his fourth constitutive victory of the season in EnduroGP.

Always in the hunt, but not quite able to bridge the gap to the leading duo, Holcombe had to settle for third. GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona had a relatively disappointing outing by the EnduroGP champ’s high standards, finishing 31 seconds behind Holcombe in fourth.

The battle for fifth went down to the wire. RedMoto Honda Racing’s Nathan Watson narrowly beat Magain by one second to seal the deal.

Although second best to Freeman in the overall classification, Josep Garcia won the Enduro1 class for the second day running. Team Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse took second, while Fast Eddy Racing’s Jamie McCanney completed the top three.

Firing on all cylinders in 2023, Steve Holcombe took his second Enduro2 class win of the weekend in Lalin, the Beta rider showing that he’s back to his best. Andrea Verona was second, with Watson in third. Brad Freeman ran a clear winner of Enduro3, with Antoine Magain and Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) rounding out the podium.

Jeremy Sydow Takes Junior Enduro Win

The GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship saw Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) bounce back to win on Sunday. The rookie took his debut victory on day two at round one and with another day two win, looks capable of challenging the established names. Day one winner Jed Etchells (Fantic) put in another solid ride to take second and keep his championship lead intact. Albin Norrbin (Fantic) took third.

Proving even stronger on day two, Fantic’s Kevin Cristino powered clear to the Youth Enduro win. The Italian upped his winning margin to 27 seconds over Thibault Giraudon (Sherco). Leo Joyon (Beta) finished third.

The Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round three in Heinola, Finland on May 26-28 before heading to Skovde in Sweden for round four the following weekend.

Brad Freeman (Beta): “To end the GP of Spain with another victory is fantastic. Today I finally felt like I was riding like I know how. Nerves played a part at round one in Italy, but today I was relaxed and just enjoying the battle with Josep. There was nothing really between us all day.”

Josep Garcia (KTM): “I pushed hard all day with Brad for the victory. We were in the same second on almost every test but it kept working out in his favour and the win just slipped away. But to take a double win in Enduro1 is so nice. This weekend was a big improvement over round one, and with a long season ahead I’ll take it race by race.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “I was pretty happy with my riding today and I was consistent all day. Another win in Enduro2 is great. Last year I ended the GP of Spain injured so this season so far had been a big step forward for me. I’m looking forward to the next round and will try to get a bit closer to the top.”

Jeremy Sydow (Sherco): “Maybe Sunday is my day! My first ever win came last time out on a Sunday, so to do it again is great. It was a perfect day. I didn’t make many mistakes and tried to be strong the whole day.”

Kevin Cristino (Fantic): “Getting a double victory here in Spain is awesome. I’m really happy with how the weekend went. My bike was running great, and I gave it my best.”

Results: ACERBIS GP of Spain, Day 2
EnduroGP

1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:06:19.44; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:06:31.35; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:07:09.17; 4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:07:40.65; 5. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:08:28.01; 6. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 1:08:29.24; 7. Wil Ruprecht (Sherco) 1:09:00.55; 8. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:09:02.35; 9. Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) 1:09:05.71; 10. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:09:10.70…

Brad Freeman Powers Through To Win Day One At ACERBIS GP Of Spain

The opening day of racing at round two of the Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship saw Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman secure overall victory. Putting in a come-from-behind ride, the British rider took over the lead on the final lap of the ACERBIS GP of Spain to win in Lalin.

After leading for the majority of the day, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia was denied a home win and had to settle for second. Beta’s Steve Holcombe claimed a close-fought third. The GALFER Junior Enduro World Championship saw Fantic’s Jed Etchells secure his second victory of the season with a win on day one. Kevin Cristino (Fantic) was best of the Youth Enduro category.

• Brad Freeman rides to EnduroGP victory on day one in Lalin
• Leading most of the day, local favourite Josep Garcia finished second
• Jed Etchells topped the Junior Enduro podium

Freeman and Garcia fight it out in EnduroGP

After the excitement of Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test, many wondered if Josep Garcia (KTM) would continue his winning ways to claim a home win on Day One. However, with overnight rain remaining through the morning, conditions on the special tests were hard to judge.

But the Spaniard did indeed continue to deliver his best form and mastered the grip levels to perfection. By the end of the JUST1 Enduro Test, at the conclusion of lap one, he had built up a 12 second lead over his closest rivals Holcombe in second and Freeman third, and was looking tough to beat.

At the end of the second ACERBIS Cross Test Garcia was still leading, but his advantage had shrunk to just five seconds. With the sun coming out, Freeman was on a charge. After winning the second JUST1 Enduro Test, the Brit took over the lead with the fastest time in the POLISPORT Extreme Test as they began their third and final lap. On song, he topped the final two special tests to claim his third victory of the season.

