New-look Australian Supermoto Championship to also join the series.
Source: Supplied.
Motorcycling Australia (MA) has confirmed the introduction of the Australian Junior Road Racing Championship (AJRRC) that will run in conjunction with the MotoStars series in 2019, along with a new-look Australian Supermoto Championship (ASMC).
All six rounds will host the junior championship, while three rounds will feature the Supermoto category. Round one will kick off at Greer Park Raceway in Queensland on 2-3 March, with AJRRC, ASMC and MotoStars coming together to commence the series.
MotoStars will travel to Broadford State Motorcycle Complex in Victoria for round two on 6-7 April, which will also boast the highly anticipated bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup.
Heading down south, competitors will arrive at The Bend Motorsport Park, South Australia for round three on 26-27 April, with the AJRRC and ASMC running in conjunction with the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) and the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). This one-off special event will run under lights on Friday and Saturday night.
Round four will be held in Australia’s capital at the Circuit Mark Webber in Canberra on 25-26 May. Newcastle’s round in New South Wales last year was MotoStars’ biggest, and it will make a welcome return to the series as round five, including AJRRC on 14-15 September.
To close off the 2019 season, the MotoStars series will finish in its backyard home of Port Macquarie, New South Wales on 19-20 October. Round six will be the final round of the AJRRC and MotoStars series, plus the third and final round of the ASMC.
2019 MotoStars calendar:
Rd1 – 2-3 March – Toowoomba, QLD (AJRRC, ASMC, MotoStars)
Rd2 – 6-7 April – Broadford, VIC (AJRRC, Oceania Rookies Cup, MotoStars)
Rd3 – 26-27 April – Tailem Bend, SA (AJRRC, ASMC, MotoStars)
Rd4 – 25-26 May – Canberra, ACT (AJRRC, MotoStars)
Rd5 – 14-15 September – Newcastle, NSW (AJRRC, MotoStars)
Rd6 – 19-20 October – Port Macquarie, NSW (AJRRC, ASMC, MotoStars)
Witnesses are being sought after a 2004 blue Honda Accord sedan merged into a lane with a 2012 blue Harley-Davidson causing it to crash on the Logan Motorway at Springwood last Wednesday (November 7, 2018).
Forensic Crash Unit investigators have released this video as part of an appeal for information.
The crash happened about 4.50pm on the Logan Road on-ramp, towards the southbound lanes of the Pacific Motorway.
A 55-year-old Harley rider was hit when the Accord to merged into his lane. He remains in the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
A 21-year-old Woodridge man “continues to assist with the investigation”.
The driver did not pull up after the Harley crashed at the side of the road.
However, a second motorcyclist pulled the driver over for a short conversation before riding on.
Police now want to speak with the second motorcyclist to continue investigations into the crash, or any other witnesses, particularly those with dash cam footage.
Eye witnesses can contact Policelink on 131 444, fill out the online form 24hrs per day, or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au.
Factory Yamaha pilot overcomes enduring night to be crowned champion.
Image: Foremost Media.
Earning the Australian Supercross Championship SX2 crown on Saturday night’s Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney came as a huge relief for Jay Wilson, who endured a stressful weekend at Qudos Bank Arena.
The Yamalube Yamaha Racing ace entered the finale with an 11-point advantage, although a crash in Friday’s qualifying left the Gold Coast-based athlete admittedly rattled and only heightened his nerves for Saturday’s Triple Crown encounter.
Wilson managed to scrape through to the main event via a fourth place finish in the last chance qualifier granting him last gate pick, although he pulled through with a 8-5-7 scorecard for sixth overall to earn the title with six points over second’s Hayden Mellross (DPH Motorpsort Husqvarna).
“I’m not going to lie, that was just terrible riding and the worst I have raced for in so long, but we got through the night, got the championship done and I just couldn’t be happier,” said Wilson. “I was nervous all weekend and then that crash yesterday really took it out of me but I was determined to be strong and win my first supercross championship.
“Last year at the same venue was where I got my career back on track so it’s awesome that I was able to win a championship here and I have so many people to thank that have helped me get back to this point. Everyone at Yamaha who supported in me and believed in me when I was down and out, our team that does an amazing job each week, especially Mike Ward and Josh Coppins, who always have my back and have always played a part in my success.
