After topping timed practice by well over two seconds over his nearest rival, Bolt went into SuperPole full of confidence and fired up to secure pole position. It didn’t quite go all his way however, but a couple of small mistakes didn’t slow his pace, and the FE 350 racer took the win by one and a half seconds.

After taking the holeshot in race one, Billy was untouchable. Delivering a masterclass of SuperEnduro riding, Bolt opened up a gap from the front and ultimately lapped up to fifth place on his way to a dominant victory.

The reverse-grid race two saw Billy skilfully pick his way through the pack to move up into second place at the end of lap one. A mistake by race leader Jonny Walker resulted in the hard-charging Bolt catching his rival, creating a closely fought battle for the lead on the technically demanding track. After steering his FE 350 into the lead on lap four, Billy didn’t look back – extending his advantage to the chequered flag.

In taking his second race win of the night, Bolt earned enough points to secure the 2025 crown, his fifth consecutive SuperEnduro title.

With his FE 350 proudly displaying a gold number one plate for race three, Billy had nothing to lose. As the race unfolded however, it was clear it wouldn’t be easy for the Husqvarna star. A four-way battle for the win raged on throughout the race, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Ultimately, it was Billy who came out on top, demonstrating his skill, speed, and ability to perform under pressure as he completed the clean sweep of race victories in front of his home fans.

The seventh and final round of the 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship is set to be held in Lievin, France on 8 March.

Billy Bolt: “It’s been an incredible night here in Newcastle tonight. I know I came here into my home round with a good advantage but you can never take things for granted in SuperEnduro. The boys were pushing really hard tonight, especially in that last race – I think they thought that as I had won the title, I might ease off a little. Of course, I gave it my all as usual and was able to come out with three race wins. The crowd here have been amazing and I want to thank everyone who has supported me this season. Five titles in a row is fantastic. There’s still one round to go and you can be sure I won’t be backing down there either, I’ll be looking to finish the series on a high next weekend in France.”

Results – 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 6, United Kingdom

Prestige Overall
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts
2. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 48pts
3. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 45pts
4. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 45pts
5. Eddie Karlsson (Stark) 32pts

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11 laps, 7:14.394
2. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 11 laps, 7:28.260
3. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 11 laps, 7:45.213

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 6:49.887
2. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 10 laps, 6:56.442
3. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 10 laps, 6:58.717

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 6:52.237
2. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 10 laps, 6:55.557
3. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 10 laps, 7:00.451

Championship Standings (After Round 6)
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 366pts
2. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 266pts
3. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 239pts
4. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 227pts
5. Eddie Karlsson (Stark) 190pts

Getting his evening in Riesa off to the best possible start, Bolt not only took the win in SuperPole, but put in a time close to two seconds quicker than the second-placed rider.

Making the best use of his first gate pick for race one, Billy got the holeshot and began to pull away. Although pressured by championship rival Jonny Walker, Bolt controlled the pace from the front to secure his first race win of the night.

The reverse start order for race two saw Bolt set off from row two. Despite staying safe and hanging back early on, it didn’t take the FE 350 rider long to begin picking his way through the field.

With chaos unfolding around him and many riders suffering on the deteriorating track, Billy rode smoothly and looked in a class of his own to take win number two of the evening.

After getting closed in off the start of the third final, Bolt once again showed his skill and experience by judging the race and timing his passes perfectly. Moving up into second place by lap three, Billy then set about closing down the leader.

Seizing an opportunity when Walker made a mistake in the rock garden, Bolt surged into the lead before extending his advantage to the chequered flag. With SuperPole and three wins from three races, Billy delivered a perfect evening of racing, and now heads the championship standings by over 20 points after two rounds.

Next up for the 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship is round three from Cluj-Napoca in Romania on 18 January.

Billy Bolt: “I’m really pleased with how the evening has gone here in Germany, and the fans have been amazing as always. I managed to go the whole event without crashing, which is good. Obviously to take three wins and the SuperPole is always the goal, but I’m happy with how I rode tonight as well. Jonny was laying on the pressure in the first race, then Dominik in the second, but I was able to stay focused and not make any mistakes. Everything is going to plan so far, and the bike is working really, really well. I’m looking forward to getting back to racing again in two weeks’ time in Romania.”

