Billy Bolt on the state of Hard Enduro

Billy Bolt shares his honest thoughts on the current state of Hard Enduro..
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Billy Bolt makes his first ever appearance on The Ride Companion to chat with Olly Wilkins about his journey to becoming a 4 time SuperEnduro world champion. During the episode Billy opens up about his upbringing in Newcastle, injuries, Red Bull Tyne Ride, signing for Factory Husqvarna, races he wants to win, 2 stroke vs 4 stroke, vlogging, electric dirt bikes, training and much more!
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Edited By: Doug Tucker, onlyflightdispatch.com
#TheRideCompanion #mountainbiking #mtb

[@TheRideCompanion]

FULL EPISODE HERE! kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6e2qZ6Ojaqjb5Isi=zXq0aiPpzMx0Saxk

[@intelligenttechnologies2476]

Billy is a bloody freak. Incredible talent.

[@dbmission123]

Humble dude billy, we see the effort you put in.

[@joeybuckingham7006]

I agree there isn't enough exposure on main stream media about the hard enduro scene and there should be.

[@Dashriprock4]

Because it's unwatchable.

[@DarkTideOffroad]

Why should there be? Hard enduro is a mental disability.

[@BangersEnduro]

⁠@@DarkTideOffroadthat’s like saying marathon running is a mental disability, it’s great to test the limits of your own ability/endurance.

[@Andy_ATB]

All off-road motorcycle racing should get better media coverage; all you see is MotoGP, WSBK, BSB, etc These riders are just as talented as the circuit racers......

[@dr350xr]

@@Dashriprock4yup, nothing exciting about watching guys push bikes or ride over rock piles at walking speed.

[@thunderbox91]

Since the series changed from being a red bull series to a FIM series it has gone downhill. A lot of this is due to the coverage. Red bull did awesome highlight video packages which made it easy for the viewer to be engaged, they also showcased the riders personality's. With lack of decent Coverage the series is a lot harder to follow and watch, even for a fan.

[@vaenii5056]

What comes to enduro First of all there is traditional / classic enduro. The trails tend to be fairly fast and open, there can be some jumps and so on. The stages may have some gnarly sections but nothing too serious compared to hard enduro. The main series for this is EnduroGP which formerly was known as WEC. Current riders? For example Josep Garcia. Hard Enduro is something that evolved from traditional enduro through events such as Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs. The trails tend to be more gnarly and really put the technical riding ability into the test - I think you all know what hard enduro is. Famous riders include Graham Jarvis, Billy Bolt and so on. Then there is superenduro / endurocross that are indoor series. Sometimes other off road motorcycle endurance races are called enduro as well.

[@vaenii5056]

Hopefully this clears things up a bit. I think the confusion arises from the fact that in some parts of the world people were introduced to enduro through hard enduro and events such as the Red Bull Romaniacs.

[@Andy_ATB]

Think of EnduroGP as 2 wheeled rallying; timed stages repeated over the day to give an overall time.

[@natel7382]

I get what hes saying though. I tried to watch gncc and its a mess. Its so hard to showcase the race in a way that makes it watchable. Especially if there is tree coverage you cant see a thing. But yea broadcasting is hard for outdoor events. Idk how to fix it either. Drones dont help when the tree coverage covers the trails.

[@urbanadventurer5]

The solution is more humans with cameras at more locations throughout the course or more stationary or mobile cameras placed at different locations like F1 or NASCAR or MotoGP, or supercross. They do a pretty good job and it shows in their tv ratings.

[@Andy_ATB]

@@urbanadventurer5 That's pretty expensive though....can Hard Enduro afford that??

[@DiegoRuiz1991]

I KNOW THE REASON FOR THAT ONE · WESS-era hard enduro is just NOT relatable to real enduro, to real fans. Instead of focusing on finding very technical but rideable sections, organizers (with the riders' approval) keep finding shitholes where you can only push the bike up IDEALLY, a hard enduro course should be 100% rideable for the top15 guys, only dabbing should be necessary (that's how it looked like in the Knight-vs-Blazusiak era, which should've been the golden era but no one believed in it). If the course is tougher than that, it's just not fun to watch or follow.

[@Dashriprock4]

That's exactly why I would love to see a shift of focus by manufacturers and sponsors to Enduro GP. Completely relatable to the everyday Rider

[@DiegoRuiz1991]

@@Dashriprock4 - Enduro GP is (mostly) "motocross time trials" nowadays, also nothing like what nomal people actually do with enduro motorbikes. It's quite sad TBH. Enduro and hard enduro could be HUGE but the organizers are clueless.

[@Dashriprock4]

@@DiegoRuiz1991 our loops are modeled after GP.. Trail with tests on grass tracks.

[@algee8228]

Agree. Bikes were made to be ridden, not pushed/pulled/dragged/ghosted. I can appreciate watching Jarvis take 30 seconds of repositioning to set up a short burst, but for attracting more viewers there needs to be more flow...not as fast as Enduro GP, but dial down the impossibleness a bit.

[@zbeta1322]

Billy. You’re fucking amazing!! You’re absolutely one the best to ever throw a leg over a bike. I'm a huge fan. You do whatever you want, but you have inspired to be resilient as hell. I love to hear what your take on the sport. God Bless

[@TheRideCompanion]

Big up, thanks for the comment!

[@guesshoo703]

billys ride was absolutely top class in erzberg 2023.....dont forget it !!!

