Billy Bolt wins the Xross Prologue and Alfredo Gomez gets the 1st podium for Rieju in HEWC!

The first round of the 2023 Hard Enduro World Championship at the Xross Hard Enduro in Serbia proved to be an exciting event for the riders and fans. The prologue featured a challenging course in the streets of Zlatibor, with logs, rock gardens, tyres, and a wooden staging banked corner with a drop-off, making it a test of skill and bravery.

Foto: Andrea Belluschi – Xross EnduroCross Podium. Billy Bolt, Alfredo Gomez, Trystan Hart

The amateurs, hobby, and expert riders took to the track to set their qualifying times and determine their start order for the main race days ahead. Despite a brief downpour dampening the course, the riders put on a thrilling show for the fans, with warm sun drying the track before the PRO riders hit their laps.

Billy Bolt. Foto: @predragvuckovic

Billy Bolt, the SuperEnduro World Champion, set the benchmark qualifying time of 47.31, almost six seconds faster than Trystan Hart, who finished second, with Dominik Olszowy in third. The top 16 riders from each class then progressed to the early evening EnduroCross shootout race, starting with the amateurs and ending with the PRO riders.

Trystan Hard, Manuel Lettenbichler. Foto: @andreabelluschi

Bolt was the rider to beat in the main final, taking advantage of his pole position in qualifying to pull away from the pack and secure an easy win. Alfredo Gomez finished second, holding off the KTM riders of Trystan Hart and Mani Lettenbichler, who battled it out for the final podium spot. Lettenbichler eventually finished fourth, followed by Wade Young in fifth, and Junior World Champ Mitch Brightmore in sixth.

Alfredo Gomez – Rieju Factory Foto: @andreabelluschi

Gomez showed his prowess on the prologue logs, holding off the KTM riders to secure a podium finish on his Reiju. Hart managed to edge out Lettenbichler to finish third, with the KTM riders putting up a good fight throughout the race. Mario Roman finished in 14th place, while Graham Jarvis finished in 16th place.

Alfredo Gomez, Rieju Factory

“Second place, but really happy! I knew Billy will be really fast so I took a great start, and got the second place in the 1st corner. The bike was running perfect and didn’t let anyone to pass and didn’t took any risks also. First podium for Rieju in the Hard Enduro World Championship!” said Alfredo Gomez.

Billy Bolt confirming his SuperEnduro Titles. Foto: @andreabelluschi

The Xross Hard Enduro World Championship continues with the main race taking place in the mountains, where the riders will face a GPS navigation route. The riders will need to draw on all their skills and experience to navigate the challenging terrain and come out on top. With Bolt setting the pace early on in the competition, the other riders will have their work cut out for them to try and catch up.