The SuperEnduro Storm: Billy Bolt's Dominant Display in Poland
In a thrilling start to the 2026 SuperEnduro World Championship, Billy Bolt asserted his dominance in Gliwice, Poland, but the battle was far from straightforward. With a fired-up Jonny Walker on his tail, the Triumph rider kept the pressure on throughout the night.
SuperEnduro Round 1: A Season of Hype and High Stakes
As the indoor season kicked off, the buzz was palpable. A reigning champion, fresh from five titles, faced off against the AMA EnduroCross champion and a host of other world-class riders, including EnduroGP and Hard Enduro champions. Electric bikes, in their second season, added an innovative twist, and the Brightmore brothers continued their impressive rise.
The PreZero Arena, a bustling venue an hour from Krakow, hosted a packed house and a challenging track. With nearly 100 riders in total, the races across all classes were intense and gripping, despite some complaints about limited track grip.
Practice and Qualifying: Walker's Focus vs. Bolt's Errors
Practice and qualifying sessions hinted at a focused Jonny Walker, while Billy Bolt made a few uncharacteristic mistakes. However, when it came to SuperPole, Bolt delivered, topping the session ahead of the Brightmore brothers and Eddie Karlsson. Walker's misfortune in the final technical turns, where he stalled, set the tone for a challenging night.
Moto 1: Bolt's Aggressive Start
Unlike previous visits to Gliwice, Bolt was on a mission from the get-go. An aggressive yet clean start saw him muscle his way into the lead by the second turn, and he controlled the race from the front. Behind him, the Brightmore brothers and Walker engaged in an intense battle, with Walker forced to charge from deep in the pack after a chaotic first turn.
The fight for third went down to the wire, with Walker pressuring Ash Brightmore on the final lap. In a dramatic moment, Walker block-passed Brightmore in the final switchback but then dropped his bike, allowing Eddie Karlsson to slip through for fourth. Brightmore's ride over Walker secured third, stunning the Triumph rider.
Moto 2: Walker's Charge and Bolt's Misstep
Diogo Vieira seized the opportunity of the reverse-grid start, leading from the front row. Walker, starting from the back, charged through the field with some impressive overtaking moves on the opening lap. By lap three, he hit the front, with Bolt following close behind. Bolt began closing in on Walker, but a heavy crash after missing his rear brake opened a gap he couldn't recover, and Walker took the win.
The battle for third involved Karlsson and the Brightmores, with Ashton making a decisive pass on the Stark rider mid-race, securing another podium finish.
Moto 3: Walker's Charge Falls Short
Bolt grabbed the holeshot again in the final race, but Walker, hampered by a poor gate pick, steadily closed the gap. Bolt later admitted to easing up slightly, acknowledging that another lap could have changed the outcome. However, Bolt's overall win was secure, and Walker's 5-1-2 scorecard earned him second place on the night.
A podium seemed within reach for one of the Brightmore brothers, but tragedy struck when Ashton crashed into his brother on the opening lap of the final moto. The collision put Ash painfully out of the race, and Mitch had to scramble from last place. The X-Grip Racing team's internal strife was evident, but they'll have another chance to fight for glory.
This opened the door for Eddie Karlsson, who claimed his first SuperEnduro overall podium, a landmark achievement for the Stark team. The Swedish rider, unaware of his overall win until the end, had earned it through his dedication to the Varg race bike.
Prestige Class Overall Results:
Junior Class:
In what feels like his veteran season in Juniors, Milan Schmuser once again set the pace. He dominated moto one and charged through the field in moto two, winning ahead of Ramon Godino and Fraiser Lampkin, both stepping up from the Youth class. Moto three followed a similar pattern, with Schmuser pulling away at the front to complete a perfect opening round. Behind him, the points battle was intense, but Godino, the reigning Youth champion, made the Junior podium on debut, while Toby Shaw secured third overall with a strong final race.
Youth Class:
Local hero Wojtek Walczak was the star of the Youth class, taking the overall win with a 1-3 scorecard and lifting the home crowd with the Polish anthem. Luca Kropitsch's consistency earned him second place, while Britain's Conor Watson claimed third with a moto two victory.
European Class:
The European Championship was dominated by Rieju rider Eric Miguel, who secured two convincing moto wins. Hungary's Mark Szoke finished second overall, with Italy's Alessandro Azzalini in third.
Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi
