26.10.2024

Billy Bolt fastest qualifier at FIM HEWC round seven at 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro

News

Qualification for the seventh and final round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship saw Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt set the pace. The Brit powered ahead of his rivals at 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro to top the time sheets ahead of TTR Squadra Corse’s Mitch Brightmore in second, with Red Bull Leader Tread’s Wade Young third.

Final HEWC of 2024 gets underway at 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro
Billy Bolt tops qualification by a massive 25 seconds
SuperEncierro straight rhythm proves a hit in Aguilar de Campoo

The seventh and final round of the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship got underway today in Aguilar de Campoo, Spain, at the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro. Saturday’s opening day of racing was a busy one for competitors, beginning with the morning’s Campoo X-Treme FIM Qualification, followed in the afternoon by the SuperEncierro city enduro show race.

For the Campoo X-Treme, riders competed for the first round of FIM championship points on offer. A seven-kilometre hard enduro lap along the lakeshore was contested in a time trial format. The fastest of two lap times counted for qualifying points, while also deciding the start position for Sunday’s main race, El Camino Perdido.

Bolt sets blisteringly fast pace in qualification

Hitting the ground running, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt powered his way around the course to set an incredibly fast time on his first timed lap. Initially fastest by 29 seconds over Red Bull Leader Tread’s Wade Young in second, with TTR Squadra Corse’s Mitch Brightmore right behind in third, Bolt was confident with his efforts.

As a rain shower crept in ahead of the second timed lap, Bolt opted not to contest it, hoping his first timed lap would hold firm. With his gamble paying off, Bolt was quickest by an eventual 25 seconds, although behind him the remainder of the top three running order would change.

Finding some extra pace, Brightmore improved by four seconds to move up to second overall. His time also saw him place fastest in the FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship supported by KLIM.

Although going two seconds quicker, Young was unable to beat Brightmore and had to settle for third. However, by beating his championship rival, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler, ensures the title won’t be decided until tomorrow’s El Camino Perdido race.

With Lettenbichler fourth, it was Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman who completed the top five. Rieju Factory Racing’s Alfredo Gomez took sixth, while TTR Squadra Corse’s Ashton Brightmore was next best of the Juniors in seventh.

Mitch Brightmore Qualifying Hixpania 2024

Aguilar de Campoo treated to straight rhythm action

From the Campoo X-Treme, riders headed into Aguilar de Campoo for the evening’s SuperEncierro city enduro show race. With no championship points on offer, the straight rhythm format was still hotly contested in front of thousands of spectators.

Carrying his pace from qualification into the SuperEncierro, Bolt once again proved unstoppable. Easily advancing through his heat races, he lined up for the final against Diogo Vieira (GASGAS). Beating Vieira in both of the final runs, Bolt topped the night’s racing, with Vieira placing second.

In the battle to determine the final step of the podium, Sherco Official Team’s Francesc Moret beat Sonny Goggia (KTM) to claim third in front of his home crowd.

AKRAPOVIC Live Experience

Don’t forget, you can follow all the action from round seven at 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro on the AKRAPOVIC Live Experience on iridehardenduro.com. Filled with information, it will feature all the official results, event coverage and schedules to help you stay up to speed with the action.

Billy Bolt (Husqvarna): “I was pretty happy with my time from the first run. I felt good on the bike and with the pace I was riding at. It rained a little in between our timed runs, so I decided not to use my second run, knowing my first lap was good. It’s great to qualify fastest and puts me in a good position heading into tomorrow’s main race.”