“It was a stressful weekend and things got heated at times. But, it was great racing with Hayden [Mellross], Jacob [Hayes] and Wilson Todd and I want to also congratulate them on some great racing over the five rounds. I have really enjoyed racing them and we have kept it clean at each round and it’s been a lot of fun.”
The title marks Wilson’s second pro class championship, having earned the 2015 MX Nationals MX2 title, while it was his first professional supercross crown.
Superveloce 800 concept bike unveiled at the Milan event.
Image: Supplied.
MV Agusta introduced its all-new Brutale 1000 Serie Oro at EICMA in Milan, Italy last week, along with unveiling the MV Agusta Superveloce 800 concept.
The Brutale 1000 Serie Oro has instantly become a desirable motorcycle for riders worldwide. With this model, MV Agusta has revolutionised a market segment, re-interpreting technical and stylistic concepts synonymous with MV Agusta and at the same time defining new aesthetic and performance parameters.
With 212hp of peak power and a top speed of over 300km/h, MV Agusta has brought the concept of hyper-naked to its extreme limit, making it the absolute benchmark within the category.
The all-new model has been closely associated with the F4 RC Superbike, which has proven its potential battling for the top positions in the Superbike World Championship.
All the experience that has been accumulated on the racetrack has been poured into the engine of the Brutale 1000 Serie Oro, which sets new records for absolute power while still complying with environment and noise regulations, making it more advanced in certain aspects than the competition powerplant.
Image: Supplied.
The MV Agusta Superveloce 800 makes its debut in concept form at the EICMA, a precursor to the model that will be produced in the second half of 2019. Due to its very unique technical and aesthetic characteristics, the Superveloce 800 is destined to become one of the most eclectic and original models in the company’s history.
The lines of the Superveloce 800 are a modern interpretation of the iconic lines formed by the MV Agusta heritage, the fusion of vintage and contemporary. The carbon fibre fairing envelopes the sleek and functional forms of the engine and frame like a second skin.
The upper fairing, with its classic cut lines, makes tribute to design ethos of the nineteen-seventies, highlighted by the yellow colour of the plexiglass windscreen and the headlight unit. The latter is a technologically advanced twin-function full LED poly- ellipsoidal. The daylight running light, also LED, is built into the cover of the new instrument cluster.
The elusive, lightweight and minimalistic tail fairing rests on a new sub-frame allowing the user to transform the bike from a single seat to a dual seat version. One of the defining details is the new circular LED tail light unit, elegant, and distinctive.
Australian pricing and availability of the Brutale 1000 Serie Oro is still to be determined, while the Superveloce 800 concept is set to go into production next year.
Imagine a motorcycle jacket that vibrates when it senses you are about to have a collision or delivers that disco bass rumble in your gut when you play music in your helmet?
The Origin “haptic” jacket will come as part of a package with a Zenith head-up display helmet (HUD) when you buy the coming 240km/h Arc Vector electric motorcycle costing about £90,000 ($A160,000, $US117,000).
The bike features “haptic” handlebars and seat that vibrate if they sense a crash or you try to merge into a lane where there is a car. Similar technology has been around in some cars for years.
Vector is also integrated with the Zenith head-up display helmet.
Their Origin jacket takes collision warning even further with haptic pads that vibrate.
It features different modes including “Dynamic” to “amplify the sense of excitement during a dynamic ride”.
Another is called “Euphoric” that produces that deep bass rumble.
While these are entertainment modes, Arc founder and CEO Mark Truman says the normal haptic mode that responds to crash threats can be used to “augment mirrors as a threat detection system”.
Riders will experience a buzz in their back or one shoulder to indicate the presence and direction of another threatening vehicle.
Vibrating haptic pads
“The haptic jacket and high-tech helmet are designed to help meld man and machine into one,” Arc claims.
Mark says it allows the rider to keep their eyes on the road ahead. However, we would argue that a shoulder check is always advisable.
“People ask me if this could be distracting, but it is actually designed to be the total opposite,” Mark says.
“The tech frees you and your senses because the distractions have been removed.
“It allows you to concentrate on the road and your oneness with the bike, to just enjoy the moment knowing the bike is looking out for you and the information you need is right in front of you.”
So why provide entertainment haptic modes?
Arc Vector
Meanwhile, the 95kW Arc Vector has a top speed of 241km/h (150mph) and accelerates to highway seed in 2.7 seconds.
Range is claimed to be 190km (about 120 miles) on the highway or 274km (170 miles) in the city.
Only 355 bikes will be produced.