For Garcia, hopes of a home win on day one didn’t materialise. With some small crashes and errors on the final lap, victory slipped away. The Spaniard will look to regroup tomorrow. Completing the third step of the EnduroGP podium, Steve Holcombe put in another solid performance. The Brit managed two special test wins along the way. Just four seconds behind Holcombe was GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona in fourth. CH Sherco Racing’s Hamish MacDonald completed the top five.

In Enduro1 Josep Garcia ruled the roost. Untouchable throughout the day, the Spaniard won his category by almost three minutes. Matteo Pavoni (TM Racing) got the better of Zach Pichon (Sherco) by seven seconds to finish as runner-up.

Putting his first win of the season on the board, Steve Holcombe was best of the Enduro2 class. Andrea Verona had to settle for second behind the Beta rider. However, the duo are proving to be the class leaders, placing almost 90 seconds clear of Hamish MacDonald in third.

Securing the biggest winning margin of the day, Brad Freeman dominated proceedings in Enduro3. The Beta rider finished three minutes and 50 seconds clear of Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) in second with Matteo Cavallo (TM Racing) third.

Etchells fights back to win Junior Enduro

The GALFER Junior Enduro Championship was exciting to watch in Lalin. Brimming with talent, the top six riders were ultimately separated by approximately 50 seconds at the end of day one. Finishing Friday’s AKRAPOVIC Super Test in 20th, Jed Etchells (Fantic) had put himself on the back foot and with work to do this morning. However, the Manx rider was in determined mood and hungry to fight back.

At the end of lap one he was incredibly tied for the race lead with Jeremy Sydow (Sherco), but there was still a long way to go. Consistently in the top three, he held firm to win by seven seconds over Albin Norribin (Fantic). Despite claiming three special test wins, Sydow had to settle for third. Sergio Navarro (Husqvarna) and Max Ahlin (KTM) completed the top five.

In Youth Enduro Kevin Cristino (Fantic) again proved the rider to beat. The Italian was enjoying the early wet and slippery conditions. Taking seven test wins, he never slipped outside the top two to claim the top step of the podium by 10 seconds. Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) challenged him throughout the day, and despite taking the other three test wins, he couldn’t reel his rival in. Leo Joyon (Beta) completed the podium, albeit finishing almost 90 seconds behind Cristino.

Brad Freeman (Beta): “It’s awesome to get my third win in a row. It’s been a good day at the office. The rain this morning made conditions tricky. It wasn’t overly muddy, just slippery and I found it hard to judge. After lap one there was a better racing line settled in.”

Josep Garcia (KTM): “I really wanted that victory, but I just missed out on the final lap. I had some small crashes that cost me and Brad got too far away. Still, it’s good to be back on the EnduroGP podium and nice to have the win in Enduro1. Tomorrow I will try my best again.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “It’s been a good day, and great to win Enduro2. It’s been a while since I stood on top of the podium so I’m happy. But I’m a little frustrated with my middle part of the day. I messed up the second Extreme Test, so Brad and Josep got away from me. But I’m enjoying my riding and keen to make amends tomorrow.”

Results: ACEBIS GP of Spain, Day 1
EnduroGP

1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:12:22.05; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:12:33.60; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:13:17.11; 4. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:13:21.99; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:14:53.87; 6. Matteo Pavoni (TM Racing) 1:15:27.95; 7. Zach Pichon (Sherco) 1:15:35.56; 8. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:15:59.17; 9. Daniel Milner (TM Racing) 1:16:08.00; 10. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:16:11.61…

Brad Freeman Claims Double EnduroGP Win At
Season Opener In Italy

Day two of racing at the 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship opener in Italy saw Beta Factory Racing’s Brad Freeman once again rise to the top to secure his second EnduroGP class win of the weekend. The 2021 EnduroGP World Champion has shown that he’s back to his absolute best for this season, claiming the top step of the podium at what was a memorable ACERBIS GP of Italy. Mirroring yesterday’s results, GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona and Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe finished second and third respectively.

After a daylong fight for victory, Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) emerged on top in the GALFER FIM Enduro Junior World Championship class, while Kevin Cristino (Fantic) narrowly topped the Enduro Youth class. Ensuring a perfect start to the defence of her Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship title, Jane Daniels (Fantic) also took her second victory of the weekend at the ACERBIS GP of Italy.

• Brad Freeman (Beta) claims double EnduroGP victory in Italy

• Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) secures debut Enduro Junior victory on day two

• Jane Daniels (Fantic) enjoys perfect weekend with two Women’s Enduro class wins

Building on a thrilling start to the 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship with close daylong racing on Saturday in Arma di Taggia/San Remo, the action lifted to an even higher level on day two. Despite rougher conditions on all of the special tests, times were incredibly tight across the majority of the classes.

