Billy Bolt was celebrated by the 9,000-strong crowd at the Papp László Sports Arena, as the British superstar won all three races in Budapest with a sensational performance and an amazing pace. Hungarian newcomer Norbert Zsigovits, who was the best finisher in the Prestige category, finished seventh on home soil, while European Cup contender Márk Szőke finished the day in third place with a superb victory in the second race.
First of all, we have to mention that our former motocross world champion Kornél Németh built a track in the arena that even the real connoisseurs licked all ten fingers. The jumps were spectacular, the matrix sometimes even broke the knives of the best riders, and the rocky section required incredible strength and concentration. As was the whole race, which unfortunately included some huge falls, which is not uncommon in this sport – someone jokingly remarked that most of the people in the depot were either dressed for their race or limping. Maybe both.
Among the favourites, Taddy Blażusiak was the first to get up close and personal with the arena floor, landing unluckily after the finish jump, but luckily he was unhurt, while Sweden’s Eddie Karlsson had to be taken to hospital for further examination after an equally unlucky landing.
Billy Bolt, on the other hand, rode as if he was not affected by gravity, and his race could not have been more perfect: he won the superpole and then all three races, which means he finished the Hungarian race with maximum points.
“It was not an easy win, but I am very happy about it. It was an action-packed day, the second race was particularly exciting for me, but all’s well that ends well – I can be satisfied with three wins,” said Bolt, who beat Jonathan Walker and Cody Webb in Budapest. And he increased his lead in the overall points race.
For Norbert Zsigovits, this is his apprenticeship in the superenduro world championship’s top category, so every metre he covers is incredibly rewarding. And in Budapest, he achieved his best ever final position in front of his home crowd, finishing seventh in the third race.
“I rushed the first race, I was too nervous, but the second and third races went quite well, I was confident and set a good pace,” said Zsigovits. I could hear the cheers during the overtaking, it was really good.”
Márk Szőke: “I was tense all day, then before the start of the second race I decided it was time to start enjoying the race. I went through the matrix with many people’s knives sticking in like knives through butter, and when people started cheering in the last meters, all the stress was off my chest. It was an amazing feeling to stand there in front of the Hungarian crowd who were cheering me on.” Szőke finished second overall in the European Cup with this result, while Roland Liszka, who also put up a tremendous fight, finished third on points. “I had a little problem with my concentration, I definitely need to improve in that and then maybe I can win a race. I had a few problems with the matrix, so all in all it was a very tough day,” said Liszka, who was third in the first race (cheered on by the crowd) and seventh in the second.