[@TheRideCompanion]

Facts

[@mikerinaldi3471]

After that crash at the start, surprised he finished

[@Kawiboy]

100% Total BADASS 💪👊✌️

[@chrisi2348]

the broadcasting at the erzbergrodeo last week was probably the worst broadcasting if ever seen. there were instagram reels that had more content than the 4h race. they even had cameras at the intersting spots but whenever someone was there they switched away or showd that weird animation of the racetrack for 5 min...

[@Glubberer2]

Billy needs to set a time at Redbull Hardline next year!

[@TheRideCompanion]

Hahaha MAYBE!

[@grantlingley1385]

Can’t wait to see Billy back outdoors and competing with Mani, Jonnie, and the lot!

[@71.racing]

Whole chmapionship without Billi its like football game to one goal. I will probably dont follow anything more then erzberg, finidng enudorgp more intrested atm.

[@Andy_ATB]

@@71.racing Enduro GP needs to improve its coverage, though it's getting better.

[@Dashriprock4]

Wish he would dump hard enduro and focus on Enduro GP. He is the only hard enduro guy Ive seen who has the speed and all round skills to compete in GP.

[@penkop4282]

Not the same watching hard enduro without Billy there. Its a bit boring now to be honest.

[@sled9263]

Come on Billy! Get healthy and set your sights on dethroning Mani L!

[@adhawk5632]

Bolt is a beast👍👌🇦🇺

[@MJFloof]

Is there an urban/street hard enduro course? Like in Rio or Lisbon? Would be cool. Or even inside an old mall with a course laid out.

[@markmtbrider]

Totally mishandled in the USA, going ,gone the way of super moto....super Enduro/ Enduro cross .

[@delrcr05]

Just watched erzbergrodeo and it's insane. Only thing in enduro I'm going to watch for now. Stadium stuff is like rally cars, just boring artificial

[@Dashriprock4]

Take a look at Enduro GP

[@venturini09]

So did the person who entitled the video even watch the video and/or realize that it was 95% about SUPER enduro, not hard enduro?

[@TheRideCompanion]

Can’t get the staff pal. Want a job?

[@venturini09]

In the time it took you to comment you could have just changed the title…..

[@Mr_Eyeholes]

Dang, I thought “going backwards” would mean the bikes only have 5 or 6 reverse gears now.

[@gersonhay984]

Billy Bolt, You are Great at your Job. Its easy to see you love your Sport.

[@csalin7327]

Never seen him at a Gncc.event...or won that championship ? What's up ?

[@Dashriprock4]

He’s British and he’s focused the European championships and races.

[@Petter_fortnite_griffin]

Haha British

[@matthewkantola8638]

Would love to see Billy ride Enduro GP and six days

[@patte4702]

The dude raced a GP last season.

[@LakesEnduro]

Billy is the man 👊🏼🇬🇧

[@user-pp5or5og4k]

Super Enduro = Endurocross

[@steves5632]

Follow the money just like SX in the USA. Less than 1% of the racers/riders ever get to ride a SX track. The local clubs built them and had to close all the SX tracks due to injuries and insurance concerns. Real riders could give a shit riding over tractor tires or a pile of man made bs. We search for hills and rocks and creek crossings in the woods that put that made for TV stuff to shame. There are climbs where I ride that we still have never conquered, but we still go out and attack it every ride and to us that's what the sport is all about. Not impressed with made for TV BS.

[@sled9263]

Wow! Maybe you should get on the Hard Enduro tour! You sound like a legend in your own hand! 😉

[@Terry-Tibbs]

Billy the Beast Bolt

[@bikevault2302]

guuuu on BB57

[@hoosiertrailrider]

Super Enduro and Enduro Cross sux.

[@TheRideCompanion]

Oh dear….

[@Dashriprock4]

As does Hard Enduro. Enduro GP is the pinnacle

[@cheifowethu]

You're silly

[@MichaelAbramo]

We need Billy to come out to Tough Like RORR next year. JW came last year. This one was the hardest yet. Only Cody Webb finished the course. Usually there are 5-10 finishers

[@motovalleyenduro]

Yeah it was gnarly. Even the first race was much harder than it has been in the last few years.

[@stevenllewellyn8906]

Would be amazing. I raced Saturday and Monday. Such a good event all around.

[@csalin7327]

Why doesn't he come out and ride real enduros...150 mile events..like real men

[@Dashriprock4]

You mean like 2 day Enduro GP events

[@westcoastfrisco]

He does. 🤡

[@Dashriprock4]

@@westcoastfrisco Yes he absolutely does. That's why I wanted clarification from the original poster. I'm sure he's talking about American style enduros..

[@Dashriprock4]

😂😂😂😂

[@Dashriprock4]

You realize the Enduro GP is 2 days and 100 miles each day right?

[@chadrides914]

Super enduro is lame honestly and a rider like Billy ought not risk injury doing such contrived Racing as super enduro imo.

[@headwinded1948]

Hard Enduro is sort of like rally racing in that by its nature, it's not a great spectator sport. You wind up seeing one tiny sliver of the entire race. Personally I really enjoy watching the POV feeds from racers that get posted here on KZbin... don't even care who wins really, I just have a ton of respect for guys who can ride through stuff like that and make it look effortless. Super enduro I'm just not a fan of.. i'd rather watch trials or supercross, the mix doesn't cut it for me.

[@csalin7327]

Why don't he Come out and try and win the National Enduro Title..? Scared ?

[@Dashriprock4]

Dude... In the USA? Why would he step down to a minor series? If he aspires to be great he will race GNCC or Enduro GP like Juha Salminen or David Knight. The US national Enduro champ doesn't even make the USA ISDE team! 😂😂😂😂

[@Dashriprock4]

Crickets.......