At the head of the field, Beta’s Brad Freeman was out to underline his dominant day one victory. With his former EnduroGP championship winning speed returned, Freeman blitzed his rivals on the opening JUST1 Enduro Test by an astonishing 13 seconds to lead on lap one of four.

Despite Steve Holcombe (Beta) winning the following POLISPORT Extreme Test, Freeman began lap two with the fastest time in the ACERBIS Cross Test and JUST1 Enduro Test to extend his lead out to 20 seconds. Controlling proceedings during the second half of the day, Freeman maintained a comfortable advantage to collect his second EnduroGP victory of the weekend and with it, move into an early lead in the championship.

As was the case on Saturday, both Verona and Holcombe fought it out for the final two places on the EnduroGP podium, but today they also had Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia for company. Determined to give his best on home soil, Verona claimed four test wins to finally grab second. Holding off a late final lap charge by Garcia – who won the final JUST1 Enduro Test – Holcombe made it home for third overall.

Giving his all, but falling just three second shy of the podium, Garcia had to be content with fourth overall, while CH Racing Sherco’s Hamish MacDonald completed the top five for the second day running.

Tight battles in Women’s Enduro class

The Magnorange FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship was once again won by Jane Daniels (Fantic). Fast from the off, Daniels was challenged all the way by Mireia Badia (Rieju) and Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) with both riders managing to grab a couple of special test wins over Daniels to keep the pressure on. Behind the top three, Francesca Nocera (Honda) and Rosie Rowett (Rieju) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

While naturally disappointed to miss the EnduroGP podium, Josep Garcia was still pleased with a win in Enduro1. In fact, the KTM rider won all of the day’s tests in the Enduro1 class to take a commanding one minute and 37 second margin of victory. Putting on a good show on home soil, RedMoto Honda Racing’s Thomas Oldrati placed second, with Beta Oxmoto’s Theo Espinasse third.

In the Enduro2 class, Andrea Verona went two-for-two in Italy. However, one thing is clear, Verona likely won’t have an easy time of things this season with Steve Holcombe once again pushing him all the way. The former EnduroGP champion was looking smooth and fast in Italy and will now be aiming to get the better of Verona at round two. Hamish MacDonald completed the top three but has a little work to do to bridge the gap to the leading duo.

Clear out front, Brad Freeman also powered his way to victory in the Enduro3 class with a clean sweep of special test wins. Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) was next best in second, with Antoine Magain (Sherco) third.

Debut Enduro Junior win for Jeremy Sydow

Proving as competitive as ever, the GALFER Enduro Junior World Championship dished up some close racing. Today it was the turn of Jeremy Sydow (Sherco) to make his mark with the German claiming a debut victory. Winner on day one, Fantic’s Jed Etchells was just five seconds behind as runner-up. Max Ahlin (KTM) ended his day in third.

The racing was as tight as it gets in Enduro Youth with Kevin Cristino (Fantic) claiming victory by the narrowest of margins. Split by next to nothing, the Italian won the class by an incredible one tenth of a second after 70 minutes of timed special test racing. Coming up agonisingly short on victory, despite topping the final test by one second, Thibault Giraudon (Sherco) placed as runner-up to Cristino. Beta’s Leo Joyon took third.The 2023 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round two in Lalin, Spain on May 5-7.

Brad Freeman (Beta): “The day started off great. I went for it on the first enduro test and put in a fast time to build a lead. I lost a bit of my rhythm in the middle part of the day but was able to control things and regroup for a final push on the last lap, despite a crash on the last enduro test. It was hard to judge conditions at times and I think that’s why I crashed. But a double win is a perfect start to the season!”

Andrea Verona (GASGAS): “Overall, I’m happy with my weekend and first race in the Enduro2 class. So twice finishing second in EnduroGP and a double win in Enduro2 is a very strong start to the year. The racing is tight out there, Brad was fast this weekend and Steve was pushing hard too. But now we’re up and running I’m pleased with things. As a home round it was exciting and stressful in many ways, but having the crowd behind you in each test was wonderful.”

Steve Holcombe (Beta): “I honestly didn’t expect to podium both days, so it’s been an awesome result. I kept things as smooth as I could. In the last couple of years, I injured myself at round one, so I didn’t want to do that this year and ruin my season. San Remo has been tough riding, but it’s been good for my confidence, and I’ve really enjoyed these battles.”

