Billy Bolt Dominates SuperEnduro Opener

Despite it being his first race back after a five-month injury lay-off, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt got his SuperEnduro World Championship title defence off to the perfect start in Poland on the weekend with a clean sweep of wins. Here’s a snapshot of his team’s PR in the wake of a very successful weekend’s work…

Dominating the SuperPole hot lap by nearly one and a half seconds, Billy Bolt 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 FE350-mounted rider was quick to show everyone that he’d lost none of his racecraft. 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, Bolt 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, Bolt 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, Bolt set his sights on making it a clean sweep of wins at Round 1 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 1 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.

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 2 in Germany, so I’ll keep working hard to be even stronger there.”

The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with Round 2’s GP of Germany on January 7, 2023.

FIM SUPERENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, RD 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 RD 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

POLAND: RACE RECAP

2023 SUPERENDURO C’SHIP PREVIEW

If you want to dive a bit deeper into the 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, check out Billy Bolt’s “Bill’s Festive Chit-Chat”, where he previews the six-round series and, among other amusing things, describes SuperEnduro to the uninitiated as, “kind of like if supercross and a building site had a baby”.