It features a lightweight carbonfibre swingarm and a new type of battery that makes the bike a chimed 25% lighter than its competition.
It also comes with custom Ohlins dampers and Brembo brakes mounted in the 6 o’clock position.
Ducati’s V4 R & BMW’s new S 1000 RR to feature in 2019
The 2019 WorldSBK season is shaping up to be one to remember with the year to kick off at Phillip Island’s season opener in Victoria, Australia, with a massive grid that will boast the return of the Honda Racing Corporation, as well as Ducati with the new V4 R, and BMW championing the new S 1000 RR.
WSBK Superbikes at Phillip Island
World champion Jonathan Rea beware! That’s the message ahead of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship opener at Victoria’s Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit from February 22-24 following a massive week of grid-strengthening announcements for the production-based series.
Ducati and BMW unveiled their new V4 R and S 1000 RR four-cylinder machines at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan on November 5 and 6 respectively.
The 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 R will spearhead the brand’s WSBK efforts
In Ducati’s case it’s the most powerful motorcycle to ever leave its factory, and the company – which has the most amount of WorldSBK titles with 14 – has already announced that current MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista will join Chaz Davies in its line-up for 2019. Bautista finished a superb fourth in the recent MotoGP round at Phillip Island filling in for the injured Jorge Lorenzo, which will give the Spaniard added confidence when he returns to Australia.
The revamped 2019 BMW S 1000 RR will be on track with the Shaun Muir Racing team
BMW also announced in Milan that it will be collaborating with Shaun Muir Racing (which ran the Milwaukee Aprilia squad in 2018) for a major tilt at the 2019 WorldSBK title. The riders will be Rea’s erstwhile Kawasaki teammate and 2013 world champion Tom Sykes, as well as German Marcus Reiterberger who is returning to the championship after a two-year break.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport will be responsible for the development of engine, electronics, chassis and aerodynamics on the new S 1000 RR.
Leon Camier will be joined by Ryuichi Kiyonari in 2019
Meanwhile, HRC will return to WorldSBK competition in 2019 alongside Althea Racing and Japanese high-performance firm Moriwaki Engineering, with Leon Camier and Ryuichi Kiyonari the two riders. Camier has already been campaigning the Honda CBR1000RR SP2 in 2018, while Kiyonari will be returning to the series for the first time since 2009.
HRC was once a regular on the WorldSBK trail and won three titles with John Kocinski in 1997 and Colin Edwards in 2000 and 2002.
Jonathan Rea will also be returning to defend his title in 2019 – Image TBG
The gifted Rea, who is based in Australia during the summer with his Phillip Island-raised wife Tatia and their two sons, will certainly be keeping a keen eye on recent proceedings as he prepares to campaign alongside a new teammate in 2019: current British superbike champion Leon Haslam.
Other confirmed riders for next year include factory Yamaha pair Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes, while the GRT Yamaha satellite team will field recently crowned world supersport champion Sandro Cortese and Italian Marco Melandri.
Michael van der Mark is another confirmed rider for 2019 for GRT Yamaha
Italian Michael Ruben Rinaldi will also ride a Panigale V4 R for this year’s leading independent team, Barni Racing.
WorldSBK observers will be able to get an early feel for the 2019 form guide when pre-season testing begins in Spain in November, ahead of more official outings in Europe next January.
The WorldSBK teams will make their way to Australia for a final hitout at Phillip Island before round one commences – and the debut of the new ‘triple treat’ format where an extra sprint race will be held on Sunday morning in between the two longer hitouts on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
WorldSBK at Phillip Island
Grab your season opener tickets for Phillip Island now
A three-day general admission is $120 if secured in advance, or $230 when you add camping to your purchase.
WorldSBK at Phillip Island 2019
If you feel like splashing out, step up to a Bar SBK ticket at $265 (with camping $375) and enjoy undercover facilities at Doohan Corner, Siberia and Lukey Heights. World Superbikes is free for kids 15 and under, and so is your bike.
As an extra bonus at WorldSBK, all three-day ticket holders are gifted free paddock access. For all ticket and racing information, visit www.worldsbk.com.au or Ticketek.
The iconic boxer heads sticking out the side are missing on the first electric sidecar prototype from Ural Motorcycles.
Ural Electric Prototype is just the first development phase and there is no word on when — or if — the finished product will come to market.
The Russian company estimates it would take about two years to ramp up serial production upon final design approval.