Jeremy Sydow (Sherco): “To win here was way better than I expected. It’s my first season in EnduroGP so I didn’t know where I would fit in. My background is in motocross, so I’ve a lot to learn in enduro, but it’s exciting and so crazy to take a win.”

Jane Daniels (Fantic): “It was a tough day and I had to dig deep in each test. The battle for the victory was tight between myself, Jessica and Mireia, so I’m pleased to have won.”.

Results – ACERBIS GP of Italy, Day 2
EnduroGP

1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:05:23.86; 2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:05:40.05; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:05:49.16; 4. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:05.52.80; 5. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:06:42.54; 6. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:07:05.28; 7. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:07:14.22; 8. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 1:07:30.11; 9. Theo Espinasse (Beta) 1:07:46.48; 10. Antoine Magain (Sherco) 1:07:52.17…

RESULTS

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING ACE TAKES HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE INDOOR TITLE WITH DOMINANT SHOWING IN GLIWICE, POLAND

Rising to the occasion, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt delivered the goods at the fifth and final round of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship to become the 2023 champion. Best described as a clinical performance from the Brit, Billy took his FE 350 to a convincing overall victory and with it secured his third consecutive world crown indoors.

With the stadium lights dimmed for the night show, Bolt wasted no time in moving ever closer to clinching his third world crown. Laying down a blisteringly fast lap for the SuperPole, he added another three important points to his championship tally.

Lining up for the first of three races, Billy knew victory in race one could potentially see him become the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Champion. Grabbing the holeshot put him in prime position, and by executing a series of clean, early laps, he opened up a four-second lead. Overcoming a small tip-over in the rocks, Bolt still rode away to a six-second margin of victory and with it, his third consecutive SuperEnduro world crown on his FE 350.

With the pressure of the title lifted from his shoulders, Billy was at his absolute best for the remainder of the night in Gliwice. Despite a second-row start for race two, he rocketed out of the gate and lead the field of riders before the end of lap one. Never headed and not once putting a foot out of place, Billy delivered arguably his best ride of the entire season and took a 35-second margin of victory.

Signing off an incredible 2023 SuperEnduro campaign, Billy ended his season on a high with victory in race three to remain unbeaten in Poland. With everything going to script, like it had done in his previous two races, he took the chequered flag for the third time on the night to claim the overall win.

Over the course of his dominant indoor season, Billy took his FE 350 to 14 out of a possible 15 race wins, while winning all SuperPole hot laps. Topping the overall podium five times out of five, he proved himself to be a very worthy FIM SuperEnduro World Champion in 2023.

Billy and Husqvarna Factory Racing will now turn their attention to the opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Serbia on May 17-20.

Billy Bolt: “What can I say, it’s been an incredible season! This is my third world title in a row, but with each one they get that little bit sweeter. Coming into the night, I knew I had a comfortable points lead to play with, but I wanted to go out there and give my best. Topping SuperPole helped the nerves and I rode hard in race one knowing that if I won I would also win the title. That felt so good. Race two was incredible too. Overall it’s been great, but hard fought at every round too. Naturally a big thank you goes to everyone involved in helping to achieve this. It’s a big team effort for sure.”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 5

Prestige Overall Classification

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 49pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 45pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 8 laps, 6:57.883; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 8 laps, 7:03.129; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 8 laps, 7:22.587…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:39.980; 2. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 8:15.719; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 8:21.826…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:36.511; 2. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 9 laps, 7:42.209; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:45.101…

Final Championship Standings

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 310pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 260pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 194pts

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING ENDURO ACE SECURES DECISIVE VICTORY IN 2023 SUPERENDURO TITLE HUNT

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has taken his fourth straight overall win of the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship with an outstanding display of riding at round four in Jerusalem, Israel. The Brit now heads into the final round of the series in Poland with a healthy 36-point lead.

Getting the evening’s racing underway with the SuperPole hot lap, Billy was keen to keep his unbeaten run of form going on his FE 350, making it four consecutive SuperPole wins. As the only rider to dip under the 33-second marker, he topped the time sheets and with it secured three important championship points.

With the track proving tight and one-lined in places, the world champ focused on grabbing the holeshot for the opening prestige class race. Timing the drop of the gate to perfection, he was immediately out front on his FE 350. Although later admitting to making numerous mistakes, Billy built up a firm two second lead over rival Jonny Walker and was able to claim his first race win of the night in Jerusalem.

Race two saw the Husqvarna star begin from row two of the reversed-grid start. But it proved to be of little consequence for Billy. Already up to second position on lap one, he took over the race lead on lap two and began to put on a master class of riding. Clocking in clean, fast laps, he quickly checked out. Despite colliding with a back marker midway through the race, Billy raced on to secure win number two.

