Cycle News Staff | February 6, 2024
Billy Bolt continued his string of victories in the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. The Brit claimed his fifth win in as many races in the 2023-24 Championship. The Husqvarna riders’ latest success came at the Grand Prix of Hungary inside the MVM Dome in Budapest on February 3.
Billy Bolt once again dominated the FIM SuperEnduro Championship round, this time in Hungary. Photo: Future7Media
Despite dealing with damaged ligaments in his left knee ever since round three in early January, Bolt has somehow managed to keep his perfect season intact. In the first of the three feature races in Budapest, Bolt took the win with a comfortable lead over his main championship rival, Beta-mounted Jonny Walker, and, GasGas rider from Portugal, Diogo Vieira.
The second heat seemed even easier for Bolt, who quickly passed Viera, who had earlier taken the lead of the race. Bolt was uncatchable once he had moved to the front. Walker had a tough time in this one, with multiple falls and minor mechanical problems. Vieira ended up second, followed by 2023 Junior Champion and GasGas rider Mitch Brightmore.
Walker, who was looking for some redemption, was the early lead in race three, but even he couldn’t keep the mighty Bolt at bay.
Bolt quickly got around Walker and ran off with the sweep. Walker held on for second, and KTM rider Manuel Lettenbichler was third.
(L-R) Jonny Walker, Bolt and podium first-timer Diogo Vieira celebrate in Hungary. Photo: Future7Media
Walker finished out the evening in second place overall, followed by Vieira, who finished on the podium in SuperEnduro for the first time. Brightmore was fourth overall and Lettenbichler was fifth overall.
“I’m massively pleased with my riding tonight,” Bolt said. “From the get-go, I felt good on the track, and I really wanted to deliver a good result. With three wins from three starts, I can’t really ask for more from myself. Of course, I’m still managing my knee injury from round three in Germany, but I’ve learned how to deal with it. Naturally, there were some moments out on track during the evening, but that’s part of the sport. Overall, my starts were solid and I grew stronger with each race. With two rounds remaining, I’ll keep chipping away at things and be ready for Bulgaria.”
“I felt good, and I was happy with the track, but when it came to racing, I just really struggled,” Walker said. “The first race wasn’t too bad, but it felt slippery like I was losing the front, and then I got a bit of arm pump, too. The second race was an absolute nightmare for me. I must have crashed four or five times, and I had some collisions, too. I turned it around a bit in the last race, but Billy was on fire again.”
Bolt has a commanding lead in the championship with two rounds to go. He leads Walker by 33 points. Lettenbichler is holding down third, 75 points behind Walker and just 22 points ahead of fourth-place Will Hoare. CN
Overall
- Billy Bolt (Hus) 1-1-1
- Jonny Walker (Bet) 2-5-2
- Diogo Vieira (GG) 3-2-6
- Mitchell Brightmore (GG) 4-3-4
- Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 5-4-3