Electric sidecar
An electric sidecar makes a lot more sense than an electric bike because there is so much more space to fit batteries.
While this prototype doesn’t have the traditional Ural (previously BMW) boxer engine, or clutch lever, gear shifter or instruments, it does still have a fuel cap where you stick the cord in to charge the vehicle.
The electric prototype is based on the one-wheel drive cT chassis with batteries, controller and other components from Californian electric motorcycles company Zero Motorcycles.
However, it seems they have used the previous model batteries with 165km of range, not the new Zero batteries with about 330km in the city and 155km on the highway.
Ural does not specify how that 165km of range was achieved. However, they say tech specs will change before this outfit comes to market as they will use the latest battery technology available.
Ural says the electric sidecar prototype will be shown at North American motorcycle shows and demo-ride events to collect feedback “before moving to the next phase of this project”.
Ural Australia spokesman Matthew Hodge says they are discussing the opportunity to bring it to Australia. Stay tuned for updates!
Fellow California company ICG designed and fabricated the prototype for Ural while Zero provided engineering support during development and testing.
‘Perfect’ platform
Ural President and CEO Ilya Khait says a sidecar is “the perfect platform to build an electric motorcycle because it can offer what regular two-wheeled motorcycles can’t: passenger comfort, stability and safety, not to mention more space for batteries”.
“We’re very happy with the results,” he says.
“At a glance it’s still a Ural, but the electric bike offers a totally new experience.”
It is believed the baterries are in the floor of the sidecar which would provide a very low centre of gravity for better handling.
Actually, at first glance, it looks very little like a Ural from any angle thanks to the lack of boxer heads and the big “B” shaped aluminium motor frame.
Ilya points out another difference from the traditional Ural: “It accelerates very quickly – for a Ural.”
Company operations VP Jason Rae says their main goal with the prototype was achieving “proof of concept”.
“We went through several iterations, searching for the best configuration of the electric powertrain package,” he says.
“One of the main challenges was to find the optimal location for the batteries while maintaining passenger comfort, storage capacity and stability distinctive to Ural sidecars.
“The bike was tested intensively in real-world conditions – in the rain and snow, on cold and hot days, on the highway and city streets. We accumulated a lot of data that will be used in the next phase of the project.
“Admittedly, I was apprehensive in the beginning that an electric Ural was something worth putting our resources into, but now I’m totally convinced and looking forward to development of our production intent prototype.”
Former WorldSSP outfit steps up with factory-supported machinery next year.
Source: Supplied.
GRT Yamaha will step up to the premier category in the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), fielding Superbike regular Marco Melandri and 2018 WorldSSP champion Sandro Cortese.
The team will utilise factory-supported Yamaha YZF-R1 machines as both riders bring a wealth of experience to the outfit, which will prove to be beneficial in its maiden Superbike campaign.
28-year-old Cortese took five race wins and 10 podium finishes on his way to being crowned as the first ever Moto3 world champion in 2012, while he secured the 2018 WorldSSP title in his debut season aboard a Yamaha YZF-R6 with a podium finish in the final round in Qatar.
“To win the WorldSSP championship and then step up to WorldSBK with the GRT Yamaha Team is like a dream come true for me,” said Cortese. “I’m super happy to be a part of this new project and, although it’s a big step, I am really looking forward to the challenge. I can’t wait to jump on the Yamaha YZF-R1 for the first time in Jerez later this month to start the familiarisation process.
“It will be like christmas for me – I’ve never ridden such a big bike before and I am like a small kid who can’t wait to get his present! The bike will be more physically demanding to ride than the Yamaha YZF-R6 and, with three races every weekend instead of just one next year, I will definitely need to work on my fitness over the winter to ensure I’m ready.”
GRT Yamaha team manager Filippo Conti commented: “I am really delighted to be stepping up to the WorldSBK championship with Yamaha, it’s like a dream come true. We started this project in WorldSSP and now we are moving up to WorldSBK, which is very important for the team but also for Yamaha’s production racing program. It’s a big step for us and we know we will be facing a steep learning curve in our debut season, but our two riders bring with them a wealth of experience.
“Riders don’t come more experienced than Marco, who has been a frontrunner in WorldSBK since he came to the championship in 2011. And while 2019 will be Sandro’s first season on a WorldSBK machine, he’s the reigning WorldSSP champion and a former Moto3 World Champion, so I expect him to adapt quickly to our Yamaha YZF-R1.