Pleased with his own performance in race two, Billy unquestionably found his flow in race three. Third off the start, he took control of the race lead on lap one and was never headed. Building up a 13-second advantage, the Brit was clearly in a class of his own as he made light work of the slippery track. With 12 laps complete and the night’s fastest race time, he took the win and yet another maximum SuperEnduro points haul.

With just one round remaining in the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Billy will arrive in Poland on March 18 with a 36-point championship lead as he looks to claim his third consecutive world title indoors.

Billy Bolt: “Winning SuperPole and then all three races to claim maximum points is brilliant, it’s been a really, really good night for me. But I’m super critical of how I rode in race one. There were too many mistakes on my part and when I watched the race back on video I saw where I could improve. Race two was much better and then I couldn’t really ask for more in race three because it went that well. Although I’m winning, I’m always trying to improve. With one round to go in the championship, things are looking good for me. I’ve got a solid points lead now and will keep chipping away to get my third title on the bounce, in two weeks’ time!”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 4

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 53pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 44pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 7:07.417; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 12 laps, 7:09.577; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 7:20.577…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 7:09.924; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 12 laps, 7:22.187; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 12 laps, 7:40.133…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 6:59.341; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 12 laps, 7:16.869; 3. Taddy Blazusiak 11 laps, 7:20.708…

Championship Standings (After round 4)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 247pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 211pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 152pts

Todd Kellett extends FIM Sand Races World Cup lead with victory in Argentina

British star Todd Kellett – Drag’on Tek Yamaha raced to victory at the Enduro del Verano – round two of the inaugural FIM Sand Races World Cup – and in the process maintained his one hundred per cent winning record in the new-for-2023 competition.

The Argentinian event, the biggest of its kind in South America, represented a very different challenge to the Enduropale du Touquet that got the series under way earlier this month.

Instead of three arduous hours in the saddle, over four-hundred-and-fifty competitors faced an incredibly intense race duration of up to six laps of a twelve-and-a-half-kilometre course. This represented less than an hour of punishing action in sweltering heat, but while the format was different the result was the same with Kellett emerging on top to extend his series lead.

“This race was really, really different,” said Kellett. “I had to take a lot of care here and the first time in training I was very nervous. I have really taken my time this week and worked on my mental state.”

“I’m so proud to take the victory. I made a good start and a big thanks to the team – everyone has put a lot into this and without these guys this just would not be possible.”

“It was hot but the race was shorter. I think I preferred Le Touquet just because I had a little more preparation but they are both special. I will remember this race for a very long time. The fans are crazy – all the barbecues, I could smell them while I was racing – and it is really cool for them to see the whole course.”

The twenty-five-year-old’s victory was not as clear cut as his Enduropale du Touquet win and after six laps of hard-fought racing he recorded a time of just over forty-five minutes which saw him finish with an advantage of eleven-and-a-half seconds ahead of France’s Camille Chapeliere – KTM.

Home hero Agustin Poli – Kawasaki was a further three seconds behind ahead of Belgium’s Yentel Martens – Honda who was the third rider registered for the FIM Sand Races World Cup to cross the line.

Martens’ finish moves him into a strong second position in the series with one round remaining, scheduled for Monte Gordo Beach in Portugal’s Algarve region.

Dutch racer Lars Van Berkel – SR Honda and 2017 Enduropale du Touquet champion Daymond Martens – Honda from Belgium completed the top-five of riders registered for the series.

Former Enduropale du Touquet Women’s champion Mathilde Denis – Honda made the eleven-thousand-kilometre journey from her home in France worthwhile as the first female finisher with a total of five laps.

MOTO CLASSIFICATION

Local hero Pablo Leonel leads home Quad contenders at second round of FIM Sand Races World Cup

Local hero Vera Pablo Leonel led home the challenge of Quad riders registered for the all-new FIM Sand Races World Cup at Sunday’s second round, the Enduro del Verano in Argentina, though fast Frenchman Michel Trannin maintained his series lead.

Vera ended the race in second behind compatriot Jose Guerra, but Trannin – who was forced to overcome early adversity – fought his way up to third among the registered riders which, when coupled with his maximum points from the season-opening Enduropale du Touquet, ensured he remains at the top of the leaderboard.

Competing against almost three-hundred-and-fifty rivals over a maximum of five laps of the twelve-and-a-half-kilometre course on the Atlantic coast south of the capital Buenos Aires, an early collision pushed Trannin back towards the tail end of the field.

Quickly regrouping, in soaring temperatures he put together a string of passes that carried him all the way up to thirtieth at the flag, but more importantly he was the third rider registered for the series to cross the line. This, coupled with his podium finish at the Enduropale du Touquet, was enough to cement his position as class leader with one round remaining.

