{"id":39856,"date":"2017-12-10T10:11:04","date_gmt":"2017-12-10T09:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enduro.nl\/?p=39856"},"modified":"2017-12-10T10:11:04","modified_gmt":"2017-12-10T09:11:04","slug":"gp-poland-recap-blazusiak-rewriting-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/39856\/gp-poland-recap-blazusiak-rewriting-history\/","title":{"rendered":"GP Poland Recap: BLAZUSIAK, Rewriting History!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The new season of\u00a0SuperEnduro\u00a0<\/strong>started in style… it was an overwhelming reception in the\u00a0Tauron Arena<\/strong>\u00a0for the opening round of the 2018 season of the\u00a0Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship<\/strong>. The 12,000 Polish spectators were thrilled by the exploits of the 75 riders entered from 22 nations, which is a record in the short SuperEnduro history. And of course all eyes were on local riderTaddy BLAZUSIAK (PL – KTM)\u00a0<\/strong>who has already achieved his amazing comeback.<\/p>\n

From the\u00a0SuperPole “powered by Akrapovic”<\/strong>, the Factory KTM rider proved that he has kept his speed by setting a remarkable time while\u00a0Alfredo Gomez (E – Husqvarna)<\/strong>\u00a0and the promising youngster\u00a0Billy BOLT (GB – Husqvarna)<\/strong>\u00a0were caught out by the tricky track. And while he had only achieved the 7th lap time, defending champion\u00a0Colton HAAKER (USA – Husqvarna)<\/strong>\u00a0won the Super Pole and scored his first three points of the season.<\/p>\n

But the Californian could not take advantage of his excellent time, and during the first final he made a mistake in the first corner… an opportunity that the crafty “fox”\u00a0BLAZUSIAK\u00a0<\/strong>was not going to miss; he took to the head of the field in Prestige category in front of a wild crowd. Meanwhile his main rivals like\u00a0GOMEZ<\/strong>,\u00a0WEBB (USA – KTM)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0WALKER (USA – KTM)\u00a0<\/strong>were stuck in the pack. But\u00a0Cody WEBB<\/strong>\u00a0started a superb recovery and overcame the fight offered by young guns\u00a0LETTENBICHLER (D – KTM)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Billy BOLT (GB – Husqvarna)<\/strong>\u00a0who managed a remarkable start to the race.\u00a0WEBB\u00a0<\/strong>was focused on\u00a0BLAZUSIAK\u00a0<\/strong>and took control of the race before crashing in the terrible Matrix. But the American was decidedly too strong to let this mistake hamper him, even from back in 7th position he gave no chance to his rivals, including an excellent\u00a0BLAZUSIAK\u00a0<\/strong>who just saved second place on the final obstacle ahead of a very strong\u00a0Alfredo GOMEZ<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

The second final with a reverse order start was incredible… while all the \u2018Top Guns\u2019 piled up and got stuck on the first corner, the \u201cwiley old fox”\u00a0Taddy BLAZUSIAK<\/strong>\u00a0carved his way through and surprised everyone, taking with him an amazing\u00a0Alex SALVINI (I-Beta)<\/strong>\u00a0and the young “rookies”\u00a0LETTENBICHLER<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0BOLT<\/strong>. And it was this last one who would create the surprise of the night, because after blasting past the German rider and\u00a0SALVINI<\/strong>, he began to hunt down\u00a0Taddy BLAZUSIAK<\/strong>\u00a0who was starting to show signs of fatigue at the start of the last lap. And the insatiable\u00a0Billy BOLT<\/strong>, took the fight to the local rider much to the chagrin of the home fans! The 2016 Junior Champion,\u00a0Manuel LETTENBICHLER<\/strong>\u00a0completed the podium in this 2nd final in front of a remarkable\u00a0Danny MCCANNEY (GB-Gas Gas)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Cody WEBB<\/strong>\u00a0who salvaged points by finishing 5th, while\u00a0Colton HAAKER<\/strong>\u00a0could not do better than 8th.<\/p>\n

The two-time World Champion however managed a great start in the 3rd final where he showed a glimpse of what is to come by scoring a reassuring 3rd place … but meanwhile\u00a0Taddy BLAZUSIAK\u00a0<\/strong>had already charged on ahead! Urged on by a delirious crowd, the six-time World Champion flew into the lead, while\u00a0Cody WEBB\u00a0<\/strong>was stuck in the pack once again, and had to begin a new fight back. The Factory KTM rider from America proved to have the most pace on the track here in Krakow and he started the last lap within two seconds of\u00a0BLAZUSIAK<\/strong>, ready for an epic final. The pair were shoulder to shoulder in the last corner where the US EnduroCross Champion managed to force his way to the chequered flag.\u00a0Billy BOLT<\/strong>\u00a0offered up a good 4th place and he is certainly the leader of the “new generation”…<\/p>\n

