It was a case of close but no cigar for Jonny Walker at the fifth round of the 2015 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Following two strong showing in the night’s opening races – including victory in race two – the Brit saw his chances of an overall event win ended when a track side banner became lodged in his rear wheel early in the night’s final race.
The penultimate round of the series therefor ended disappointingly, but with Walker having again showed impressive speed and consistency. In a position to claim his first overall race win Jonny nevertheless still placed fourth overall despite his bad luck in the final race.
Race one saw Jonny start second, hold the runner-up result throughout the race and finish second. Despite not feeling 100% things improved for Jonny in the reverse start order second final as he quickly made his way into the lead, a position that he held to the chequered flag.
Crashing with Cody Webb off the start of the final race was anything but what Jonny needed in his quest for the overall win, but thankfully he was uninjured and back up and racing in no time. Catching a trackside banner in his rear wheel, which stopped his bike, Jonny was forced to do all he could to remain in the race. Needing assistance to remove the banner Jonny was later disqualified, giving him a fourth place overall result.
Were Jonny to have placed third or higher in the final race in Brazil he would have headed to the final round of the series second in the point standings behind team-mate Taddy Blazusiak. Instead Jonny currently sits fourth, 13 points from the runner-up position. 
Jonny Walker: I’m gutted to have lost out on my first overall victory. I was really ill in the build up to the event in Brazil and wasn’t at my best physically, but still managed to get a good result in the opening two races. It was all on the line for the overall in the final race and unfortunately I crashed with Cody Webb in the first turn. What really messed up my chances of an overall win was getting a trackside banner stuck in my rear wheel – locking it up. I couldn’t get it out alone and outside assistance resulted in being disqualified, but I had to try. It’s hugely disappointing and a bad end to what should have been a great night.”
The sixth and final round of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship takes place in Cahors, France on March 14.
