Husqvarna Factory Racing’s hard enduro star battles through illness at round five of the FIM HEWC in Turkey
Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt endured a tough fifth round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship at Turkey’s Sea to Sky, battling illness throughout the three-day event to finish an eventual 11th overall.
After delivering standout performances at rounds three and four of the championship in Italy and Spain during September, Billy was excited to keep that top form flowing on his TE 300 at round five. The three-day race format with Beach Race, Forest Race, and Mountain Race normally favours the Brit, allowing him to showcase his wide range of hard enduro skills.
With the Beach Race getting racing underway on Thursday, Billy was determined to make his mark, despite suffering from illness. Working his way through the qualifiers and heat races, he reached the super final with relative ease. Although low on energy, the short race worked to his advantage and he was able to take a strong victory, while claiming the three championship points on offer.
For Friday’s time trial Forest Race, a 40-plus-kilometre course took riders deep into the forest and rocky trails surrounding the city of Kemer. Pacing himself well throughout, Billy powered his TE 300 to the fourth quickest time, earning further championship points.
Saturday’s feature Mountain Race saw competitors charge from the shoreline on the beachfront at Kemer to the summit of the nearby Olympos Mountain at 2,366 metres in altitude. At 64 kilometres in length, the course is notorious for its relentless climb in elevation and increasingly difficult obstacles and terrain.
Knowing he would be impaired due to his illness, Billy was determined to do his best and reach the finish line in the highest position possible. Starting out well, he stayed in touch with the leading group of riders as they raced through the early rocky canyon sections. Unfortunately, a navigation error saw Billy lose touch with the leaders, forcing him to battle through the remainder of the race on his own. Exhausted at the finish line, he salvaged a hard-earned 11th overall.
The Husqvarna Factory Racing team now turn their attention to round six and the penultimate stop of the FIM HEWC at Germany’s GetzenRodeo on October 24-25.
Billy Bolt: “It became a tough race for me here in Turkey. I have been pretty sick all week and today I just struggled. I tried to hang with the leaders as long as possible, but it was hard to manage to do that. Then I made a large navigation error and lost touch with them. As the course became increasingly difficult the higher up the mountain we rode, my physical condition suffered. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my day or week here. Hopefully I can rest up, get healthy again, and return to my best and push Mani for the win at GetzenRodeo in a few weeks’ time.”
Results: FIM HEWC Round 5, Sea to Sky
Mountain Race
- Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 3:49:24.25
- Mario Roman (Sherco) 3:55:12.01
- Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 4:02:41.37
- Wade Young (GASGAS) 4:20:33.90
- Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 4:23:20.48
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 4:44:28.52
