Tartu in Estonia and its fabulous Lange Motorsport complex is the destination for round six next weekend. This event is the first of three back-to-back races in what will be a hectic road trip, as the teams trek to the Baltics, then Poland before arriving in Belgium later in the month. Incredibly, when they return from Lommel, the series will already be past the mid-point of the season.
Preview by Barry Nutley – Images courtesy of WSC
Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset take a twenty-nine-point lead to Estonia and the track where last year Etienne Bax was penalised several points, almost handing the title to rival Kert Varik. The jovial Estonian, whilst now retired, will almost certainly be at his home round to catch up with friends and acquaintances.
Bax and Cermak have a point to prove and are now riding like the team we saw last year. They will need all the speed they can muster, as Koen Hermans and Ben van Den Bogaart are just two points behind. The Dutch duo are fast this year and pose a real threat to the defending champions.
Fourth in the title chase Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard had mixed fortunes in Estonia last season with a strong race one and problems in race two. The British crew is enjoying its best season to date and provided the track suits a left-handed sidecar, will have their thundering AMS at the sharp end for sure.
Then there are the new names coming to the fore, some of which will be seeing Lange for the first time. Count among those, Jason Van Daele/Kostas Beleckas and Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans.
Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman sit fifth despite a one-race DNF, and they now head a phalanx of stars all within a small margin of each other.
Just fourteen points divide Keuben from Davy Sanders/Luc Rosting, Gert Van Werven/Robbe de Veene and Prummer/Steegmans. There are fights all the way down the field, but this scrap for fifth will be every bit as fascinating as the battle at the top.
Sadly, there are several teams still out with injury, and Estonia is a long way, but with three rounds back-to-back, all the teams that matter, plus those new names determined to make an impression, will make the trip.
Additionally, the Baltic Nations have strong contingent of nationals, so there will be no shortage of entries on this amazing track.
We will be on-site in Estonia bright and early to bring you all the atmosphere and paddock gossip, as we build towards what will be yet another epic weekend.
Stay with us for updates and all the news as it happens here on www.fimsidecarcross.com