“I did not plan to come here initially,” said Trannin. “It was a good idea. I am a bit disappointed with my scratch ranking as I had a contact early in the race. I resumed the race around two-hundredth position. It was tough from that point, and I thought I would do my best with the World Cup standings in mind. I came back strong, but the race is so fast here.”

Guerra won the Quad class the last time the event was staged in 2020 and he was on top again with his total time of forty-three minutes giving him a twenty-eight second advantage over Vera.

Despite his powerful performance, following his early exit from the Enduropale du Touquet at the beginning of February, Vera was unable to make major inroads on Trannin’s series advantage.

“I like both races – France and here,” said Vera. “They are different races and [Argentina] is very fast. I have raced here for twelve years, and I feel very confident. I am so happy to be the first World Cup rider here and to finish on the podium.”

With the series decider scheduled on Monte Gordo Beach in Portugal’s Algarve region, Trannin’s main competition is likely to come from French racer Pablo Violet who finished in fifteenth on Sunday, although was the second registered rider to take the chequered flag.

This performance, when combined with his eighth-placed overall finish at the Enduropale du Touquet, makes him a definite contender for what will be an historic inaugural title.

The top-five of registered riders was completed by the French duo of Axel Dutrie and Frederic Lefebvre.

QUAD CLASSIFICATION

Enduro news

Making his 2023 competitive debut, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia has won both Enduro1 and the overall ‘Scratch’ categories at round one of the Spanish Enduro Championship held in Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna. After deciding to make the switch to E1 and the KTM 250 EXC-F for this season, Garcia has firmly thrown down the gauntlet to his rivals by winning all but one of the 22 special tests held over the course of the weekend.

Garcia made his intentions for the weekend clear right from the start by topping the timesheets on the Friday night Supertest. Completing the short course over one-second clear of his nearest rival, Josep then went into the first full day of competition on Saturday full of confidence.

Immediately feeling comfortable on his KTM 250 EXC-F, Garcia was able to push hard on the dry, dusty conditions. And despite having a few crashes along the way, the 26-year-old mastered the loose rocks and slippery roots that made up the varied terrain to win 11 of the 12 special tests and take the day-one victory by an impressive one minute and 29 seconds.

Day two in Spain went very much like the first. Although riders raced for one lap less than on Saturday, Josep was still able to open up a large time advantage over his rivals. Going on to win each of Sunday’s nine tests, the Red Bull KTM rider secured the overall win by just over one minute, making it a two-day clean sweep for the 2022 ISDE winner.

With his confidence high, Josep now looks ahead to the second round of his national series, the Oliana Enduro on March 17-19, which will aid in his preparations for round one of the 2023 FIM EnduroGP World Championship held just two weeks later in San Remo, Italy.

Josep Garcia: “I haven’t had an opportunity to ride the KTM 250 EXC-F in race conditions so far this year, so this weekend has been great! We have very good base settings and, although it’s clear we still have some settings to work on, we’re definitely going in the right direction. I’m really happy to start the season like this, taking the wins on both days. Saturday’s times were very good and on Sunday, I felt just as fast, and the times came out the same. We made some small modifications to the suspension over the pre-season to help me race more consistently and stop mistakes. Despite it being a technical race with a lot of heavily rutted specials, I’ve felt really confident on the bike, so the changes seem to be working well. I’m really happy with how everything is going, so we’ll continue working hard into the second round of the Spanish championship and then look ahead to the first world round in late March.”

Results – 2023 Spanish Enduro Championship – Round 1, Al Coruna

Day 1

Enduro1

1. Josep Garcia, KTM, 1:10:20.31

2. Sergio Navarro, Husqvarna, 1:11:49.59

3. Pau Tomas, Rieju, 1:14:47.40

Overall

1. Josep Garcia, KTM, 1:10:20.31

2. Sergio Navarro, Husqvarna, 1:11:49.59

3. Zachary Pichon, Sherco, 1:11:49.82

Day 2

Enduro1

1. Josep Garcia, KTM, 51:58.30

2. Sergio Navarro, Husqvarna, 53:13.35

3. Pau Tomas, Rieju, 55:55.36

Overall

1. Josep Garcia, KTM, 51:58.30

2. Marc Sans, Yamaha, 53:04.42

3. Sergio Navarro, Husqvarna, 53:13.3

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING STAR EXTENDS FIM SUPERENDURO POINTS LEAD WITH STUNNING PERFORMANCE IN HUNGARY

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt put in a commanding showing at round three of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Hungary to secure the overall victory. Topping the SuperPole hot lap, before going on to win all three Prestige class races, the defending world champion further extended his championship lead in Budapest.

