All eyes on the track layout for SuperEnduro round five this weekend
The 2024 SuperEnduro World Championship lands in Budapest this weekend for round five at the MVM Dome where the focus will be on the track design and layout after conflict at the Romanian GP…
After some conflicting opinions between the riders, the event organisers and the FIM at round four of the 2024 SuperEnduro World Championship in Romania, it’s fair to say all eyes are on the track layout for this weekend’s GP of Hungary in Budapest.
The spectacular MVM Dome plays host for the first time after many years in a different venue and is fast approaching a sell-out crowd.
Kornél Németh is the common thread as track designer for the Hungarian GP and gave the local riders in the series a quick preview last week, gauging opinion of the layout which mixes dirt, wood, stones, pipes, tractor tyres, and for the first time, some Hungarian sand.
“Looks cool” – Bolt, Walker and Lettenbichler
After the controversy of the Romania track, which was basically too tight and a complex log-fest, the top three riders have already given their opinions on the track layout for this Saturday in Budapest.
“First impressions of the track are that it’s simple, which is good, but still with enough obstacles.” Says Billy Bolt. “There are not so many obstacles on the corners, which I think is always good. When there are too many or every corner has obstacles, it’s not good. So, from the track point of view looks cool,” adds Bolt who is aiming to keep his winning run going despite a continuing knee injury.
“The Budapest round in the past has been a big one and always full of crowds. I think it’s going to be a cool, that’s for sure. I’ve had some pretty good experiences in Hungary in the past, I won the last two years now. Tracks are always pretty good. People are good crowds, good times, I’m excited to get there.”
As for his injury and his season, Billy says he feels good on the bike, “The goal of course is to stay in the lead of the championship. Obviously, I have some injuries in my leg, I’m not 100% and I’m not training like I normally would. But at the same time I feel good on the bike. I managed to win the last two races. It wasn’t easy but I’m still on top and the goal is to keep on top and keep going.”
Bolt has faced a tough challenge this year from his knee and fellow countryman, Jonny Walker. The Beta rider is edging closer to a GP win but hasn’t managed it so far so wil aim higher in the MVM Dome, “The track looks good.” Says Walker. “I’m excited to ride it. It’s not too many obstacles, so the track’s going to be more racey. It should be good. The main goal is obviously to win and to try and keep the championship in sight. We’ve still got three more rounds, so anything can still happen.”
Hard Enduro World Champion and SuperEnduro returnee, Manuel Lettenbichler, has been down on speed compared to Bolt and Walker this year. The German dispelled notions he wasn’t enjoying racing indoors recently and says the problem is just finding his groove on the indoor tracks – helped by a return to the two-stroke Red Bull KTM for the last two rounds but it hasn't been plain sailing...
“The track looks pretty cool. Quite flowy, with a nice matrix, and everything straight. I would get the two logs out in the rock corner, but the rest is quite sick.
“I’m excited to come back to Budapest, I raced there the last time a couple of years ago, but now I’m excited to come back in the Prestige class and it should be a good one,” said Lettenbichler. “The Hungarian fans are normally really good and I think it’s going to be a really, really cool weekend.”
What are the essentials of a good Superenduro track?
Before the Hungarian round, the organiser unveiled the track layout at the Buda Castle, where Hungarian riders had the opportunity to see the track. Roland Liszka, currently in third place in the Junior World Championship, revealed his thoughts on an ideal racing track.
“My favourite track is usually fast, but of course, there is a limit to that. If it’s too technical, I don’t like it as much because it’s not my strength. At first glance, this track looks quite good. I think it turned out very well. If it’s built this way, I’m looking forward to getting on it,” said the rider from Vác.
Mark Szőke, preparing for the Prestige category race, pointed out that SuperEnduro is such a demanding sport that riding on complex and difficult tracks poses a huge challenge from the perspective of the competitors.
“A SuperEnduro track [should be] a bit motocross, a bit supercross,” referring to the fact that elements from various disciplines can be found in the tracks. “For example, in Romania, it was more of a Hard Enduro track, while in France, they built a pretty good, fast track with a Supercross feel, adorned with double jumps, which suits me better.”
“There is no such thing as a good track here. Jumping 2-3 or even 10 meters from a standing position is very, very difficult, especially over tree trunks or obstacles. These six minutes of racing are about pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone; even in setting up the bike, the key is to endure those minutes. Even the top riders can be seen making mistakes, whether it’s a foot slipping off or a fall. You have to go fast, and mistakes are inevitable.”
The current most successful Hungarian competitor in the sport, Norbert Zsigovits, has previously tested his skills in various categories of the enduro discipline. Like Márk Szőke, he has won a European Cup race in Budapest. Additionally, he has competed in EnduroGP, Hard Enduro, and recently in the American Superenduro Championship, the AMA Endurocross.
Zsigovits emphasized that designing and building SuperEnduro tracks involves multiple factors, and aligning the interests of both riders and the audience is not always easy. But he believes that Németh has achieved this for the 2024 event, “The audience will be happy when they see falls, thrilling overtakes. However, from the perspective of a rider, a track will be good if they can complete it without errors and achieve consistent laps. This is why it’s challenging to strike the right balance in SuperEnduro – how difficult or fast a track should be. Some tracks may seem boring to spectators as riders start, and there’s hardly any overtaking, just following each other.”
“However, the rider enjoys it because they can compete on a good track. It’s essential to find the right balance between these two aspects, and at first glance, I believe this track will achieve that. I am also looking forward to seeing the track in Budapest with my own eyes.”
Finding a balance
The track for the Superenduro GP of Hungary is being constructed with the collaboration of V-Híd Építő, involving the delivery of approximately 1600 tons of earth by 84 trucks, along with 40 tons each of stone and wood materials, and 3.2 tons of fiberglass pipe elements. In addition to natural obstacles, the track features jumps constructed along with a combination of rocks and logs, creating challenging matrix structures for the riders.
“Kornél Németh envisioned a track that offers challenges but is rhythmical enough, not just about survival but providing an experience within the comfort zones of both the spectators and the riders. Seeing and participating in the creation of this track layout, I believe it will satisfy all the demands of this kind,” says Henrik Hermann, the President of the Hungarian Motorsport Federation.
“Surely, there may be some minor adjustments during the building, but we are aiming for the title we received from the international sports community last year, that the track in Budapest is one of, if not the best. We want to maintain this title and hope that it will serve to everyone’s satisfaction.”
Three categories of tickets are sold out
The tickets for the Gold and Silver sections of the seating area for the Budapest round are essentially sold out – just the odd one remains. But Bronze-class seats are still available and provide an great view of the track the organisers tell us.
Discounted ticket purchases are available until February 2, 2024 at: www.superenduro.hu website and through the Eventim network.
Tickets for both the practise sessions and the main program will also be available for purchase at the venue.
The MVM Dome is easily accessible by public transport, and parking is available in limited numbers, with advance ticket purchases recommended. Parking tickets can be purchased on the MVM Dome website: www.mvm-dome.hu/en
Photo Credit: Future7Media
