SuperEnduro opens in Poland with Bolt . victory

news7g12/11/2022

8 4 minutes read

SuperEnduro opens in Poland with Bolt . victory

FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 1 – Poland

Billy Bolt began his FIM SuperEnduro title defense in Poland with an overwhelming and well-deserved victory, coinciding with his return from injury after a five-month break. That performance helped Bolt win all three Prestige races in Krakow to take a 12-point lead.

Dominating the hot SuperPole lap for nearly a second and a half, Billy earned himself the first gate pick for the opening Prestige race of the night. Although it marked his first competitive trip in more than 5 months, the FE 350 driver was quick to show everyone that he hasn’t lost any of his race cars.

Taking the lead, racing driver Husqvarna set off to win the first race of the night in Krakow. Jonny Walker and Cody Webb made the top three.

With the grid order reversed for the second Prestige race, Billy opted for a steady start from the second row before carefully crossing the field with swift precision.

Safe work, clean crossing, he quickly moved to the front of the field. Once outpacing leader Taddy Blazusiak, he ramped up his pace in mid-time to overtake his opponents to win by 30 seconds. This time it’s Jonny Walker, followed by Taddy Blazusiak behind Bolt.

When he failed in his third and final Prestige race in Krakow, Billy set his sights on a clean win in the first round and he did not disappoint. Despite being a bit overwhelmed during the first few corners of the first round, the Briton remained calm and composed as he advanced to second.

After a couple of rounds of fighting with early lead Jonny Walker, Bolt soon put his Husqvarna in the lead and went headless. Walker had to finish second – for the third time of the night – and Cody Webb returned to the top three for the final race.

Taking three wins from three first-round starts in Poland, reigning world champion Bolt has recovered from injury perfectly to establish himself as the driver to beat in the new SuperEnduro season.

Billy Bolt – P1

“I am very happy to be back in racing, but to get back on a winning streak and win the SuperPole is the dream start to the championship I was hoping for. It feels like 5 long and hard months without cycling, but I’m so happy to be back cycling and racing at my best. That’s what I like to do. Although tonight has gone according to plan, I feel I have some work to do to get back to my best. We are a few weeks away from the second round in Germany, so I will continue to work hard to become even stronger there.”

Jonny Walker – P2

“P2 tonight in Poland, the fans are amazing. Thanks again to my sponsors.”

Cody Webb – P3

“Less than a year ago, I finished arguably the worst season of my racing career in @superenduro_fim I ended the season with a broken and dislocated wrist. My contract ends at the end of the year and after seeing an orthopedic surgeon and talking to other riders with similar wrist injuries, I think my career is over. I am so grateful that the doctor did the best he could and got me back on track. While I was recovering, I was so proud of @shercusa_official crew, especially my mechanic @cdr188 and teammates @cooperabbott120 for taking the time to make the necessary improvements to our racing bikes for Endurocross. I squeezed my wrists through the AMA Endurocross series with almost no preparation and was able to take third place in the championship and win the final round. Then, to reach my final race at 22 less than a year after my severe injury, there’s no way I could be happier to redeem myself than by standing back on the podium accepting the Superenduro. It’s an honor to have this opportunity and thank you to everyone who helped make my dream come true.”

Taddy Blazusiak started the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship with a fourth first-half win. Having nearly missed a spot on the podium in the home race, the Polish star remained tied with third place to ensure a solid start to the new season.

Hoping to make amends in the third and final Prestige race, a collision in the opening lap sent Taddy out of order. Knowing that one spot on the overall podium was in balance, the EC 350F rider attempted to regroup. Racing from eighth to fourth, he needed to get past Webb for a spot on the podium, but couldn’t do it.

Taddy Blazusiak – P4

“It was a tough race tonight. Dirt is hard to go. Large stretch marks form during jumps and it is difficult to do consistent clean laps. In the first race, I used a lot of energy to go from the last place to the fourth and my arms went up at the end of that race. They stayed very tight for the rest of the night, and sometimes I had to fight against myself. I’m disappointed not to finish on the podium at home, but getting the points in third is still a good result for the championship. My pace and pace are good, so I’m confident to play more in Germany.”