Download images from Round 2 of the 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship here.

Results – 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 2, Germany

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63 points

2. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 45 pts

3. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 36 pts

4. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 35 pts

5. Eddie Karlsson (Stark Future) 35 pts

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:03.655

2. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 10 laps, 7:08.559 +4.904

3. Eddie Karlsson (Stark Future) 10 laps, 7:34.654 +30.999

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:27.701

2. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 10 laps, 7:37.689 +9.988

3. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 10 laps, 7:43.134 +15.433

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:10.390

2. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 10 laps, 7:18.324 +7.934

3. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 9 laps, 7:29.861 +19.471

Championship Standings (After Round 2)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 119 points

2. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 97 pts

3. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 75 pts

4. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 72 pts

5. Eddie Karlsson (Stark Future) 66 pts

Getting his SuperEnduro title defence off to a solid start, Bolt came out swinging in Poland. After qualifying fastest, the Brit took a commanding win in the SuperPole hot lap to earn his first three championship points of the season.

Race one went perfectly for Bolt. Taking the holeshot from the left-hand side of the starting gates, his pace and skill over the demanding obstacles of the track enabled him to open up a one-second lead by the end of the first lap. Remaining consistent, Bolt continued to stretch his lead over second-placed Jonny Walker all the way to the chequered flag.

In the reverse-grid race two, Bolt stayed out of trouble for the first half of lap one, slowly picking his way through the field. Moving up to second place by the end of the second lap, Billy began to close in on the leader. A couple of small errors and falls caused Bolt to lose time, and despite giving his all, he couldn’t recover the places lost. Crossing the line in fourth, Bolt secured 13 valuable championship points.

Bolt’s race three was a carbon copy of the first. Taking his second holeshot of the evening, Billy went on to extend his lead all the way to the finish by delivering a masterclass of SuperEnduro racing. His mistake-free ride secured him a second race win and the overall event victory.

Now, holding a four-point advantage at the top of the series standings, Bolt shifts his focus to round two in Riesa, Germany, on 4 January, 2025.

Billy Bolt: “I’ve got to be happy to take the win here in Poland, especially in front of such a fantastic crowd, but it’s definitely not all gone my own way. SuperPole went well and then going into race one I felt good and was able to take the win. In race two, I took my time early on, but after that I pushed too hard to get out front and made some mistakes. Coming off the side of the track didn’t help, especially with how slippery the concrete is here in Poland, but thankfully, I was able to fight my way back to fourth. Entering race three, the points were tight for the overall, so the goal was clear – get out front and just manage my pace to the finish. Everything went perfectly, I was able to take the race win and the overall. It feels good to open my season with a victory, I’m already looking forward to Germany in a few weeks’ time.”

Walker finished second in the first two Prestige races, but an unfortunate 13th place result in race three, due to a crash and technical issue, meant that the Brit was forced to settle for third overall.

Making a solid start to the 2025 SuperEnduro series, Walker secured fourth in qualifying before storming the one-lap Superpole to place second, less than a second shy of the top spot. Making the most of his advantageous gate pick for the first Prestige race of the night, Jonny emerged from the tight first corner in second place. Immediately focused on chasing down the leader, Walker showcased his skill and experience to deliver a mistake-free ride while fending off challenges from behind to finish race one as runner-up.

Race two featured a reversed grid, but starting from the second row did little to hold Jonny back. Coming off the start in sixth, Walker put his head down immediately and moved up to fourth place by the end of the second lap. Caught in an intense three-way battle for the lead, with other riders making mistakes around him, Jonny stayed in control of his Triumph TF 250 and was rewarded with another second-place finish. Tied on points with rival Billy Bolt after two races, it was all to play for in the final Prestige showdown of the night.

The third and final race of the evening was one to forget for Walker. Despite a strong start and a solid first half of the race, a crash at the midpoint caused Jonny’s chain to come off. The Brit quickly worked to reattach it, but by the time the chain was back on, there was no time left to recover any positions, leaving him to finish in 13th place.

