2022 SuperEnduro of Jerusalem
Round 3
Billy Bolt continues the dominance he kicked off at the start of the season, Brit creates a serious lead at Round 3 in Israel and is well on his way to a second title in the Prestige class. Despite his best efforts, his opponents had no answers for him in Jerusalem.
The season three organizers have followed things closely, as a new entry to the calendar, and are ready and waiting to give drivers and fans the best experience. The evening began, as usual, with the Akrapovic SuperPole.
After setting the fastest lap in real time, Taddy Blazusiak (POL-GasGas) appeared to be in top form, but unfortunately luck was not on his side and his GasGas was ahead. deadlock when the motor stops. Taddy lost 10 seconds in the SuperPole as the clock kept ticking. He was forced to start from seventh place in Races 1 and 3.
The best moment was set by none other than championship leader Billy Bolt, who crossed the 34-second mark (0’33,609). Behind him is teammate Colton Haaker (USA-Husqvarna) who also performed well on the tight and slick track, taking second place on the grid. Cody Webb’s technique worked wonders, and he finished third with his Sherco, just ahead of Jonny Walker (GBR-Beta), fourth in the SuperPole.
In three races of the evening, Bolt did not concede a single opponent. He has won three, showing dominance confidently. Brit admits that he is not quite as comfortable on a narrow and technical track as in Jerusalem. Yet again he has proven that he is adaptable and can be quick and precise in any arena.
The tight track has no recovery time and pushes the best in the world to the limit. Colton Haaker got off to a great start in Race 1 by winning the shot on the hole, but the Californian was quickly overtaken by his colleague Husqvarna. Bolt flew to the top and never looked back. Haaker then had to see repeated attempts from Jonny Walker in form, with driver Beta overtaking him with ease as Colton stopped his car.
In fact, Walker is Bolt’s strongest opponent tonight. Still searching for her first crown, Brit has shown great consistency this season. England finished second in the first race, ahead of Cody Webb, who finally conquered his 2022 demons, the American driver was convincing throughout the evening and his form is picking up, despite though it’s too late to fight for the title.
The Bolt performance continued in Race 2, kicking off the back grid. Taddy Blazusiak bounced off the line quickly and he conceded a shot, but another shot from his GasGas and pain from pumping his arm caused him to be quickly overtaken by Bolt and Walker. The six-time world champion didn’t give up easily, though, and after a big battle with the two Britons, he latched onto a vital second, taking advantage of Walker’s two late collisions. Again, Billy Bolt was on the other side of the first line, and the third Walker was unlucky.
The cherry on top for Bolt is not only his sweeping ability but also the way he manages; with just one small flaw, making any obstacle easy and with a calm and relaxed style. In the final race, he finished 18 seconds ahead of his nearest opponent.
Enduro fans around the world agree that Billy Bolt’s technique is impeccable and perfectly adapted to all terrain and racing conditions. His championship lead is now a whopping 50 points, giving him a big chance at the finale in Riesa.
The final race of the night in Israel also saw a great fight between Walker, Webb and Haaker with driver Beta holding the American and taking the lead, coming in second behind Bolt. He also finished second overall on the night. Despite finishing third in the final race, Husqvarna’s Haaker almost missed the overall podium, just one point behind Taddy Blazusiak. Pole clung to third place overall despite the crash in Race 3.
Billy Bolt – P1
“It was a great night, winning SuperPole and all three races. The track is very difficult and there are many risks when going off the main road, so the point is to try to ride smart and avoid errors as much as possible. I didn’t have a great start to race one, but I quickly positioned myself and when I saw an opportunity, I made two reasonable passes to take the lead. In the second race it was a similar situation, so I knew to keep my cool and let the race come to me. I was very focused on getting the hole shot in race three and was very happy with that. After some quick opening laps, I took the lead and was able to control it to the finish line. Overall, it was a perfect night when it came to maxing out championship points. I’m looking forward to reaching the double header final in Germany in two weeks. ”
Taddy Blazusiak – P3
“It was an exciting night in Israel, but I’m glad I turned the tide and won the podium result. Unfortunately, SuperPole didn’t go according to plan and it resulted in a bad pick for races one and three. In those races, I finished the race and had some crashes as a result. But it worked in my favor for the second race, where the order was reversed and I pulled the ball. I took a little lead and fought for second all the way. The second claim was definitely a highlight of the night as it showed what we were capable of here. Two rounds left in Germany. I know Billy will be hard to catch, but Monday is there to take, so I’ll fight the whole thing. I will not give up! ”
Colton Haaker – P4
“It was a bit of an up and down night. Coming in second in the SuperPole showed my speed, but to be honest, I struggled to get to a full race. I’m trying the best I can. I know the point is to get that last little piece of the puzzle to click to get the job done. The third final was probably my best performance with third place and I feel I have made progress there that I can bring to Germany. ”
There are a number of highlights of the Jerusalem GP, especially the excellent organization of this new event, which has made it a permanent fixture in the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship calendar. The show also delighted fans, riders, teams and SuperEnduro promoters.
And there’s another reason for home fans to cheer; Local driver Suff Sella in his KTM stepped up from Junior to try his hand at Prestige in front of his supporters. The 18-year-old performed well and finished seventh overall at his home GP, beating a number of seasoned pros.
The next and final SuperEnduro event of 2022 will see another ‘first’ as it will be held for two consecutive evenings at SaxonyArena in Riesa, Germany. Make sure you guys don’t miss the finale on March 19-20, it’s sure to be thrilling.
FIM SuperEnduro World Championship 3rd round results
Classification of prestigious events
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63 points
- Jonny Walker (Beta) 49 points
- Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 41 points
- Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 40 points…
Prestige Race 1
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11 rounds, 6: 39,980
- Jonny Walker (Beta) 11 rounds, 6: 47.126
- Cody Webb (Sherco) 11 laps, 7:00.157
- Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 11 rounds, 7: 19,238…
Prestige Race 2
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 12 rounds, 7: 11,512
- Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 12 rounds, 7: 23,168
- Jonny Walker (Beta) 12 rounds, 7: 46,342
… 6. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 11 rounds, 7: 50,348…
Prestige Race 3
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 12 rounds, 7: 12,585
- Jonny Walker (Beta) 12 rounds, 7: 30,934
- Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 12 rounds, 7: 36,398…
Championship standings (after round 3)
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 186 points
- Jonny Walker (Beta) 136 points
- Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 128 points
- Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 128 points…
