| ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S SUPERENDURO ROOKIE FINISHES THIRD OVERALL AT 2018 SUPERENDURO OPENER |
| The opening round of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Poland was one to savour for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt as the SuperEnduro rookie claimed a race win before going on to secure third overall in Krakow, Poland. Defending series champion, Colton Haaker endured a tough night to place sixth overall.
Despite having never previously raced indoors, Bolt immediately showed he had what it takes to challenge the world’s best by ending the 2018 SuperEnduro World Championship opener on the third step of the podium.
On an unpredictable and challenging track, Bolt gelled well with the conditions to go on to finish fifth in the opening final. In race two Bolt put in his best performance of the night, riding to victory. Picking up fourth place in race three, he finished third overall.
Making his Husqvarna debut in Poland, Alfredo Gomez finished a strong third in race one, before several mistakes hampered his progress throughout the night and the Spaniard eventually finished fifth overall.
Returning to competition having sat out much of the AMA EnduroCross Championship in the USA due to an elbow injury, reigning two-time SuperEnduro World Champion Haaker didn’t enjoy the best of nights in Poland.
Although starting strongly by topping the SuperPole hot-lap, multiple crashes through each of the three races saw Haaker end his night sixth overall.
Bolt: “I’m really happy with how it’s gone today. On the whole, a race win and finishing on the overall podium is really encouraging. In the first race I was suffering from arm pump a little and wasn’t able to push like I wanted to. The second race was good but in the third I was tiring a little, but it wasn’t too bad. You can never really prepare for the intensity of SuperEnduro, no matter how hard you try to push yourself in training. I’m looking forward to round two, I just want to keep doing what I’m doing, enjoy the racing and enjoy the experience. It’s amazing to race in front of the fans like this, their cheering really motivates you to give that little bit extra.” Haaker: “It’s not been the perfect start to the series for me. That first turn had a pretty gnarly obstacle and I got caught up in the first two races. I had to fight my way back from nearly last in both races and although I was riding well there wasn’t enough time. I won the Superpole, so I know my pace is there. I’ve not raced since September, so I am a little race-rusty, too. I’ve got some things I can build from so hopefully I can come back stronger.” The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round two in Riesa, Germany on January 6 2018. Results – FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 1, Poland Prestige class overall Prestige class race 1 Prestige class race 2 Prestige class race 3 |