“We need to learn a lot in this new category, but our target is clear; we want to be as competitive in WorldSBK as we have been in WorldSSP. Maybe this isn’t possible in our debut season, but that’s the goal for the future.”
Melandri and Cortese will get their first opportunity to test the Yamaha YZF-R1 they’ll campaign in GRT Yamaha colours in 2019 during a two-day test at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain, which gets underway on 26 November.
Watson clinches commanding victory in The Netherlands.
Source: Supplied.
Billy Bolt (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) has been crowned the inaugural champion of the 2018 World Enduro Super Series (WESS) following the eighth and final round at the Red Bull Knock Out in The Netherlands.
In what was the sixth edition of the Dutch beach race, Nathan Watson (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) stormed his way to a debut win on the Scheveningen shoreline, taking victory over home favourite Glenn Coldenhoff (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Belgium’s Yentel Martens (Husqvarna).
Eager to impress in front of his home crowd, Coldenhoff set the early race pace, with Watson, Martens, Camille Chapeliere (KTM) and Britain’s Todd Kellet (Husqvarna) in tow. During the opening half of the race, Coldenhoff set a blisteringly fast pace and appeared to have all under control.
However, the opening of the extreme X-Loop for the final hour dramatically changed the flow of the race and Watson – putting his enduro skills to good use – fighting his way into the lead. Continuing his fast pace during the final laps, and with the track at his roughest, Watson stormed ahead to claim a 90-second margin of victory over Coldenhoff, with Martens coming through for third.
In the battle at the head of the World Enduro Super Series, all eyes were on title contenders Bolt and Lettenbichler, who were inside the top 20 of the 750 competitors. Positioning themselves out of trouble early on, the duo were closely matched with Bolt holding an important advantage.
Despite giving his best efforts, Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) was unable to get the better of Bolt in the deep Dutch sand, finishing a creditable 15th to take the runner-up result in the 2018 World Enduro Super Series. In the fight for the final step of the championship podium, Watson’s round eight victory saw him advance to third in the rankings.
KTM’s Nathan Watson wins season finale from Coldenhoof & Martens
Billy Bolt has been crowned 2018’s Ultimate Enduro Champion at the eighth and final round of the World Enduro Super Series – the Red Bull Knock Out held in The Netherlands.
Billy Bolt – WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider claimed the top step of the championship podium ahead of Germany’s Manuel Lettenbichler and round winner Nathan Watson.
WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
Bolt is well-known for his Hard Enduro ability, while runner-up Lettenbichler was the championship’s best placed privateer, with motocross turned enduro racer Nathan Watson claiming the final position and representing the championship’s diversity and enduro spirit.
Nathan Watson – WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
Billy Bolt – 2018 Champion
“I can’t believe it, this is going to take some time to sink in. To be the first World Enduro Super Series champion is awesome. The race was crazy, I had two huge crashes and hit the ground hard, but apart from that I enjoyed it. It was tough making your way past all the other competitors – there were bikes abandoned everywhere. The track changes every lap – there’s hardly a start straight now the tide has come in so much. It was frustrating at times when you got stuck or lost time due to someone else’s mistake, but that’s the nature of the race and generally the whole event went well for me. It’s been such a long season, with so many different races – to finish at the top when it’s all come to a close – it feels unreal. It’s been a real rollercoaster season for me with some challenges and then my knee surgery, to stand here now having won WESS is brilliant. It’s been a real team effort. The Rockstar Husky guys have really done everything and more to allow me to win this championship. It’s been a real team effort.”
Billy Bolt claims the 2018 WESS title in the Netherlands – Image by Future7Media
The sixth edition of the Dutch Beach Race saw Watson stormed his way to a debut win on the Scheveningen shoreline, taking victory over home favourite Glenn Coldenhoff and Belgium’s Yentel Martens.
After seven rounds of Hard Enduro, Classic Enduro and Cross-Country racing, the first season of the multi-discipline Enduro series drew to a spectacular close at the infamous Red Bull Knock Out Beach Race. 1000 competitors took to the start line for the one-hour morning qualifier – won by Watson and 750 riders earned their place in the two-hour Final.
WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
Eager to impress in front of his home crowd, Coldenhoff set the early race pace, with Watson, Martens, Camille Chapeliere and Britain’s Todd Kellet in tow. During the opening half of the race, Coldenhoff set a blisteringly fast pace and appeared to have all under control.
