The 2023 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship season resumes this week with the penultimate race of the season. For the second time in history, the world tour will compete in the Israeli GP in the Païs Arena of Jerusalem. Winner in 2022 for this great first in the Middle East, will Billy BOLT be able to sign two in a row?
Last year, Billy BOLT (GBR-Husqvarna) made SuperEnduro history by winning the first GP of Jerusalem. The Englishman won ahead of his compatriot Jonny WALKER (GBR-Beta), Taddy BLAZUSIAK (POL-GASGAS) and Cody WEBB (USA-Sherco). The four men are still present in 2023, the classification varying a little in favor of the American occupying the provisional third place in the world classification in front of the Pole. BOLT comes in first overall. Although he has won the first three Grand Prix, the Briton is not away from danger.
BOLT is 26 points ahead of WALKER. The Husqvarna official is greedy and he does not intend to relax his effort: “I have no intention of letting the slightest point escape” he said after his last victory at the Hungarian GP. His opposition is warned, but none have the pretension to let go. Jonny WALKER knows that BOLT rides very hard, the private Beta rider continues to believe in his lucky star. He is the first this year to have tripped Billy The Dog. By winning a round at Riesa, WALKER gave himself the boost of confidence he needed. Fully recovered from his small ankle injury (contracted before Hungary), the Briton should be able to disrupt his compatriot. Both men will have to be careful of the rise of Cody WEBB. The official Sherco rider has shown his best side since the start of the season. the American even managed to lead heats, there is not much left to see the 2018 world champion win again. Less technical than during the rounds in Poland, Germany or Hungary, the Israeli layout should offer him this opportunity.
Taddy BLAZUSIAK says it himself: “everything that was supposed to go wrong , went wrong big time in Budapest”. The Pole has been upset with his lack of luck since the start of the season. Despite his troubles, the six-time world champion remains in the game to play for a new place on the final podium of the championship. You can trust Taddy to do anything to write a new line on his already very well filled CV.
All the ingredients seem to be in place to offer a spectacular spectacle for this fourth round of the FIM Superenduro World Championship. Bastien BLANCHARD of ABC Communications, the championship promoter, is delighted with this new experience in Jerusalem: “We are very happy to return to Israel for a second year. The first Grand Prix had been a resounding success. This destination is developing in terms of motorcycle sports. We were the first motorized championship to lead the way last year. The story continues this year with this second edition. We are at the penultimate Grand Prix of the season, the competition promises to be great. Everything remains to be done between Jonny WALKER and Billy BOLT in particular. That should give us a lot of good fights in Jerusalem. The organizer is very involved, he wants to do big things, we are convinced of having a great evening and a great success”.
All these races can be followed live from 6 p.m. (CET) on superenduro.tv.