Despite his unfortunate finishing position in race three, Jonny’s earlier strong results in the Superpole and the first two races ensured that he still secured a podium finish overall, edging into the top three with one point to spare. Sitting third in the championship standings after the opening round, Walker will aim to improve his position next time out. The city of Riesa in Germany will host round two of the 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in three weeks, on January 4.

Jonny Walker: “So we’ve come away with third overall after round one here in Poland! I was second in the first two races which I was super happy with, then the last race wasn’t great as my chain got pulled off so I had to stop and fix that. However, we’ve definitely learned a lot already and I’m excited to get out to Germany for round two in the New Year!”


Results – 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 1, Poland

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 56 points

2. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 52 pts

3. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 39 pts

4. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 38 pts

5. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 32 pts

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 6:45.660

2. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 9 laps, 7:04.321

3. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 9 laps, 7:04.990

Prestige Race 2

1. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 9 laps, 7:05.433

2. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 9 laps, 7:15.580

3. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 9 laps, 7:17.027

4. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:17.678

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 6:58.530

2. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 9 laps, 7:05.661

3. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 9 laps, 7:10.720

Championship Standings (After Round 1)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 56 points

2. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 52 pts

3. Jonny Walker (Triumph) 39 pts

4. Ashton Brightmore (GASGAS) 38 pts

5. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 32 pts

He said: “Im posting this to let the entire Off-road community know that there are people out there that are unstable enough to intentionally hurt others just because they hate motorcycles. So here’s what happened to me, riding a trail on the way to my riding spot on Monday I caught a wire that someone intentionally hung across the trail.

“Thankfully somehow I caught it in an angle coming out of a corner so I took it on my right shoulder and between my helmet chin piece and goggles. If that wire had slipped down from the chin piece on to my neck most probably I wouldn’t be writing this post.

“All good here I got stitched up by a plastic surgeon so hoping my face muscles and the scar are going to be OK. I just cant stop thinking what if I would caught it straight on my neck. I cannot understand how someone could do something like this to another person.”

With a background in trials and over 15 years of enduro racing under his belt, Jonny brings a wealth of experience to Triumph Racing. As a three-time Red Bull Erzbergrodeo winner and multiple SuperEnduro race victor, he has proven his ability to win at the highest level. Under the leadership of former world champion Paul Edmondson, Jonny is focused on capturing his first world championship title with Triumph Racing.

Jonny is set to make his competitive debut on his TF 250 at the Indoor Enduro of Champions at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on 5 October, before getting stuck into the 2025 SuperEnduro season.

Jonny Walker: “I’m really excited to join Triumph! To be the first rider to represent Triumph Racing in enduro is special. It’s amazing to be part of the team, and I’m looking forward to working with Triumph going forward. My bike feels great already, which makes my job a lot easier! It’s great to have Paul Edmondson on board too, he has so much experience, not only in running successful teams in the past, but in racing himself, which will be invaluable. Having a British manager running a British team, with a British rider, is really exciting and something you don’t get very often. Hopefully we can make a strong start, put the bike on the top step, and claim some championships!”

Ian Kimber – Head of Global Racing Programmes, Triumph Motorcycles: “Signing Jonny is a massive step for us in building our enduro programme. As one of the top riders in the sport, we know that he will demonstrate the capability of our enduro bikes in the best possible way. Changing to a four-stroke will obviously require some adjustment for Jonny, but initial testing has been incredibly positive, and he is confident that the bike is already prepared for competition at the highest level. Giving Jonny the backing of our Triumph Racing Factory Team, and the help and guidance of Paul, will ensure that he has the best possibility of winning and challenging for titles.”

Paul Edmondson – Triumph Racing Enduro Team Manager: “The signing of Jonny is the icing on the cake! The fact we can offer a great bike with full factory support means, to me, that there’s only one way for him to go – fighting for race wins and championships. It is a great signing in many ways, and we as a team are very excited to work with such a great rider and person with so much potential!’

