Briton has a new world champion as Billy Bolt took the first ever World Enduro Super Series crown at the Red Bull Knockout beach race at Scheveningen in Holland.
Bolt survived a huge crash and pitted in anger, thinking he may have thrown it all away. But the bike wasn’t too badly damaged and he changed goggles, got the bike tweaked and headed back out onto the deep sand. He held on for a fine 12th place to take the crown from German Manual Lettenbichtler.
Bolt said: “We’ve had two goes at celebrating and it’s hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m speechless. Such a long year with so many different races. It was a huge team effort. I’m completely lost for words!
“I did three laps with the front twisted so I came in to get goggles and the bike straightened out. I had a bit of a tantrum and had a strong second half of the race. I’m over the moon!”
As well as the world title, he also won a KTM X-Bow car as his prize.
It was a dream win for fellow Briton Nathan Watson who took the win on his factory KTM. The win meant he ended the series as third in the world. He won a race entry in the KTM X-Bow racing series worth £10,000.
Watson said: “I can’t believe it. I was so emotional when I crossed the line as I put everything into it. I’ve been second here and at Le Touquet but never won before. ”
KTM’s factory motocross rider Glenn Coldenhoff was leading the race and looked unstoppable, showing the sort of form that saw him dominate the recent Motocross of Nations as Watson moved into second place from Yentel Martens.
But the track included a tricky enduro-style X-lane that riders had to do four times. First time through, leader Coldenhoff had an easy run but next time he got caught in mass traffic and got stuck over some tricky logs.
That allowed Watson to get by and hold his own at the front until the end. Coldenhoff, who came perilously close to running out of fuel, held on for a fine second, from Martens in third.
Britons Todd Kellett was fifth and Jamie McCanney sixth in a great day for British racing. Paul Bolton was 18th.
FMX star Robbie Maddison was not allowed to start after being disqualified in the qualifying race for riding in the pit lane.