Dominating the evening’s SuperPole by almost one and a half seconds on his FE 350, Billy was keen to make good on that momentum when the start gate dropped for race one. Exiting the first corner in second position, a hectic lap one saw him slip back to third. Recomposing himself, he went on the attack and by the end of lap two had taken over the lead. Once out front, Bolt pulled clear to eventually claim victory by three seconds.

With the start order reversed for race two, Billy cut his way through the field to reach third position on lap one. After a couple of exchanges, he took the lead on lap three and quickly opened up a healthy advantage. Looking set to claim a convincing win, drama unfolded when he got his front wheel lodged in the rock garden with three laps to go. Dropping to second, he put in maximum effort to reel leader Cody Webb back in and take his second victory of the night.

Setting his sights on a clean sweep in Budapest, Bolt emerged from the second corner of race three in third. Quickly moving into the lead, Billy was determined to do no wrong this time and set about checking out. Executing precision laps on his FE 350 saw the Brit build a commanding lead to cross the chequered flag over 20 seconds clear of his rivals.

With maximum points gained on the night thanks to his three race wins and SuperPole victory, Billy now heads to round four in Israel on March 2 with a 26-point championship lead.

Billy Bolt: “With three wins and topping SuperPole, it was a great night at the office. I knew my speed was good from the off, but in the first two races I seemed to keep tripping myself up. I would get into the lead and then just make a mistake or judge the lapped traffic wrong. Thankfully I was able to recover each time, but I really wanted to do better. I feel like race three was my best of the night. Mistakes were minimal and I was able to ride my lines with confidence. It was a great way to end the night!”

Results: SuperEnduro, Round 3

Overall Classification

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 42pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 6 laps, 4:44.087; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 6 laps, 4:45.815; 3. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 6 laps, 5:02.030…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:35.071; 2. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 7:38.798; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:43.281…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 6:58.254; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:18.193; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 7:33.496…

Championship Standings (After round 3)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 184pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 158pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 124pts

Returning to classic enduro action in 2021 aboard the KTM 350 EXC-F in the Enduro2 class, Josep promptly went on to claim the world title and secure the individual overall ISDE win along the way.

In 2022, despite a crash at the GP of Italy resulting in him being unable to compete in the second Portuguese round and forcing him to miss out on three point-paying days in the EnduroGP class, Garcia went on to complete the season as runner-up. It was a similar story in E2, where after returning to action after injury, Josep won the final four days of competition to also finish second overall, a mere nine points down on the winner.

Garcia also showed his class and speed at the 2022 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in France. Riding the KTM 350 EXC-F, Josep topped three of the five days of racing before delivering a strong runner-up performance in the final motocross to secure back-to-back overall individual wins at the iconic enduro event.

Now, heading into the packed 2023 season and looking for a new challenge, Garcia will make a return to the KTM 250 EXC-F – the bike that took him to his first world championship title in 2017. Racing for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for the seventh consecutive season, Josep has his eyes set on winning each and every championship he enters and ultimately claiming the EnduroGP crown.

Josep Garcia: “The decision to move from E2 to the Enduro1 class was made by both KTM and me. It’s always good to set new goals, and with a new bike for 2023, it made sense to ride the KTM 250 EXC-F for new motivation and a new challenge in the E1 class. Last year was an incredible year for me riding the KTM 350 EXC-F – I finished as runner-up in EnduroGP and Enduro2, I won the individual ISDE, and completed the year as Spanish Champion. The injury in Italy cost me the fight for the world title, but thankfully I was able to come back and still finish the year on a high. For me, I’m just looking to mix things up a little for this year. The 250 really suits my riding style and I know I can make it work in the world championship as well as the other events throughout the year. The 2023 season will also be my seventh year with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, which is great. It shows how well the relationship works between me and Fabio and the whole of the factory team. I’m hoping 2023 will be another great year for us and I’m definitely going to be fighting hard to claim that EnduroGP title.”

Round one of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship kicks off in Italy on March 31 – April 2.

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING STAR MAKES IT A CLEAN SWEEP OF WINS ON HIS RETURN FROM INJURY AT OPENING ROUND IN KRAKOW

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt got his FIM SuperEnduro World Championship title defence off to a perfect start with victory at round one in Poland. In what was his first return to racing following a five-month injury, Bolt won all three Prestige races in Krakow, along with topping the SuperPole hot lap, to make it a clean sweep at the season opener.

Dominating the SuperPole hot lap by nearly one and a half seconds, Billy earned himself the first gate pick for the opening Prestige race of the night. Despite it marking his first competitive outing in over five months, the FE 350 mounted rider was quick to show everyone that he’d lost none of his race craft. Taking control of the lead, the Husqvarna rider checked out to secure the first race win of the night in Krakow.