However, the opening of the extreme X-Loop for the final hour dramatically changed the flow of the race and Watson – putting his Enduro skills to good use – fought his way into the lead. Continuing his fast pace during the final laps, and with the track at its roughest, Watson stormed ahead to claim a 90-second margin of victory over Coldenhoff, with Martens coming through for third.
WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
Nathan Watson – 3rd overall & Red Bull Knock Out winner
“I am so happy, I have been looking forward to this race all year. To take the win feels amazing, especially after finishing runner-up the last two times. I put myself under a lot of pressure coming here, everyone had me down as the favourite but anything can happen, especially in beach racing. I was ill last week and I didn’t expect to be so strong, but the whole race went perfectly. Glenn got away really fast at the beginning but I knew if I held on, I should come strong at the end. I can’t thank the team enough, it’s been a seriously tough year for me – I’ve experienced a lot of new events and learned a lot. To jump up to take third overall in the WESS championship is incredible.”
Nathan Watson – WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Ydwer van der Heide
Glenn Coldenhoff – 2nd at Red Bull Knock Out
“That was a tough race, I am happy with second but it’s disappointing not to take the win. I started off really well and took the joker lane twice and was still leading at the halfway point. I was close to running out of fuel at the pitstop and lost a bit of time there but still felt good and had about a minute lead. When they opened up the X-Loop it was ok at first but on the second time through there were a lot of riders already stuck. I wanted to make sure I completed it properly but in the end the organisers were directing everyone up the side. I put in a lot of training for the event after the Motocross of Nations and I’m glad to take the runner-up, I just wish it was one step further up the podium.”
Glenn Coldenhoff – WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
In the battle at the head of the World Enduro Super Series, all eyes were on title contenders Bolt and Lettenbichler, who were inside the top 20 of the 750 competitors. Positioning themselves out of trouble early on, the duo were closely matched with Bolt holding an important advantage.
However, two crashes by Bolt put him on the back foot during the closing stages of the race. Needing a lap to regroup he began to make headway, using the technical X-Loop to his advantage. Pushing clear of Lettenbichler and working his way up to 12th, the Husqvarna rider crossed the finish line as the newly-crowned Ultimate Enduro Champion.
Billy Bolt – WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
Despite giving his best effort, Lettenbichler was unable to get the better of Bolt in the deep Dutch sand, finishing a creditable 15th to take the runner-up result in the 2018 World Enduro Super Series. In the fight for the final step of the championship podium, Watson’s round eight victory saw him leap past teammate Josep Garcia who placed 16th – to secure third overall.
Manuel Lettenbichler – 2018 runner-up
“It’s been an amazing year and to end it as the championship runner-up is beyond my pre-season expectations. I knew Billy was good in the sand, so my plan here was to try and keep him behind me and do my best to claim as many points as possible. I wasn’t sure how things would be after hurting my thumb at the Gotland Grand National. But the adrenalin has kept the pain away today and I’m really happy with my ride. Overall, I have had some strong podiums and I really feel like I have come into my form and that I’m riding at the top of my game. To end WESS as the series’ runner-up is amazing, but now I have to come back even stronger next year and take Billy’s title. Congratulations to him, it’s been a great year battling with him.”
Manuel Lettenbichler – WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
In becoming the Ultimate Enduro Champion of 2018, Billy Bolt claimed the World Enduro Super Series prize of a KTM X-Bow.
Billy Bolt won a KTM X-Bow – WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
Red Bull Knock Out – WESS Round 8 Results
Nathan Watson (KTM – GBR) 24 laps, 2:01:43.785
Glenn Coldenhoff (KTM – NED) 2:03:14.001
Yentel Martens (Husqvarna – BEL) 2:07:35.255
Camille Chapeliere (KTM – FRA) 23 laps 2:03:48.396
Todd Kellet (Husqvarna – GBR) 2:05:51.526
Jamie McCanney (Yamaha – GBR) 2:06:02.401
Lars van Berkel (KTM – NED) 2:06:57.553
Axel van de Sande (Yamaha – BEL) 2:07:19.272
Jeffrey DeWulf (Yamaha – BEL) 2:07:57.178
Sven van der Mierden (Husqvarna – NED) 22 laps 2:04:34.561
WESS Championship Podium – Lettenbichler, Bolt, Watson – WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
World Enduro Super Series Final Championship Standings
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