After a long off-season, the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship is back this Saturday, December 7th, at the Tauron Arena in Krakow (Poland)! The absence of reigning World Champion Colton HAAKER (USA), and former World Champion Cody WEBB (USA) leaves the door wide open for a new contender for the crown. Will the early lead go to home favourite Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL - KTM)? Or will the likes of all-action star Billy BOLT (GB - Husqvarna) or a returning Jonny WALKER (GB - KTM) spoil the party for "King Taddy"?
In 2018, ABC Communication and the promotional agency "Sport Up" embarked on a three year contract, offering the Polish public a SuperEnduro event until 2021! Supported by the Lodzki Klub Motorowy, "Sport Up" already knows the recipe for success and, for the fourth year in a row, the Tauron Arena is already SOLD OUT!
BLAZUSIAK - Home Town Hero!
Once again, Tomasz GAGAT and his Sport Up team have decided to host a round in the very region which Taddy BLAZUSIAK (PL - KTM) hails from: Krakow. The Tauron Arena, with its capacity of about 12,000, has become the lair of the six-time World Champion - who has so far been undefeated here!
Krakow, the second largest city in Poland, is located in the south of the country. For many people, it remains the scientific and cultural centre of the country with its traditions and history stretching back over 1000 years. It is also home to the Jagiellonian University, which is the second oldest university in Central Europe.
With an entry list packed full of strong riders in the two major categories, as well as in the European Cup, the Tauron Arena is bound to see a thrilling atmosphere! And Taddy BLAZUSIAK can stir up the fans like nobody else!
Pretenders to the Throne…
Exit HAAKER and WEBB, enter BOLT and WALKER! While we’re disappointed not to see the two American rivals fighting it out, the return of two of Britain’s best riders will offer at least as much spice and excitement.
But will BOLT and WALKER be able to stop Taddy BLAZUSIAK in his quest for a 7th world crown after a year ‘off the scene’?
All will be revealed at this first Grand Prix of the season, where there is plenty of other talent keen to make an early impact…
Spain’s Pol TARRES (E - Husqvarna) and Alfredo GOMEZ (E - Husqvarna) will do everything to become true title contenders this year. And Diogo VIEIRA (P - Yamaha) will be keen to confirm his excellent 2019 season. While the young guns Blake GUTZEIT (RSA - KTM), Kevin GALLAS (D - Husqvarna), William HOARE (GB - KTM) and Tim APOLLE (D - Sherco) will also want to prove that they are the future of the discipline and ready to fight with the established names.
We must also keep an eye on the ‘underdogs’ such as Xavi LEON (Husqvarna), Alex GRAU (Sherco), David LEONOV (Husqvarna), Ib ANDERSEN (Gas Gas) and the two local riders Emil JUSZCZAK (Beta) and Grzegorz KARGUL (Beta)...
Junior: Newcomer CULLINS the Favourite?
The 2019 SuperEnduro season was completely dominated by the talented young Brit, William HOARE. But with the reigning champion having graduated to the Prestige class, 2020 will see a new winner. Double AMA Endurocross Junior Champion Ty CULLINS (TM) will certainly hope to step straight on to the top step of the podium, and the Californian sees himself as following in Ty TREMAINE (USA)’s footsteps, giving the Junior crown back to a rider from the USA…
However, a very strong and ambitious field of hopefuls will be ready to take him on, such as: Enrico RINALDI (I - Husqvarna), Dominik OLSZOWY (PL - KTM), Leon HENTSCHEL (D - Husqvarna), Teodor KABAKCHIEV (BG - KTM), Adrien JACON (F - KTM), Josza NORBERT LEVENTE (RO - KTM) and Oskar KACZMARCZYK (PL - KTM).
Finally, in the European Cup, after the departure of Robert SCHARL and Tom KNIGHT the title race looks very open, although some pre-season favourites stand out such as Magnus THOR (S - Husqvarna), John NYSTRÖM (S - KTM), Marcel TEUCHER (D - KTM) and Norbert ZSIGOVITS (H - KTM).
Riders like Sonny GOGGIA (I - Beta), Robin HOLTMEULEN (NL - KTM), Marco MESSNER (AUT - KTM) and Fabien POIROT (F - Husqvarna) could also make their mark...
The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship 2020 promises to keep us all on the edge of our seats. And while BLAZUSIAK appears to come in as the big favourite, he will face tough competition, and his duels with BOLT, GOMEZ, TARRES and WALKER could take the whole sport up a notch!
See you on Saturday, December 7, at the Tauron Arena in Krakow (Poland) from 16:00 local time, when the stars of the SEWC will invite you for a night of suspense, breathtaking races, an a big show!
If you missed out on tickets, you can visit www.enduro-tv.com from 18:00 CET to witness every moment of this fist round LIVE on EnduroTV!
Practical Info:
- Krakow (Lesser Poland Region);
- 300km North of Warsaw;
- Saturday 7 December from 16:00;
- Organisation: Lodzki Klub Motorowy &Sport Up;
- Websites: www.superenduro.org & www.enduro-tv.com ;
- Programme: 3 Finals for Prestige class, 3 Finals for Junior Class, and 2 Finals for the European Cup;
- Tickets: SOLD OUT;
- 3 hours LIVE COVERAGE on www.enduro-tv.com: 18:00 to 21:00
- Airport: Krakow