Edmondson has officially been appointed Team Manager of Triumph Racing’s enduro programme. One of the most well-known figures in off-road motorcycling, Edmondson is a four-time enduro world champion and has already achieved huge success with his Fast Eddy Racing team in the EnduroGP championship.

Edmondson will head up the Triumph Racing factory enduro programme, which will see the brand represented at the highest levels of enduro competition worldwide. In recent years, Paul has worked closely with Triumph on a variety of projects, including providing essential input on the development of the TF 250-X machine for off-road competition.

In addition, Paul rode Triumph motorcycles in his role as 007’s stunt double in the latest James Bond film No Time To Die. His wealth of experience in both racing and team management ensures that Paul is the perfect fit to head up Triumph Racing’s official enduro programme.

A dominant enduro rider in the 1990s, Edmondson won four world championship titles while also representing Great Britain multiple times at the iconic International Six Days Enduro. At his last ISDE in 2012, Edmondson earned a record-breaking 18th gold medal.

Paul Edmondson – Triumph Racing Enduro Team Manager: “To officially be part of the Triumph Racing Factory Team for enduro, is another huge milestone in my career, and to say I’m excited and motivated is an understatement! The team and I can now really begin the hard work to achieve the best results possible. Having worked with Triumph for a number of years already on some cool projects, I know that we have a bright future in enduro, and to be racing across three championships is really exciting.”

Ian Kimber – Head of Global Racing Programmes, Triumph Motorcycles: “Much like our MX2 and SMX Programmes, it was critical for enduro that we worked with a Team Manager who completely understands what we are trying to achieve and what it takes to get there. Having worked with Paul in the past on numerous projects, including James Bond and our MX and enduro OE development, we couldn’t think of anyone better to head up our newest team. Paul has a rich history in the sport, knowledge of what it takes to be a champion, a proven record of building riders and putting those riders on the box. This, combined with an understanding of working with Triumph, means he is ideally placed to run our Triumph Racing Factory Team in the SuperEnduro, EnduroGP and EnduroCross championships.”

Joining Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing for the 2022 season, Sam kicked off his stint on the RX 450F with a bang by claiming victory in the 2022 Dakar Rally – the first ever win for GASGAS at the world’s toughest rally-raid. And that was just the beginning! Sam kept the momentum going with stellar performances at each FIM World Rally-Raid Championship round in 2022, ultimately clinching his second world championship title. What a year!

Sam first joined the company back in 2014, and during his time racing for the team he secured no less than two world championships and two Dakar victories, not to mention multiple stage and event wins along the way. Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing couldn’t be more grateful for Sam’s passion, dedication, and sheer awesomeness he brought to every race. Sam will continue working with the team, using his vast experience in a support and development role. Thank you for everything, Sam, we’re already looking forward to working closely together again in the future!

Sam Sunderland: “It is with gratitude, humility, a bit of sadness, but without regret, that I announce my retirement from motorcycle racing after having a career that I dreamed of once upon a time. From winning two world championships to my two Dakar victories, it’s been an incredible run. I would like to thank everyone that has been a part of this chapter and I’m looking forward to staying close to the team and playing a part in supporting their race efforts in the future.”

Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “We would like to say a massive thank you to Sam for his time with Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing. I speak for the whole team when I say we’re sad to hear that Sam is retiring from racing, but we completely respect his decision and thank him for everything he has done for us over the years. Beyond being a phenomenal racer, Sam is a fantastic person – always supportive, motivating, and a true team player. He is a huge part of the GASGAS family, and we look forward to working with him again in new and exciting ways in the future.”

Pit Beirer – Motorsports Director: “Sam joined the company back in 2014, and since then his passion, dedication, and results have been exceptional. He not only secured two world championships and two Dakar victories, but he played a massive part in the successes of the whole team. Over the years, our relationship with Sam became stronger and stronger, and with his move to Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing in 2022, he continued to make history. While it’s tough to see Sam go, we respect his decision. I’d like to personally thank Sam for everything he put into the team and wish him well for the future.”

 
He’s the first ever Spanish enduro world champion, first ever Spanish “ISDE” scratch winner, he rode the brand new KTM EXC-F 250 the E1 world title in 2005 and played a crucial role in the development of the highly acclaimed Triumph TF 250-X MX bike. Taking on new challenges has clearly never fazed the 42-year old Spaniard.