With the grid order reversed for the second Prestige race, Billy opted for a steady start from row two before carefully cutting his way through the field with rapid precision. Working safe, clean overtakes, he quickly moved to the front of the field. Once past leader Taddy Blazusiak, he upped his pace during the midway point to pull clear of his rivals for an eventual 30-second margin of victory.

As the gate dropped on the third and final Prestige race in Krakow, Billy set his sights on making it a clean sweep of wins at round one and he didn’t disappoint. Although getting a little boxed in during the first few corners of lap one, the Brit remained calm and composed as he moved up to second. After a couple of laps battling with early leader Jonny Walker, Bolt soon put his Husqvarna out front and wasn’t headed.

Claiming three wins from three starts at round one in Poland, the defending world champion has bounced back from injury in perfect style to establish himself as the rider to beat in the new SuperEnduro season.

The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round two’s GP of Germany on January 7, 2023.

Billy Bolt: “I’m so pleased to be back racing, but to make my comeback with a clean sweep of wins and taking SuperPole is the dream start to the championship I had hoped for. It’s felt like a long and tough five months off the bike, but I’m chuffed to be back on the bike and racing hard again. It’s what I love to do. Although tonight went to plan, I feel like I’ve some work to do to get back to my very best. We’ve a couple of weeks until round two in Germany, so I’ll keep working hard to be even stronger there.”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 1

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 43pts; 4. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 43pts; 5. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 31pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:41.953; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:58.900; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 10 laps, 8:14.278…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:25.807; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:55.102; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 10 laps, 8:05.578…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:19.638; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:41.718; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 10 laps, 7:49.157…

Championship Standings (After round 1)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 43pts; 4. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 43pts; 5. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 31pts

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING STAR HANGS TOUGH FOR DRAMATIC AND HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY IN RIESA

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has delivered the goods to claim victory at round two of the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Riesa, Germany. In what proved to be a night of edge-of-the-seat SuperEnduro action, the defending World Champion overcame numerous incident-filled races to secure the top step of the podium and extend his points lead.

With a full house of spectators in Riesa, Billy wasted no time in putting on a show. Blitzing the course for the SuperPole, Bolt topped the time sheets on his FE 350 by over one and a half seconds.

Eager to carry that form into the rest of the night, Bolt timed the gate drop of race one to perfection to claim the holeshot and take an early lead. Settling into a fast rhythm, Billy pushed hard to increase his advantage. However, a slight lapse in concentration overtaking lapped riders allowed rival Jonny Walker to momentarily slip by. Immediately regrouping, Billy put his Husqvarna back in front and with a couple of laps to go, he attacked hard to ride clear for a five-second margin of victory.

With the start order reversed for race two, Billy made his now customary cautious start to the race. Putting on a charge, he slotted into second place on lap two. Tangling with Walker while challenging for the lead, both riders crashed in the sand corner. Bolt was quick to his feet and a lap later had fought his way into the lead. However, despite building up a comfortable advantage, a crash on the penultimate lap dropped him back to fourth. Fighting hard to recover, he crossed the finish line in third, despite a dramatic clash with Taddy Blazusiak, which saw both riders hit the dirt after the chequered flag.

Putting race two behind him, Billy focused on winning race three to seal the overall victory in Germany. Third off the start, he took the lead on lap one only to crash once more on the rocky climb. A second crash knocked him back to third. Racing up to second place, he faced a five second deficit to leader Walker with three laps to go. Muscling his FE 350 around the course, he finally drew level with Walker and took the lead with one lap to go. This time holding firm, he claimed a dramatic and hard-fought race three victory to secure the top step of the podium in Riesa.

The 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round three in Budapest, Hungary on February 4.

Billy Bolt: “I made life hard for myself tonight, but I’m happy to have come out on top in the end. It was pretty hectic on track all night and to be honest I made too many stupid mistakes. I hold my hands up for that. The speed was there, but with only one good line on the track mistakes were easily made. Maybe tonight was about shaking off that Christmas break, but I feel like I have room to improve for round three. Overall, I’ve finished on top of the podium and extended my points leads, so I’m happy with the outcome and look forward to Budapest.”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 2

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 58pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 56pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 41pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 6:51.036; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 6:56.548; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 7:23.394…

Prestige Race 2

1. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:34.392; 2. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 9 laps 7:37.662; 3. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:38.662…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:08.805; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:11.138; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 9 laps, 7:32.626…

Championship Standings (After round 2)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 121pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 107pts; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 84pts