BOLT’S KNOCKOUT COMEBACK!

Britain’s Billy Bolt has bounced back to win Round 5 of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship – the Red Bull TKO (Tennessee Knockout Extreme Enduro) in the USA – and put himself firmly back into contention to win the eight-round championship.

Leading home a stacked field of world-class Hard Enduro talent, Bolt topped the podium following an intense battle with Germany’s Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM), while Canada’s Trystan Hart (KTM) was best North American rider in third.

Riding his favoured Husqvarna TE300i, Bolt firmly made his mark in the USA. He instantly set the pace, claiming a spectacular win in the Saturday evening Straight Rhythm prologue. From there, he controlled the proceedings, going on to win both of the TKO qualifier races, and secure a front row start for the all-important 45-minute Final Knockout race. A solid start saw him trail rival Manuel Lettenbichler on the opening lap, before working his way to the front. A mistake in the closing stages relegated him to second with just one lap to go. But, giving his absolute all, the ballsy Brit dug deep to retake the lead and with it the race victory. The win moves Bolt to second in the standings, with just one point now separating him from the championship lead.

Billy Bolt: “After winning the two qualifiers, I got out to a good lead in the final and felt in control until I messed up the hillclimb in the closing stages. Then it got intense! At that stage, I didn’t have much left in the tank to charge back at Mani [Manuel Lettenbichler]. I got back up to him and just managed to get it done on the final lap. It’s been tough in this heat too; something I’m not that used to. But the crowd didn’t disappoint. The noise and atmosphere were wild for the final. Overall, this win has been great for my championship and now I’m sitting just one point behind Mani.”

Manuel Lettenbichler: “I’m really happy with second, but after such a close battle, and in such tough, humid conditions, it’s always disappointing not to come away with the win. I got the holeshot but then Billy passed me at the end of lap one and after that we rode together for a lot of the race, swapping the lead a few times. Towards the end, I could see he was getting tired, and I managed to get past him, but then on the very last lap I made a mistake and got my footpeg stuck and that was enough to lose the lead, and the win. It’s definitely an intense format here at TKO. The final is only about 45 minutes, but after racing all day, going all out really takes it out of you.”