The 2024 Super Enduro World Championship lands in Budapest this weekend, with round five taking place at the MVM Dome, and the focus will be on track design and layout after the crash at the Romanian Grand Prix…
After disagreements between riders, event organizers and the FIM at Round 4 of the 2024 Super Enduro World Championship in Romania, all eyes are now on the course layout for this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest. It's no exaggeration to say that.
The spectacular MVM Dome will be held for the first time after years at other venues and is quickly approaching with a sold-out crowd.
Cornel Nemeth is a common denominator as the track designer for the Hungarian Grand Prix, and last week he gave a quick preview to the series' local riders to gauge their thoughts on the layout, which combines dirt, wood, stone, pipes and tractor tires for the first time. , Hungarian sand.
“That’s cool” – Bolt, Walker, Lettenbichler
After the controversy over the Romanian track, which was basically a too-tight and convoluted logfest, the top three riders have already given their opinions on this Saturday's track layout in Budapest.
“My first impression of the truck is that it's simple and that's a good thing, but it still has enough obstacles.” Billy Bolt says. “I think that's always good because there aren't that many obstacles in the corners. It's not good if there are too many or there are obstacles on every corner. So it looks cool from a track standpoint.” Added Bolt, who is looking to continue his winning streak despite his ongoing knee injury.
“The Budapest rounds in the past have been huge and always packed with spectators. I think it's going to be cool, that's for sure. I did. The track is always pretty good. People were a good crowd, it was a good time, so I'm looking forward to getting there.”
Regarding injuries and this season, Billy says he feels good on the bike. “Obviously the goal is to stay first in the championship. Of course I have an injury in my leg, I'm not 100% and I haven't been training as much as I normally would. But at the same time, I feel good when I'm on the bike. I managed to win the last two races. It wasn't easy, but I'm still at the top, so the goal is to continue to stay at the top.”
Bolt faces a tough challenge this year from Knee and compatriot Johnny Walker. Beta Rider is inching closer to a GP win, but he hasn't achieved it yet, so he will aim even higher at the MVM Dome. “The truck looks good.” Walker says. “I'm looking forward to the ride. The track will be racier because there won't be as many obstacles. That should be good. The main goal is obviously to win and keep the championship in sight. There are still three rounds left, so anything can happen.”
Hard enduro world champion and super enduro returner Manuel Lettenbichler has lost speed this year compared to Bolt and Walker. The German dispelled the notion that he hasn't enjoyed racing indoors lately, saying the only problem was finding his form on the indoor track. Returning to a two-stroke Red Bull KTM for the past two rounds has also helped, but it hasn't been a simple voyage…
“The track looks pretty cool. It's very flowing, has a nice matrix, and everything is straight. We take out the two logs in the corner of the rock, but the rest is pretty bad.
“I’m excited to be back in Budapest. The last time I raced there was a few years ago and now I’m excited to be back in the Prestige class. It should be good. ” Lettenbichler said. “The Hungarian fans are always very nice, so I think it's going to be a really, really great weekend.”
What are the essential elements of a good superenduro track?
Before the Hungarian round, organizers unveiled the track layout at Buda Castle, where Hungarian riders had a chance to see the track. Roland Lischka, currently 3rd in the Junior World Championship, has revealed his thoughts on his ideal racing track.
“My favorite trucks are usually fast, but of course there are limits to that. If it's too technical, that's not my forte, so I don't really like it. At first glance, this truck is very good. I think it turned out very well. If it's built like this, I'm looking forward to riding it.” Said the rider from Vaatu.
Mark Schuke, who prepares for races in the Prestige category, points out that superenduro is a very demanding sport, so driving on complex and difficult tracks poses a big challenge from the competitors' point of view. Did.
“Super Enduro Truck” [should be] A little motocross, a little supercross.” It refers to the fact that elements from different disciplines can be found on the track. “In Romania, for example, it was more of a hard enduro track, but in France they built a really good high-speed track, like a supercross, decorated with double jumps. It suits you better.”
“There is no such thing as a good track here. Jumping 2-3 meters or even 10 meters from a standing position is very difficult, especially over tree trunks and obstacles. These 6 minutes Racing means pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Even with your bike setup, the key is to endure that time. Even the best riders make mistakes like slips and falls. . You have to run fast and mistakes are inevitable.”
Currently the most successful Hungarian athlete in the sport, Norbert Žigovicz has tested his skills in various enduro categories. Like Marc Schucke, he won the European Cup race in Budapest. Additionally, he has competed in EnduroGP, Hard Enduro, and most recently the American Super Enduro Championship, and AMA EnduroCross.
Zigowitz emphasized that there are multiple factors involved in designing and building a superenduro track, and it is not always easy to reconcile the interests of both riders and spectators. However, he believes Nemeth has achieved this for his 2024 event. “The spectators will be happy if they see a fall or a thrilling overtake. But from a rider's point of view, if you can complete without errors and get consistent laps, the track is good. In Super Enduro This is why it's difficult to get the right balance between , track difficulty and speed. Some tracks may look boring to spectators when riders start, others may have little overtaking, and others may just be overtaking. Just keep going.”
“But riders enjoy it because they can compete on a good horse track. Finding the right balance between these two aspects is essential and at first glance we believe this track achieves that. Budapest I'm also looking forward to seeing the circuit with my own eyes.”
find balance
The Hungarian Super Enduro GP track is being built in cooperation with V-Híd Építő, with 84 trucks transporting approximately 1,600 tonnes of earth, 40 tonnes each of stone and wood, and 3.2 tonnes of fiberglass pipes. . element. In addition to natural obstacles, the track features jumps constructed from a combination of rocks and logs, creating a challenging matrix structure for riders.
“Cornel Nemeth envisioned a track that would be challenging but rhythmic enough to provide an experience not just for survival but within the comfort zone of both spectators and riders. Take a look at this course layout , we believe that by participating in its creation, we will meet all these demands.” Henrik Herrmann, president of the Hungarian Motorsport Federation, said:
“Certainly there may be some adjustments during construction, but we are aiming for the title we received from the international sports community last year, which is that Budapest's track is one of, if not the best. We want to keep this title and we hope it helps everyone be satisfied.”
Tickets for 3 categories are sold out
Tickets for the gold and silver sections of the Budapest Round seating area are basically sold out, and only an odd number of tickets remain. However, organizers say Bronze class seats are still available and offer great views of the track.
Discounted tickets can be purchased through the www.superenduro.hu website and the Eventtim network until February 2, 2024.
Tickets for practice sessions and the main program will also be available for purchase at the venue.
MVM Dome is easily accessible by public transportation. Parking is limited, so we recommend purchasing tickets in advance. Parking tickets can be purchased on the MVM Dome website: www.mvm-dome.hu/en
Photo credit: Future7Media
