Fourteen thousand spectators, an electrifying atmosphere, and an incredible fireworks display—both literally and metaphorically speaking—set the stage for an unforgettable event. The SuperEnduro World Championship competitors gathered at the MVM Dome on Saturday, where Billy Bolt once again triumphed in the Prestige category, just as he did last year. However, Hungarian fans had even more to celebrate as Norbert Zsigovits clinched a victory and Roland Liszka secured third place—perhaps even greater reasons for excitement.
People kept arriving, patiently waiting for their turn, and grown men were just as thrilled to get autographs as the children and young women. The racers, in turn, held their ground—just as they did on the rocks, logs, and jumps. This was Hungary’s first major motorsport festive of the year, held in one of Central Europe’s largest indoor venues, the MVM Dome.
Even the morning program attracted thousands of spectators, but by the afternoon, the stadium was nearly full. The event kicked off with an autograph session—anyone who could get close to the gladiators eagerly did so. To no one’s surprise, Norbert Zsigovits’s autograph cards ran out the fastest—not because he brought too few, but because every Hungarian fan stopped to see him.
It was no wonder that the arena erupted when Zsigovits won the first final race of the European Cup. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic crowd,” said Zsigovits, admitting that he miscalculated. He thought the race was over when there was still one lap to go, which threw him off a bit—but luckily, not enough to stop him from winning. “The track is tough but has a good rhythm. The rubber-clad ramp before the finish, where you have to climb three ledges, is a real challenge for everyone.”
The second final race was another intense battle, with Zsigovits finishing second. The winner, Germany’s Fynn Hannemann, secured the overall European Cup title with this victory. However, to the delight of the home crowd, Zsigovits was awarded the trophy for the best performance in the Budapest round, and the Hungarian national anthem played in his honour. That made the autographs from earlier even more valuable before the evening finals.
“It’s an indescribable feeling to end the season with a race win and secure the championship title,” said a jubilant Hannemann, this year’s European Cup champion. Meanwhile, Zsigovits, who finished third overall, was deeply moved: “I’ve stood on podiums before, but never in front of so many people, in front of such a wonderful home crowd. It was an incredible experience!”
In the World Championship series, the most attention was, of course, on the Prestige category, where Billy Bolt holds a significant lead in the overall standings. When asked about his dominance, he humbly responded: “On paper, it may look like I have a big advantage, but the truth is, I have to fight for victory in every single race. I’ve been under pressure, but in the end, things always worked out in my favour.”
Bolt set the pace during the morning session, but Mitchell Brightmore won the time trial, while Johnny Walker was the fastest in the SuperPole. This set the stage for an exciting showdown in the final. As expected, Billy Bolt was phenomenal, confidently winning the first race.
Then, Jonathan Walker claimed victory in the second race with equal confidence. The decisive third race saw Walker slip in the first turn, and despite a heroic effort to climb back to third place, it was four-time world champion Billy Bolt who won the race—and with it, the Budapest round.
“I’m happy that I improved race by race, got more comfortable with the track, made some adjustments to the bike, and by the end, I was really able to ride well,” said the victorious Bolt, who further extended his lead in the overall standings.
So, just like last year, Bolt conquered the Dome once again!
In the Junior category, the entire arena cheered for Roland Liszka. The Hungarian racer secretly hoped for a podium finish, but in such a competitive field with relentless battles, that was no easy feat. He secured a sixth and a fifth-place finish in the first two races, but in the third race, after a fierce fight, he climbed from eighth place at the start to finish second. Even better, this performance earned him a spot on the podium as the third-place finisher of the Budapest round!
SUPERENDURO GP OF HUNGARY, MVM DOME
Prestige category:
- Billy Bolt (UK, Husqvarna) – 59 points
- Jonathan Walker (UK, Triumph) – 55 points
- Ashton Brightmore (UK, Gas Gas) – 41 points
Junior category:
- Milan Schmüser (Germany, Beta RR 300) – 60 points
- Marc Fernandez Serra (Spain, Husqvarna) – 49 points
- Roland Liszka (Hungary, Husqvarna) – 38 points
Youth category:
- Ramón Godino Gómez (Spain, Beta) – 40 points
- Fraiser Lampkin (UK, Beta) – 28 points
- Charlie Crossland (UK, Yamaha) – 26 points
European Cup:
- Norbert Zsigovits (Hungary, Gas Gas) – 37 points
- Fynn Hannemann (Germany, Beta) – 33 points
- Grzegorz Kargul (Poland, Husqvarna) – 32 points
