- Xross Team®
What a day! Billy Bolt is the winner of the Akrapovic Endurocross Prologue, the qualifying round of the Xross Hard Enduro Rally held on Wednesday in Zlatibor. About 300 riders from 40 countries tested their skill and agility on a special training ground with obstacles such as huge rocks, logs, tires, and an impressive wall ride while the crowd watched in awe. This amazing hard enduro thunder chased away the gray clouds over Zlatibor.
Xross Hard Enduro Rally started spectacularly! Around 300 riders, a record number of participants, from 40 countries took part in the Xross Rally. Our race had the pleasure of opening the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.
Xross riders at the King's Square at the Zlatibor center / Photo Predrag Vuckovic
For the welcome, riders had a motorbike parade in the center of Zlatibor and, later on, a press conference in the Hotel Zlatibor lobby, where top riders in the championship shared their impressions regarding the beginning of a season.
Press Conference at the Zlatibor Hotel / Photo: Predrag Vuckovic
Day 1 was reserved for the Prologue, a track with obstacles that tested the skills and agility of riders. They were divided into four categories - PRO, EXPERT, HOBBY, and AMATEUR. The qualifying rounds went well, even though the rain threatened to spoil the fun. A mindblowing track with tires, logs, huge rocks, and an impressive wall ride tested riders' skills to the maximum.
Prologue action / Photo: Vladimir Mladenovic
The afternoon was reserved for the Akrapovič Endurocross finals, where the top 16 riders in each class raced on the demanding track. The most heated battle was in the PRO class, as expected. PRO riders literally flew on the course, while the other classes had to put in more effort to master the course. The audience watched in awe every race and cheered for their favorite rider.
Bily Bolt on the wall ride / Photo: Predrag Vuckovic
Superenduro world champion Billy Bolt took the win on the Akrapovič Endurocross prologue, and Alfredo Gomez and Trystan Hart followed him.
- It was very nice. It was nice to be back in the Paddock and the Hard Enduro racing. The Prologue has suited me quite a lot, coming from the Super Enduro championship winter. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well, and thankfully, I didn't make too many mistakes and took the win. I am pretty happy - Billy said after the race.
We asked if the win at the start would give him an additional boost of self-confidence for the next racing days.
Of course, it is nice to win but to be honest, the race for the next three days is very different. It is nice to be on the throne and to be the fastest, but there is a lot more work to do and a very different kind of work in the next three days. The track was nice, not too difficult, but quite nice - added Bolt.
Akrapovic Endurocross PRO podium / Photo: Predrag Vuckovic
Alfredo Gomez came in second place and didn't hide the thrill of taking the podium place.
- The track was good, it was nothing impossible, and every rider could ride it. I am very happy for the second position. I knew Billy was fast, and I couldn't reach him, but once I got to second place, I took it easy, close to the gates, so nobody could pass. This was nothing too hard for me and my team Reiju. I am looking forward to the next racing days. Being in front is always important - Gomez said after the race.
Trystan Hart made his way all the way from Canada to Serbia and made an impression on the first day of the race. He ended up in third place.
- This is my first Prologue Podium in a year, and I am stepping in the right direction. I guess I'll be leading tomorrow. That is maybe a good thing, maybe a bad thing. I guess we will find out tomorrow. I know about this race only from what I have seen on YouTube. At the end of the day, it is just me riding a dirtbike, so I'm gonna have to figure it out - Hart said after the race.
Prologue action / Photo: Vladimir Mladenovic
The best three riders in the Expert class were Jaime Quilis, Miquel Font, and Benjamin Dando. Valentin Rehrl, Samuel Lampkin, and David Oeggle took the win in the HOBBY class. Mark Lewis, Dylan Fairley, and Robert Graham were the best among AMATEUR riders.
On the first off-road day, riders will face 100 km of tracks on Tara Mountain.
