DIRT NEWS
BOLT WINS INAUGURAL ABESTONE HARD ENDURO
B illy Bolt ( Husqvarna ) has claimed the win at the first ever running of the Abestone Hard Enduro in Italy as the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship officially gets underway . In a battle of the titans , Bolt led home Manuel Lettenbichler ( KTM ) following a race-long duel , while Graham Jarvis ( Husqvarna ) cut his way through the field for third . After a lengthy wait , the inaugural FIM Hard Enduro World Championship finally roared into life at round three , the Abestone Hard Enduro . The new Italian event promised much with big mountain riding , gnarly rocky climbs , and true Hard Enduro terrain , and it delivered on every count . After Saturday ’ s qualification , competitors got down to the business end of the weekend with the LIQUI MOLY Super Final , where two laps of a world-class Hard Enduro awaited them . Having topped both Friday ’ s timed practice and Saturday ’ s qualification , Bolt sat on pole position for Sunday and started as the rider everyone had to beat . However , with just a
12-second cushion over closest rival Lettenbichler , it was still all to play for . With Bolt opening the course , Lettenbichler patiently took his time and then gave chase . Knowing the early river section would be tough , he worked it hard and immediately caught up to Bolt ’ s rear wheel . From there the fight for victory was on . Throughout the two laps the duo swapped positions . Lettenbichler appeared to have the edge on the rocky climbs up the mountain , while Bolt held the advantage on the way down . Pulling the pin on the final descents , Bolt put his Husqvarna out front and held Lettenbichler off to win . Behind the leading duo - over 13 minutes behind , such was the speed of the top two - Jarvis was another man on a mission . Hampered by a starting position of ninth , he had work to do . Building pace as the race progressed , he began to pull back positions . A gamble not to refuel at the end of lap one leapfrogged him further up the running order . And with a strong run over the mountain , the 46-year-old Hard
KIWI RIDER 19