On the fifth round of the SuperEnduro World Championship there were 17 thousand people at Budapest’s MVM Dome, witnessing another great, and winner, performance from Billy Bolt, in a day with some surprises.
In the first race Bolt (Husqvarna) ended first, followed by Walker (Beta), while the portuguese star Diogo Vieira (GASGAS) was third, beating Mitchell Brightmore (GASGAS) and Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM).
In the second winner was again Bolt, now with Vieira coming as runner-up, as Brightmore took the podium, with Lettenbichler in fourth and Walker in fifth.
As there is ‘never two without three’, Bolt once again got to win, with Walker coming in second, with Lettenbichler reaching his first podium. Brightmore was fourth, with Eddie Karlsson (Husqvarna) to be fifth.
In terms of the overall standings in the championship, Bolt leads with 301 points, 33 more than Walker. Lettenbichler is third with 193.
Stay with with how the action went overall:
The twists and turns were numerous and the surprises just kept on coming, the first jolt of the night came during the Akrapovic SuperPole when Billy Bolt (GBR-Husqvarna) was once again beaten by Jonny Walker (GBR-Beta). The Beta rider was ahead of his compatriot by just two hundredths of a second, but it gave him the edge heading into the races. However, as all SuperEnduro fans know. You can never rule out Bolt. Sure enough, at the start of Race 1 Bolt was quick on the gate drop and took his first Airoh Holeshot of the evening. Walkerwas stuck in traffic and lost a few places on his main rival. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER-KTM) also got off to a good start and momentarily slotted into second behind Bolt, until Walker fought back to take the spot. The German rider then suffered his first crash of the night while trying to chase the two riders ahead of him, this opened the door for Diogo Vieira (POR-GASGAS), and the Portuguese rider was in for a big night, moving into a strong third in the race and never looking back. At the front, Billy Bolt appeared to be on for a trouble-free run to the finish line but there was huge drama in store for the championship leader…
While the Brit was closing in to lap Lettenbichler, the KTM rider dropped his bike in the matrix. The triple World Champion had no choice but to spectacularly leap over the stricken German and his machine – providing one of the most dramatic images of the 2024 season! The factory Husqvarna rider scared himself by falling heavily on his already injured left leg, but both riders rejoined the race. Despite the pain, Bolt went on to win Race 1 ahead of Walker and Vieira.
In the final race of the night, Billy Bolt confirmed that his big fall and long-standing injury were not going to hold him back. This time out it was a rejuvenated Jonny Walker who took the Airoh Holeshot in front of his compatriot and Lettenbichler. For Diogo Vieira the last attack of the night was disastrous, the Portuguese rider fell in the first metres of the race, and again in the matrix as he was trying to recoup. But with the idea of a maiden podium on his mind, he launched an incredible comeback. From last place he patiently overtook his opponents one by one and climbed back to a respectable sixth place. A position sufficient to guarantee him his first MotoZ FIM Enduro World Championship podium. Elsewhere, the last race was a little less eventful than the previous two, Bolt enjoyed another victory ahead of Walker and Lettenbichler. It’s a fifth victory in five Grand Prix for the three-time World Champion who now has one hand on the title. The Husqvarna rider celebrated on the overall podium with Jonny Walker and a euphoric Diogo Vieira.
Prestige Overall
1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 62 points
2. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 48 pts
3. Diogo Vieira (POR), GASGAS, 42 pts
4. Mitchell Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 41 pts
5. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 40 pts
Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 12 laps, 7:17.091
2. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 12 laps, 7:29.898
3. Diogo Vieira (POR), GASGAS, 12 laps, 7:43.224
4. Mitchell Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 12 laps, 7:55.692
5. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 11 laps, 7:20.187
Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 11 laps, 6:35.545
2. Diogo Vieira (POR), GASGAS, 11 laps, 6:55.507
3. Mitchell Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 11 laps, 6:58.254
4. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 10 laps, 6:39.761
5. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 10 laps, 6:47.852
Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 12 laps, 6:55.701
2. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 12 laps, 7:08.635
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 12 laps, 7:12.845
4. Mitchell Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 11 laps, 6:52.802
5. Eddie Karlsson (SWE), Husqvarna, 11 laps, 6:58.692
Championship Standings (After Round 5)
1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 301 points
2. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 268 pts
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 193 pts
4. Will Hoare (GBR), Rieju, 171 pts
5. Dominik Olszowy (POL), Rieju, 157 pts