It must give a lot of satisfaction to see how well Triumph’s MX2 bike is performing and to see the glowing reception by the media?

Ivan Cervantes: “It’s really amazing! My first conversation about this project was at the end of 2019 so it’s been a long journey. But I’m very grateful to be involved with such a once in a lifetime opportunity. I feel like living my second youth because I’ve been riding so much and it allowed me to get back to a really good level in motocross. I’m convinced that the Triumph TF 250-X is one of the best bikes in the MX2 class at this moment.”

What was it like to witness how Triumph immediately rose to the occasion with the podium of Mikkel Haarup in Argentina, the speed that Jalek Swoll showed in Monster Energy Supercross?
Cervantes: “Wow, it was an unbelievable moment to see how Mikkel made the podium at the very first GP Triumph participated in. He also took the holeshot in the second moto. It was a huge statement for Triumph and a major achievement! I think that’s an historic feat for any manufacturer, to claim a podium in your very first race in such a competitive series. It gives me goosebumps talking about it actually. We spent so much time and effort to build the best bike possible. That bike has some of my DNA in it! The emotions from Argentina only compare to the public reveal of the bike at the LA Coliseum during the SMX World Championship Final. To see Ricky Carmichael and Jeff Stanton enter the stadium that night was unreal.”

So to break things down, what exactly is your role as a test rider?
Cervantes: “Well, I get to try all different iterations of the bike during the development process. Riding with different chassis, different engines and suspension. I also tried different options for brake pumps, different exhausts, wheels and sprockets. Basically anything that you can try. You really to concentrate on the feeling with the bike, mostly in blocks of 10 laps for each specific demand from the engineers. With that you focus on the right words to explain as precise as possible what you experience. Only exceptionally, like on an in or outlap would we race each other a little! Anyway, it was a hard job because Triumph decided to take the long way so to speak. Not by ‘shopping’ around to buy the chassis from this manufacturer and the engine from another. Triumph chose to design everything themselves and even produce a lot of the parts in-house. So sometimes we needed to go two steps back and decide that a certain part didn’t work they way the engineers hoped it would.”

Of course the development of such a huge project is a team effort. Also from a test rider perspective. What did you think about partnering with Ricky Carmichael, probably the best supercross and motocross rider ever?

Cervantes: “When Ian Kimber, the Triumph project leader for motocross, told me that they hired Ricky I was speechless. First of all it was clear that RC would bring so much knowledge and experience with him from his background at three motorcycle giants: Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki. And there’s of course his level of riding and the reputation that he built. When Ricky offered his opinions at times I didn’t always immediately see what he was getting at until his remarks sank in. And he was always spot on! Really amazing to witness. From a personal point of view it was a dream coming true because I had Carmichael posters in my dad’s garage when I was growing up! Secondly Triumph established a killer crew of test riders. Because they also brought on Clément Desalle and Ivan Tedesco. One of the most remarkable things that happened was that all four of us were always united in our opinions on all of the major decisions. There was not one who said we should go like this and another who wanted a completely different direction.”

How did you get into motocross?
Cervantes: “My dad was a motorcycle enthusiast with a big passion for anything two wheels. He was especially interested in GP racing so when I was a toddler he took me to tracks like Montmeló and Valencia to watch the races. I told him that the bikes were okay but I preferred tyres with knobs. Don’t ask me where that came from! Like many kids I received a 50cc motocross bike for Christmas and that was the beginning. At first I sucked really bad to be honest. My dad never pushed me but he encouraged me. Step by step my confidence grew so I started winning some local races. When you’re seven it’s pretty cool to go to class with last weekend’s trophy in your school bag!”

You sort of stumbled upon the world of enduro I understand?

