Billy Bolt dominates Hixpania Hard Enduro to win FIM HEWC
final round
ng from injury, the Brit dominated the Hixpania Hard Enduro from
start to finish on his TE 300 to secure a highly deserved overall victory.
Eager to build on his fourth-place result from the recent Sea To Sky in
Turkey, Bolt arrived in Spain feeling fitter, more confident, and hungry for
success. Hitting the ground running for the Saturday morning qualification,
Billy set a pace that no one could match. Fastest in the seven-kilometre time
trial by an incredible 25 seconds, he topped the qualification. Heading into the
evening’s straight rhythm race in Aguilar de Campoo, he focused on keeping the
pace alive.
Despite a slippery wet course due to rain, Billy was tuned into the
head-to-head race format on his TE 300. Easily fastest in his heat races, he
soon advanced through to the final. Winning both runs, he comfortably topped the
podium for the evening’s action.
With Sunday marking the culmination of the weekend’s racing with a
two-hour, multi-lap race, Billy took pole position on his TE 300 as the top 10
qualifiers all lined up inside a cave to start.
Immediately taking control of the race, the Husqvarna rider put in a series
of fast laps to try and distance himself from the chasing pack. With the rain
continuing to fall, and the course becoming increasingly slippery, Bolt remained
unfazed. Building his advantage to almost seven minutes, he skilfully scaled the
final hillclimb to win the Hixpania Hard Enduro in dominant fashion.
Billy Bolt (Husqvarna): “I’m beyond words with this victory. To
win here like this, means so much to me. It’s been a tough year with injury,
and a long and difficult comeback to get to this point. I knew Sea To Sky was
about getting back to racing, and I felt that if I rode like I could here, then
winning was possible. All weekend I felt so good on the bike. Like my old self.
Saturday went perfect, but Sunday was what it was really all about. I’ve lost
out at this race in the past, so I knew how important the opening laps are here.
I knew I had to stay in the fight in the early laps. I got tired in the middle
of the race, but when the track started to clear out, I found my pace again and
rode for the win. I’m so happy to have made it happen today.”
Results: FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Round Seven
Hixpania Hard Enduro: El Camino Perdido
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 5 laps, 2:08:55.93
2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 5 laps, 2:15:43.89
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 5 laps, 2:25:35.65
4. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 5 laps, 2:35:51.34
5. Wade Young (GASGAS) 5 laps, 2:38:29.98
6. Mitch Brightmore (Husqvarna) 4 laps, 2:00:09.73
7. Ashton Brightmore (Husqvarna) 4 laps, 2:04:30.05
8. Teodor Kabakchiev (Sherco) 4 laps, 2:13:32.30
9. Matthew Green (KTM) 4 laps, 2:17:29.24
10. Marc Riba (KTM) 4 laps, 2:23:52.11
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