But with three second places it was\u00a0Taddy BLAZUSIAK<\/strong>\u00a0who scored the most points in the\u00a0Tauron Arena<\/strong>, and he received the 24MX-sponsored leader\u2019s plate as he takes the head of the championship by two points from\u00a0Cody WEBB<\/strong>.\u00a0Billy BOLT<\/strong>\u00a0completed the podium in front of\u00a0LETTENBICHLER<\/strong>, an excellent 4th, and\u00a0Alfredo GOMEZ<\/strong>\u00a0(5th) who will likely make progress over the next few races as he gets acquainted with his Husqvarna. Disappointments on the other hand for\u00a0Colton HAAKER<\/strong>\u00a0(6th) who lost big points here in Poland despite his SuperPole, and also\u00a0Jonny WALKER<\/strong>\u00a0who is only 8th provisionally. On the other hand, promising signs came from the EnduroGP riders with\u00a0Danny MCCANNEY\u00a0<\/strong>7th while he gets used to his new Factory Gas Gas and\u00a0Alex SALVINI<\/strong>\u00a0a solid 9th. A battling\u00a0Cristobal GUERRERO (E-Yamaha)\u00a0<\/strong>completed the Top 10.<\/p>\n

Another South African to the forefront\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a completely modified platform the Junior category offered us a great set of races with several revelations and three different winners of the three races. The German\u00a0Kevin GALLAS (Husqvarna)\u00a0<\/strong>pocketed the first final, while\u00a0Emil JUCSZCZAK (PL – Sherco)\u00a0<\/strong>also thrilled the audience in Krakow with a surprising victory in the \u00a02nd final against his compatriot\u00a0Oskar KACSMARCZYK – KTM)<\/strong>. And it was the young EnduroGP rider,\u00a0Matteo CAVALLO (I-Beta Boano),<\/strong>\u00a0who won by a clear margin in the 3rd final; which allowed him a podium overall (2nd) in this opening round of the Championship. But the leader of the Junior Championship is now\u00a0Kyle FLANAGAN (RSA- Yamaha Neubert)<\/strong>\u00a0who, thanks to his speed and consistency (6\/2\/3), snatched the overall Junior lead by two points ahead of\u00a0CAVALLO<\/strong>, and five ahead of\u00a0JUCSZCZAK<\/strong>. It\u2019s clear that the young South Africans (GUTZEIT\u00a0<\/strong>champion in 2017) have a lot of talent!<\/p>\n

A quick mention for the European Championship class where\u00a0Tim APOLLE (D- Husqvarna)<\/strong>\u00a0triumphed ahead of the Latvian revelation\u00a0Andris GRINFELDS (KTM)<\/strong>\u00a0and another Polish rider\u00a0Mariusz STEFANIAK (KTM)<\/strong>, who deprives the young Frenchman\u00a0Adrien JACON (F-KTM)<\/strong>\u00a0of 3rd place.<\/p>\n

For its second edition in the beautiful city of Krakow, the\u00a0SuperEnduro<\/strong>\u00a0has again provided a thrilling night of racing.\u00a0And the evening was made even more spectacular with the addition of top show (Cheerleaders, Pyrotechnics, Special Effects, Dancers…) to the delight of the 12,000 spectators and 21 television channels which broadcast this event in 106 countries! Add to that the live streaming of\u00a0EnduroTV\u00a0<\/strong>and it is hundreds of thousands of spectators who were excited for the opening of the 2018\u00a0FIM SuperEnduro World Championship<\/strong>! And the number will certainly grow as we head to the next race on January 6 in Germany for another round of action! Get it in your diaries now!<\/p>\n

What They Said\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taddy BLAZUSIAK<\/strong>: \u201cObviously I\u2019m happy and satisfied with this result in front of my home fans! It’s amazing to re-live such emotions here in Krakow again 1 year on. I never thought of going back to competition. I tried to cut out riding while remaining involved in the sport but the pull just got stronger and stronger … About my successful start in the second race? I think it’s a question of drive and experience that has often allowed me in my career to avoid the pitfalls of the reverse order start. But one thing is certain this result is still a little unexpected for me, but now I can confirm something: I’ll be ready in Riesa on January 6th to defend my No.1 plate!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Cody WEBB<\/strong>: \u201cSatisfied with my evening on a tricky circuit with a very soft ground! I know I have speed but I made some mistakes that cost me dearly. Especially during the 2nd final where I wondered if I was going to be able to make up what I lost after the gigantic crash on the first corner! However I started my season well and I am only two points off Taddy. I\u2019m really looking forward to Germany in 4 weeks where I\u2019ll go for the victory!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Billy BOLT<\/strong>: \u201cI\u2019m a little surprised to be on the podium at this Championship opener with so many prestigious riders out there. But I rode well and the Matrix, where \u00a0lots of people made mistakes, didn\u2019t cause me too much trouble. Finishing on the podium in Krakow is superb for me and I will continue to work to build on this result!<\/em>\u00a0“<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The new season of\u00a0SuperEnduro\u00a0started in style… it was an overwhelming reception in the\u00a0Tauron Arena\u00a0for the opening round of the 2018 season of the\u00a0Maxxis FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. The 12,000 Polish spectators were thrilled by the exploits of the 75 riders entered from 22 nations, which is a record in the short SuperEnduro history. And of…<\/p>\n

Lees meer “GP Poland Recap: BLAZUSIAK, Rewriting History!”<\/span> »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-evenementen","category-persberichten"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/enduro.nl\/wordpress-enduronlnewsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}