VOL. 55 ISSUE 13 APRIL 3, 2018 P55
only eight points down on Cody in the
championship and I knew he had made
a couple of mistakes in the first race. To
be forced to retire like that is bad at any
time, but to lose the championship in
that manner is heartbreaking. I got back
for the third race, but my heart wasn't
in it. To come back to racing and be so
close to taking another world title is defi-
nitely encouraging, though. I'll be back
next year to take my seventh champion-
ship."
Setting out his stall as a definite title
contender for 2019, Bolt was equally
pleased with his wins in races two and
three for the top step of the podium as
he was finishing runner-up in the cham-
pionship.
"I couldn't ask for more than that,
especially in my rookie season," said
Bolt. "We've worked tirelessly as a team
throughout the year to improve little by
this year's title from being decided at
the wave of the final checkered flag.
But, for a guy who had officially retired
from competition in December 2016,
the KTM rider showed the hunger and
desire to win titles is still very much
there and is already hinting at taking
another shot in 2019.
"I am so disappointed," told an ex-
tremely disheartened Blazusiak. "Words
can't describe how I feel right now. I
was fast tonight; I was riding really well.
I was feeling good on the bike and then
I won race one to close the points gap.
"Going into the second race, I was
(Above) Defending champion
Colton Haaker (1) had trouble
finding consistency, and it didn't
help that he started off the
season injured. (Left) Brit Billy
Bolt came away with the overall
win in Sweden.
