2022 was without context a year where many records fell in FIM SuperEnduro World Champion. Billy BOLT (GBR-Husqvarna) the brand new double world champion is behind many of these records, but the 2022 season was excellent in several areas.
Let's start our Buzz Arena by taking news of the injuries during this great German final. Taddy BLAZUSIAK (POL-GasGas) and Cody WEBB (USA-Sherco) both injured their wrists quite painfully. We are still awaiting news from the Pole whose injury is a suspected fracture to his right wrist. Cody WEBB was scheduled to meet with a surgeon in the coming days to determine if his wrist should undergo surgery to recover more quickly from his trauma. It seems obvious that the two top riders will miss the start of the Hard Enduro season. We wish them a full and speedy recovery.
Another driver was unfortunately quite badly injured this weekend in Germany, the Frenchman Fabien POIROT (Sherco) in the Junior category. The Frenchman fell during qualifying on the first day of racing. Despite the pain, the Sherco driver held on to ride in the three evening finals. The pain was sharp, he had a scan on Saturday evening. A fracture of the D6 vertebra was discovered. Fabien is still under observation at the Leipzig hospital to determine if he will have to go through surgery. We will keep you informed of the state of health of the young Frenchman. Courage Fabien!
In terms of the competition, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon offered a show at all times to the large audience at the SachsenArena. The record for Superpole victories was broken by Billy BOLT, never before had a superenduro competitor won all the poles in a season. The Briton also won 14 of the 15 rounds of 2022. He also set almost all of the best laps in the race and the number of laps in the lead of a race. Now double world champion for the second consecutive year, Billy BOLT seems determined to keep those great statistics for many years, his opponents have been warned.
Good performances are to be highlighted among the competitors of the Prestige class. We think in particular of the local pilots Tim APOLLE (GasGas) and Kevin GALLAS (GasGas). If GALLAS only participated in his national GP, APOLLE took part in the whole season. Surely carried by the fervor of the supporters, their friends and their families, the two German pilots signed very decent results within the elite. They managed to qualify in Superpole in at least one of the two days. In the race, the first day was tricky for GALLAS who was forced to retire twice. The rider of the GasGas #71 recovered on Sunday to finish his three races including 2 times in the top 5. APOLLE showed great consistency by appearing outside the top 5 only once in 6 races contested. These are excellent signals sent by the 2018 European champion for next season.
Ty CULLINS (USA-TM) managed to climb among the 7 in the second Akrapovic Superpole of the weekend. The young American suffered for his return to the elite. The jet lag but also the lack of competition at the world championship level are the reasons for these difficulties. But as usual the Junior champion in the United States did not give up and finished ranked in the 6 rounds of Riesa, we hope to see him again next year for a full season.
In junior and in the European championship, the races were also animated and spectacular. Hats off to the two champions Dominik OLSZOWY (POL-GasGas) and Sonny GOGGIA (ITA-KTM) but also to all their adversaries who throughout the season allowed the public to vibrate thanks to the exploits of all these pilots. A little focus to another Frenchman who finished second in Europe. Aurélien ADDESSO (Sherco) pushed GOGGIA until the last round of the season for the Italian to be titled. The rider of Sherco #4 has already announced that he will aim for the title in 2023.
For Bastien BLANCHARD, boss of ABC Communication and promoter of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship: “2022 was a particularly successful year given the difficulty in organizing it. I would like to congratulate all the organizers who welcomed us with great enthusiasm, passion and professionalism. We look forward to returning in 2023 with an equally attractive and exotic calendar. Good job and thanks to all."
