BILLY BOLT TAKES FRENCH SUPER ENDURO WIN

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has delivered a dominant performance at round one of the 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. Making it three wins from three starts inside the Arena Stade couvert de Lievin, Billy also topped the SuperPole hot lap to complete round one with a maximum points score. Jonny Walker made the trek from America, had zero test time and raced the same bike he took to second place in last year’s SuperEnduro world championship to second overall.

“I didn’t even think about the race before because we were too busy getting here from America. My bike is the same one from last year that finished championship on and has about four hours on it. So I put new plastics on, changed tyres and put it in the van. I didn’t even start it from last year and then when I got here then I was like, shit, I hope it starts!

Third place went to Will Hoare, who was racing on Beta UK-supported RR 300 two-stroke. He had only recently gotten the ride, hadn’t planned on racing the series and was surprised with his results. “I’ve only just jumped on the Beta really, without much time training. When we got here the times were pretty good and I was up there, I was second in the timed qualifying I think so it was a matter of making it happen in the races. I wasn’t gonna go to the other rounds but I think I’d better get driving to Poland in a couple of weeks now!”

UK Beta sponsored Will Hoare went 5-3-3 for an a third overall finish.

Mani Lettenbichler’s return to indoor racing was ignited by KTM demanding to have someone racing orange in the SuperEnduro series. “It was a mixed evening for me and definitely wild. The boys are unbelievable fast right now, especially Billy and Jonny, they’re on another level. I was struggling quite a bit and I feel like I went to extreme on my suspension, too soft in the settings so I think we’re going to go back and try to find something more for Poland.”

Mani Lettenbichler, the Hard Enduro World champion is back on the SuperEnduro circuit. His results were pedestrian, finishing sixth overall.

One of the biggest stories of the weekend came with Taddy Blazusiak and his new Stark ride and the sudden decision from the FIM on ‘not’ allowing electric motorcycles in this “open class” race championship.

What had the makings of a grand debut for Taddy Blazusiak and Stark, ended in frustration when the FIM changed their rulebook less than 24 hours before the technical inspection opened. Late Thursday night the rulebook had been updated to show the open categories (E1, E2 and E3 for all classes) no longer included electric motorcycles. Stark were naturally unnerved after so much hard work and putting a long list of requirements to meet the regulations to race.

Jonny Walker, Billy Bolt and Will Hoare on the podium

The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship now moves on to round two in Krakow, Poland on December 9th.