Cervantes: “That’s true actually! I was making headway in motocross when things got a bit more serious in 80cc. I won the Spanish title and finished third in the European Championship. I did quite well on the bigger bikes too. I won the Spanish 125cc SX title in 1999 and finished second in 250cc the year after. In 2001 I had the opportunity to go to the 125cc World championship with a team that was organised by the Spanish motorcycle federation on TM bikes. That was a huge step for me, because I did the complete series for the first time. Only the first 15 riders scored points so things were harder in that regard. I remember that Namur in Belgium was my best race!”

That was probably the most enduro-like motocross GP ever!

Cervantes: “At that point I still didn’t know anything about enduro. As a matter of fact back then enduro was the ugly duckling of motorcycle racing in Spain! For 2002 I had jumped from 125cc straight to the 500cc world championship. I rode for KTM Spain on the big 540SX bike, the same bike as Joel Smets, which was a beast for a 20-year old! I had started the season strong in Valkenswaard but injured both shoulders at the next GP in Bellpuig. At a check up with my doctor he advised me to do some enduro riding on easy-going terrain before jumping back on the  motocross bike. That’s how I got started, just having fun with some friends. KTM learned about this and reached out to me about replacing Kari Tiainen who was a 7-time world champion at that point. We made a plan to do the last two world championship rounds although I was hesitant at first. How was I to replace the biggest enduro legend of that time after a few months of getting into it for fun?”

And as they say the rest is history?

Cervantes: “I’m not sure why I adapted so quickly to enduro but I always had good speed in motocross. Over one lap of qualifying I was up there, much higher than I would finish in the race. I think that’s something KTM picked up on. Before going to my first enduro world championship race I did a “test race” in Spain where I beat Juha Salminen, Anders Eriksson and a few other high-level enduro riders. I had no clue what I was doing yet, but I knew I was onto something and decided to pursue in enduro. My first EnduroGP was in Finland and it was so tough: muddy, tree roots everywhere, very technical. In my first special test I crashed 4, 5 times. In one special! There was very little that I didn’t break on the bike. Kari (Tiainen) told me that I broke more special parts on the bike in one special than him in a full season.”

That’s as big of a what I’m doing here moment that you can get I suppose?
Cervantes: “Exactly! It was a very confronting day because I finished around 15th in my class and I was absolutely terrible in the scratch. I was very sad that night and Kari Tiainen came to talk to my in my hotel room. He asked me what I was doing. Since I had been going so well in Spain. Kari told me how impressed he had been with the way I tackled the hard sections in Spain. I admitted that I felt the pressure of filling his boots. His advice was simple: to do my best but above all to find joy in riding the bike and taking pleasure in the riding conditions. On the second day I finished third overall and second in my class. That conversation with Kari made me think. My second round in Sweden was very positive as well so KTM made me an offer to do enduro fulltime for 2003. ”

The opportunity you took in 2002 to try enduro literally changed your life. How do you look back on that?

Cervantes: “It was a matter of being at the right time at the right place. I did show some promise in motocross although I made a bit of money I still had to invest a lot as well. In enduro I found a type of racing that I enjoyed a lot and where I was able to ride in excellent conditions: with a factory bike, supported by great people. I knew I had a chance to realize my dream in enduro however the transition was very big. With the help of my dad I applied myself to train for this different type of riding. Of course motocross riders have great corner speed. But singletrack riding in the woods, through stones, over logs and deep mud, the  challenging extreme tests, this is a very different kettle of fish!”

The relationship of an elite enduro rider with his bike and the technology is very much unlike the one an elite motocross rider typical has. That must have been an interesting experience for your current role as a test rider.
Cervantes: “It’s very different to say the least. There’s the matter of changing your own tyres for example, within a 15-minute time limit. You need to understand the engine, how the bike behaves. If you’re having a technical issue in a transfer you need to resolve the problem on your own. Plus the fact that you spend so much time on the bike everyday.”

In one year you developed into a world title challenger in enduro. In hindsight you set a trend for motocross GP riders moving to the enduro world championship Johnny Aubert, Antoine Leo, Alex Salvini, Pela Renet , Loic Larrieu etc…

Cervantes: “That’s true. I think I inspired others and you mentioned some very strong enduro riders, but not every fast motocross rider was able to get the same success. A lot of them came and many failed. Just like Stefan Merriman had done I brought some aggression to my riding. That definitely opened some eyes back in Spain. We had good young enduro riders in my era but many of them turned to rally. I was more complete  , also in sandy conditions because of my motocross background.”

