Round six of the 2023 FIM World Sidecarcross Championship took place at Lange in Estonia at the weekend.
Race Report by Barry Nutley – Images courtesy of WSC
Race day was looking good. The biting wind had dropped, and the traffic was building nicely as we made our early entrance. The “Kert Varik factor” was missing but he was here around the paddock, and the local fans still had Gordeev and Reesna to shout for. Add to that the Latvian following for the Lielbardis twins and there would be much vocal support and waving of national flags. The penalty imposed on Etienne Bax was another twist in this fascinating saga of the FIM Sidecar Motocross World Championship.
A sun-kissed rider’s presentation got the day going with the now-retired Kert Varik and Lari Kunnas getting the biggest cheers of all. After that, we were all eagerly awaiting the two GP races.
Race One
Koen Hermans/Ben Van Den Bogaart carried on where they left off with a flying start, leading the pack into turn one ahead of Vanluchene/Musset and Keuben/Rietman. Brett Wilkinson had a bit of contact off the line but were still seventh at turn one. Jason Van Daele/Kostas Beleckas went fourth ahead of Prummer/Steegmans. Etienne Bax/Ondrej Cermak were twelfth at the gate, but by lap four had passed Davy Sanders into eighth.
Wilkinson was now up to sixth behind Heinzer but finding it hard to get past the other left-handed sidecar. Eight laps in and he was finally by, with Jason Van Daele his next target.
At the front, Vanluchene stayed in touch with Hermans, but Koen was riding confidently. Bax meanwhile was now seventh and chasing Heinzer/Betschart. Vanluchene set the quickest lap of the race but was still five seconds adrift of Hermans with twelve minutes plus two on the clock.
Amazingly, next time round, Bax was in fifth and chasing Van Daele. The defending champions were not going down easily, despite the penalty in qualifying. Bax was on a charge, but Hermans was out in front where he needed to be.
Wilkinson did not let Bax overshadow him, he and Joe Millard clung to the champion, hoping they could follow him through on Van Daele
Still Heinzer hung on, as he and Wilkinson lapped in close company. The KTM of Heizer had been overheating, but all seemed well enough now.
With two minutes left on the board, Van Daele dropped to eighth, allowing Wilkinson another place. He gleefully accepted fifth and continued his charge. Hermans/Van Den Bogaart meanwhile, had this one sewn up barring misfortune. Much to the delight of the Latvian crowd, the Lielbardis boys moved past Heinzer into sixth, with one lap to go.
Result
Race Two
It would be hard to see who might challenge Hermans/Van Den Bogaart in this one but for sure they would all try.
Once more an immaculate start took Hermans into the lead from Vanluchene. Jason Van Daele was again third ahead of the Lielbardis boys.
Keuben and Prummer were also in the mix with Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard going out after the opening lap with a mechanical problem.
Bax was scrapping hard and making up places hand over fist. He and Ondrej were sixth on lap five with the Lielbardis twins moving to third on the same lap. All the teams had been nervous about the ruts before and after the jumps, but it did not show. The pace at the front was fierce as Hermans extended his lead once again.
Wilkinson rejoined and was clearly after any points with a finish. He would be hoping for a strong ride but with a three-lap disadvantage, that was a tough call. With nine laps done, Hermans/Van Den Bogaart had a nine second gap over Vanluchene/Musset, with Lielbardis way back in third.
Gert Van Werven was having a better ride this time but could not keep Bax out. The reigning champions moved to fifth and began hunting down Keuben and Rietman.
With six minutes on the clock, Koen and Ben had a fifteen-second cushion over Marvin and Nicolas as Justin Keuben began an assault on the Lielbardis brothers for third place. At this rate, Keuben/Rietman were on target for an overall podium as next best after Hermans and Vanluchene.
Bax/Cermak seemed entrenched in fifth, and despite their best efforts, could not wind in the teenagers in front. Nonetheless, it had been damage limitation after the qualifying penalty, and they rode hard.
Hermans/Van Den Bogaart brought it home in emphatic fashion to seal double victory, the overall win and maximum points.
Result
Overall Result
On a day when we saw great racing and the title chase grow closer, mention must be made of lady driver Katrin Poldma, who with her stepson Patrick alongside, lifted her very first World Championship points. Credit where credit is due. Well done, Katrin.
