Despite an eleventh-hour injury sustained by newly crowned World Enduro Super Series champion Billy Bolt, which will prevent the British rider from taking the start of the first round of the 2018/19 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing head into this weekend’s SuperEnduro opener in Poland with a strong two-rider team. Recently crowned AMA Endurocross champion Colton Haaker will compete together with experienced indoor enduro racer Alfredo Gomez.

The five-round 2018/19 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship begins in Krakow, Poland on December 8, 2018.

Frustratingly for Bolt an accident during a planned, final training ride resulted in a fractured left Fibula. Hugely disappointed that he won’t be able to carry his World Enduro Super Series winning momentum over into what would be his second season of SuperEnduro competition, Bolt and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team are awaiting the results of MRI scans in order to plan Billy’s recovery. It is hoped that Bolt will return to racing in the New Year.

Colton Haaker: „It’s a tough championship with a lot of competition.“

Spearheading the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team in Poland will be Colton Haaker, who claimed the 2018 AMA EnduroCross Championship in early November. Following a challenging SuperEnduro season last winter, by the two-time world champions’ impeccably high standards, Colton Haaker has returned to his winning ways. Firmly putting behind him a run of frustrating injuries, the American is now back to his very best on his Husqvarna FE 350 and aiming to get his challenge for a third SuperEnduro title off to a strong start in Poland.

Colton Haaker: “Coming into the SuperEnduro season having just won the EnduroCross title is an awesome feeling and comes as a big boost of confidence at just the right time. It felt like that was a comeback championship for me having toughed out two injury-hit championships previously. Winning races and getting to stand on the top step of the podium again was just what I needed. I now feel in the right frame of mind for the SuperEnduro season ahead. With two world titles won in SuperEnduro I know that winning races isn’t enough. It’s a tough championship with a lot of competition, so you’ve got to be on form in every race and at every round – always scoring consistent results. My goal is to aim for the podium in Krakow and then build from there – I’m looking forward to this one.”

Alfredo Gomez: “It’s now nine months since I had surgery and I honestly feel that I’m getting back to my normal self.”

Alfredo Gomez completes Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s assault on the SuperEnduro World Championship. Competing on the Husqvarna TE 300i, the Spaniard will be one of the lone two-stroke riders lining up behind the gate when racing gets underway. Gomez has a wealth of experience indoors as well as the added advantage of two ‘home’ rounds in Madrid and Bilbao. The Husqvarna rider is focused on becoming a serious contender in this year’s championship chase.

Alfredo Gomez: “The SuperEnduro series will be my first full championship since missing quite a lot of the outdoor season due to my knee injury. It’s now nine months since I had surgery and I honestly feel that I’m getting back to my normal self. I always enjoy racing indoors and have decided to stay on the TE 300i because it’s a bike I know and love. I’m confident that I can be competitive on it. I really want to push for a good result this season and with two home rounds for me I’m focused on making them count.”

Calendar – 2018/19 FIM Super Enduro World Championship
Round 1: December 8, 2018 – Krakow, Poland
Round 2: January 5 – Riesa, Germany
Round 3: January 26 – Madrid, Spain
Round 4: February 9 – Budapest, Hungary
Round 5: March 9 – Bilbao, Spain

STORY: Cody Webb & Taddy Blazusiak Ready To Race SuperEnduro 2019

LINK: Husqvarna Motorcycles
LINK: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship

photos (c) Future7Media & Lukas Nazdraczew/Red Bull Content Pool