FIM Hard Enduro World Championship racing is back this coming weekend as the series heads to Italy for the Abestone Hard Enduro. Round three of this year’s series, Abetone and the Tuscan mountains are set to welcome the world’s best riders for what promises to be three days of epic competition.
After a curtailed start to the 2021 series due to Covid developments in both Portugal and Austria, Hard Enduro riders and fans thirsty for action are in for a threat as the sport makes a long-awaited return to Italy. World renowned for its motorcycling passion, Italy was one of the originating countries of Hard Enduro thanks to events like Hells Gate, but in recent years has been out of the international spotlight. With Abestone Hard Enduro taking centre stage this weekend, all that is about to change.
Boasting altitude of almost 2,000 metres, with challenging mountain peaks and deep, forestry covered valleys there’s a lot on offer for all competitors. As one of the sport’s top riders, race organiser Michele Bosi has created a track that will both test the best in the world and offer a wealth of enjoyment to our amateur riders.
Three Days Of Hard Enduro
Easing us into the event, Friday is all about the short, natural Extreme Test competitors will warm up on, while also determining the starting order for Saturday – the day of Time Trial qualification. Laid out across the two peaks of Val di Luce and l’Ovovia, racing begins in earnest on Saturday with a fast but technical 10-kilometre course ridden three times throughout the day. With a rider’s best timed run counting, the top 50 competitors qualify through to Sunday’s feature race, with the remaining entry contesting Sunday’s morning race.
Things heat up for Sunday’s action when all eyes turn to the afternoon Super Final to see who will come out on top for the first time this season. Ramping up the difficulty, the forestry sections become slower and extremely technical as riders battle loose rock, steep climbs and equally steep descents as they fight to complete the 20-kilometre-long course within the available three-hour time limit. With very little room to recover between sections, it’s sure to reward those who’ve done their homework.
Who’s On Form
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt proved near enough untouchable on the Endurocross style circuit in Portugal. He’s since secured himself a podium result in FIM EnduroGP, showing both his speed and technical ability are on point. With eyes set on the top step of the podium in Italy, only a winning start to the series will do for Billy. However, teammate Graham Jarvis carded a surprising third in Portugal. Getting into the mountains, Graham, and Husqvarna’s third rider Alfredo Gomez, will no doubt be feeling even more at home in the undulating and technical terrain.
