Billy Bolt kicked off his 2026 SuperEnduro World Championship season with a commanding performance in Gliwice, Poland, although he faced strong competition from Jonny Walker on the Triumph. Eddie Karlsson notched his first podium finish and a significant achievement for Stark.
SuperEnduro Round 1 Overview:
The opening round was highly anticipated, featuring a defending champion pursuing a sixth title, the new AMA EnduroCross champion, and world champions from EnduroGP and Hard Enduro. Additionally, electric bikes entered their second season, and the Brightmore brothers continued their impressive rise.
The PreZero Arena, located about an hour from Krakow, was filled with fans and showcased a track that allowed for exciting racing across various classes, despite some complaints about grip. Nearly 100 riders participated in total.
Practice and Qualifying:
Jonny Walker appeared focused during practice, while Billy Bolt made some unusual mistakes. However, when it came time for SuperPole, Bolt excelled and topped the session followed by Mitch and Ash Brightmore, Eddie Karlsson, and Josep Garcia. Walker faced setbacks, stalling in the last technical sections, which impacted his rest of the night.
Moto 1:
In a departure from past performances, Bolt quickly seized control of the first moto, taking the lead by the second turn. Behind him, a battle ensued between the Brightmore brothers and Walker, who had to navigate from a challenging starting position. The tussle for third place intensified on the final lap, where Walker, after some aggressive moves, dropped his bike, allowing Ash Brightmore and Karlsson to pass, leaving Walker in fifth.
Moto 2:
Diogo Vieira capitalized on the reverse-grid start, leading early while the rest of the field fought to gain position. Walker, however, made a stellar comeback, reaching the top position by lap three. Bolt followed closely but crashed after mismanaging his rear brake, giving Walker the win. The competition for third continued between Karlsson and the Brightmore brothers, with Ashton eventually making a key pass mid-race to secure another podium.
Moto 3:
Bolt again took the holeshot in the final race, but Walker, disadvantaged by a poor starting position, began closing the gap as the laps progressed. Bolt admitted he may have eased off slightly, suggesting that another lap could have altered the outcome. Ultimately, Bolt secured the overall victory while Walker’s performance, with finishes of 5-1-2, placed him second, leaving him to ponder his SuperPole mistake.
Though the Brightmore brothers seemed poised for a podium, an early crash impacted their race, with Mitch starting from nearly last place. Nevertheless, Eddie Karlsson capitalized on the chaos to achieve his first SuperEnduro podium—an unexpected but rewarding result for the Swedish rider.
Overall Results Summary:
Junior champion Milan Schmuser dominated his class, winning all three motos and establishing a strong lead. In the Youth class, local favorite Wojtek Walczak triumphed with a consistent performance, while the European Championship saw Rieju’s Eric Miguel excel with two decisive wins.
