Five-times Welsh Two Day Enduro winner Daryl Bolter will be competing in this year’s event on the Husqvarna WR 125 he won the event on in 2004.

Former European and British Enduro Champion, and ISDE winning team manager Daryl Bolter is turning back the clock to his heyday after restoring a 2004 WR125 two-stroke to race the iconic Welsh 2 Day Enduro this week, June 27-28.

As a young, sponsored rider by the then UK importers Husky Sport, Bolter was on the verge of a series of successes in Britain and into the World Enduro Championship. In 2004, Daryl was 19-years-old and made a bit of history by winning the tough W2D at such a young age and on a 125 2T.

A lot of water has fallen on the Welsh hills since then but that very same bike was spotted for sale by a mate and Bolter, who’s been restoring and racing a few Evo bikes lately, couldn’t resist: “A friend of mine tipped me off that my original Husky Sport 125 was for sale on Facebook marketplace of all places!  So, a deal was done and my long-term sponsor Al Ranger said, ‘why not do the Welsh on this bike 20 years on after my first win?’”

Keeping it original (where possible!)

As ever with these things it wasn’t anything like as easy as that sounds and the sourcing of 2004 Husqvarna WR125 parts hasn’t been easy.

“It’s been a huge rush to get the bike back in shape and race ready,” adds Bolter, “I cannot thank John Towle enough who has spent hours tracking down parts and prepping the bike with all my long-term sponsors who have come on board to help.”

Daryl, who guided Team GB to a memorable ISDE World Trophy in France 2022, will have some adjusting to do to get back in the Welsh enduro test groove but claims he’ll give it everything, like always: “Apparently, I was the youngest ever overall winner back in 2004 at the age of 19 so it’ll be a big ask at this year’s event with younger guys on modern bikes!  

“I haven’t competed in an Enduro for a couple of years as I’ve been concentrating on UK Evo MX series and have had some good results, so on the plus side I know I can still ride a 125, either way you can guarantee I will be giving it 101% on the Special tests.”

Fancy a rip down memory lane? Watch Frank Morgan’s race recap from 2004 (solos nearer the end):

More information on the Welsh 2 Day Enduro: www.welsh2dayenduro.com