It must make you proud to see that you paved the way for someone like Josep Garcia now?
Cervantes: “Definitely. To have played my part and start a new chapter for Spanish riders in enduro has been very satisfying. Josep Garcia is one of the very best in the world. Together with Steve Holcombe, Brad Freeman, Andrea Verona and Hamish Macdonald I consider them the cream of the crop in EnduroGP. 

So who were your strongest adversaries in enduro?

Cervantes: “For sure Mika Ahola, rest in peace, because of his speed and skill but also because of his big personality. When Mika lost he showed great sportsmanship and he’d say something like ‘Congrats you were the best today and you won fair and square, enjoy your victory! But believe me tomorrow I will do everything to do beat you tomorrow. And that’s what he would do. We were very fierce rivals but in a very healthy and respectful way. After 7 or 8 hour day he would beat me by less than a second or I won the other way around. That’s unbelievable! I had great battles with Christophe Nambotin and Pela Renet as well. And of course my rivalry with Antoine Meo was something special. He was very aggressive and spectacular on the bike and we were team mates at KTM! Definitely one of my strongest competitors.”

You raced the enduro world championship for 15 years, you got 68 wins and 73 podiums. That’s a remarkable journey in and of itself, but how did you experience the changes in the sport in that time?
Cervantes: “I consider myself lucky that I was there in this particular era. A new promotor had just stepped in from 2004 onward. That was Alain Blanchard with ABC Communication. In this time the sport went through a big evolution with more TV coverage, increased media attention, more spectacular special tests and a better presentation in the paddock. I loved it.”

After enduro you went to rallyraid and did Dakar.  How do you look back on this chapter?
Cervantes: “First of all it’s an amazing experience, and an humbling one at that. It’s a 15-day race, with a huge amount of kilometers and so many difficult things you need to tackle. From the navigation, to the danger, entering the unknown also because you can not do any reconnaissance. It’s the hardest thing I have ever done. My biggest mistake was to pass my own limits. In my first Dakar I finished 15th, which was an encouraging result for a rookie. So for 2017 I thought okay, look what I have accomplished in enduro I can do  the same here. Now it’s time to attack! That resulted in big, big crashes. I was 11th or 12th with two days to go and had a huge crash. Luckily I got away with it, no big injuries, nothing broken in my body but the bike was completely destroyed. When you go down at 160 km/h and you have two little kids at home… You start to think. I gave it another try in 2018, but I suffered quite a lot of mechanical problems. Having said that, to do Dakar without any major issues -from technical gremlins over navigation trouble to big crashes- well, that’s impossible!”

You’ve done amazing things on bikes that are definitely offroad capable, like the Triumph Tiger or Scrambler, but they’re not pure racing machines like and enduro or motocross bike is. How was it to adapt to those road-oriented machines and even race them like you have with the Triumph Tiger in the Maxitrail category?

Cervantes: “Of course you need to understand that the bike is heavier. In general for an adventure motorcycles you’re talking about a bike that weighs more than 200kg, and on top of that the centre of gravity is different. You can do absolutely amazing things. Even spectacular things on these bikes but never forget that you’re riding a big bike. Making a small mistake can cause an injury or damage to your bike. Correcting your motorcycle when things go wrong is simply harder than on a lighter bike. However it’s great fun to show the public what the Triumph Tiger can do in serious races like the Baja Aragon, 1000 Dunas, Addax Rally or Bassella Race 1.”

You did almost everything that’s possible on a dirtbike: motocross, enduro, superenduro, hard enduro, a bit of supermoto, rallyraid and maxi trail. But how did you get involved with the Guinness World record for most kilometers on a production bike in 24 hours?

