Confusion on the Final Hill: Bolt Keeps Title Dream Alive!

Round four of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Aguilar de Campoo, Spain, had everything fans could ask for: fierce battles, slippery rocks, rider protests, and even a twist that changed the final results. At the heart of it all was Billy Bolt, who, despite officially being classified third, still walked away with maximum championship points.

A Fast Start in Spain

Coming in hot from his round three victory in Italy, Bolt wasted no time making a statement. Saturday’s prologue saw the Husqvarna star set the fastest time by a massive 17 seconds, earning him pole position and an early points haul. Spirits were high, and many believed Sunday’s main race would be a Bolt vs. Lettenbichler showdown for the win.

Battle on Race Day

On Sunday, the quarry in Aguilar de Campoo turned into a battlefield. With the skies threatening rain, Bolt launched hard, quickly locking into an intense duel with Manuel Lettenbichler. For over two hours the pair traded places, separated by mere seconds, and pulled over four minutes clear of the rest of the field.

With the clock hitting the two-hour mark, it looked like Bolt had it in the bag. But then came the confusion: the controversial Hixpania X-Loop.

Protest and the Twist

Before the start, several top riders had raised safety concerns about the final X-Loop section. With only minutes to go, changes were requested, but the organizers stood by most of their course design. Mid-race, riders—including Bolt and Lettenbichler—agreed to skip the X-Loop altogether, staging a rare collective protest.

This decision turned the finish into chaos. Only two riders, Graham Jarvis and Sonny Goggia, actually completed the entire course. As a result, Jarvis was handed the win, Goggia secured second, and Bolt was moved down to third in the official standings.

The organizers later defended their position, saying the course had been inspected and approved on Friday, and that fans expected a tough final showdown. Still, the protest meant the crowd witnessed one of the most debated conclusions in Hard Enduro in recent memory.

Bolt Keeps His Eyes on the Title

Despite the drama, Bolt’s championship hopes are very much alive. Because he was the top FIM-ranked rider, he still earned full points, cutting the gap to Lettenbichler to just 18 points with three rounds remaining.

Speaking afterwards, Bolt remained upbeat:

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had this kind of momentum. The bike feels great, my fitness is there, and I’m finally building week by week. The protest and confusion weren’t ideal, but in the end, maximum points is what I came for. Next up is Sea to Sky in Turkey, and I can’t wait.”