Cervantes: “Well this was an idea of Triumph. One day James Wood, a marketing manager at Triumph, called me and asked if I was up to the challenge. Before me an American rider, Carl Reese, held the Guinness World Record for most kilometers travelled in 24 hours. The record stood at more than 3.400 kilometers. At first I thought : No way, it’s not possible to break this record. After a few days of reconsidering I thought, why not? Like you said, I already had tried a lot of things before. So why not something crazy like this! We started preparing before the attempt only two months before. Maintaining an average speed of over 200 km/h -you have to make up for the stops- is not easy. Staying so long on the bike is one thing but the mental challenge is another. To keep focused during the day is quite alright, but at night in the dark it’s demanding. We had some rain too. And when you’ve already done 12 hours the realization that you have another 12 hours to go hits hard! Luckily the Tiger 1200 GT Explorer is a very comfortable bike, still your shoulders and neck really start to hurt pretty bad after a while. There was a big support staff at hand which helped me a lot to stay motivated. All of these people are there for you. You can not let them down, you have to do your best. In the end we set the record at 4,012km (2,493 miles) and everyone was super happy with it.”

How do you prepare for something like this?
Cervantes:  “I tried to get has healthy and fit as possible leading up to the event. Apart from that I gradually started to go to sleep later and about two times per week I went riding at night. Just doing 500, 600 kilometers to get used to the deceased vision at night and the feeling of the bike. It was a great adventure.

Growing up just a stone’s throw from the Newcastle Utilita Arena, Billy arrived at his home race as the champion-elect thanks to a 59-point lead. Knowing a win in SuperPole would see him clinch his fourth consecutive world title, Billy attacked the course with all his might on his FE 350.

Linking together what proved to be the perfect lap, the hometown hero topped the timesheets in front of his passionate Newcastle crowd. Immediately celebrating with his Husqvarna Factory Racing team, family, and friends, he then set about capping off an incredible indoor campaign by racing for his seventh Grand Prix victory.

Opting for the favoured outside gate for race one, Billy blasted off the start line on his FE 350 and emerged from the opening rock garden with the holeshot. A small mistake dropped him back to second, but on lap two he put himself back in control of the race lead. Keeping the pace high, the Husqvarna rider went on to win race one by 12 seconds.

From the second row of the grid for race two, Billy tactically set about moving himself up the leaderboard. Up to seventh on lap one, he claimed another four positions within the space of one lap to slot into third. With three minutes to go, Billy had found his way into second on his FE 350 and began pressuring race leader Jonny Walker. Despite an increasingly slippery track, the Husqvarna rider muscled his way past Walker and hung on to claim his second victory of the night.

Determined to end his home round on a high, Billy took the holeshot for race three and set about building a lead. Increasing his advantage in the opening stages, he built up a seven-second gap over Manuel Lettenbichler in second place. However, just when his third victory looked within reach, a crash in the rocks saw Lettenbichler close that gap. Quickly remounting and regrouping, Bolt got back into his high-paced rhythm and pushed ahead to claim his third race win of the night.

Making it three wins from three starts, along with securing the SuperPole hot lap, the Husqvarna Factory Racing star took the overall victory on the night in Newcastle. Making it seven overall wins from seven starts, Billy ended his FIM SuperEnduro World Championship campaign undefeated, while also clinching his fourth consecutive world title indoors.

Billy Bolt: “I’ve always dreamed of racing in front of my hometown. So to come here tonight and not only win but clinch the world championship for a fourth time is mind blowing. I grew up in Newcastle, it’s my home, so I can’t thank everyone enough for coming out like this to support me. I’m glad we’ve been able to put on a show for them too. The track got tougher as the night went on. It was hard not to make a mistake. Overall, it’s been a challenging season, especially with my injury midway, but thanks to my team we’ve won the championship. We’ll celebrate tonight!”

Results – 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 7, United Kingdom

Prestige Overall
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts
2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 49pts
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 47pts
4. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 39pts
5. Will Hoare (Rieju) 32pts

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11 laps, 7:17.419
2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 11 laps, 7:29.414
3. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 11 laps, 7:34.693

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:01.058
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 10 laps, 7:03.173
3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:05.164

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 6:57.323
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 10 laps, 7:03.000
3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:09.941

Final Championship Standings
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 427pts
2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 354pts
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 287pts
4. Will Hoare (Rieju) 240pts
5. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 230pts