American star Sammy Halbert forced his way onto the top step of the podium and raced into the series lead at round two of the 2024 FIM Flat Track World Championship powered by Anlas, Kineo, HKC Koopmann and Blackburst in Germany this afternoon.
- Sammy Halbert in charge at round two of 2024 FIM Flat Track World Championship
- Sport’s top riders battle it out for supremacy in the Speedwaystadion Meissen
- Series too close to call after opening two rounds
The hugely-experienced thirty-six-year-old from Washington State in the extreme north-west of the USA made his championship debut last season and claimed victory at the final round of 2023 following a faltering first campaign that saw him placed seventh at the end of the year, but his victory in the Speedwaystadion Meissen puts him at the top of the points standings for the first time.
A former American Motorcyclist Association Grand National Championship winner, Halbert threw down a clear challenge to the world-class field when he raced to victory in the programme’s opening Heat ahead of 2022 champion Gerard Bailo (Zaeta) from Spain and he was joined on maximum points after the first block of racing by defending champion Ervin Krajčovič (KTM) from the Czech Republic and 2021 runner-up Kevin Corradetti (GASGAS) from Italy.
A second victory, this time over Corradetti, saw Halbert further flex his Flat Track muscles, but Krajčovič also won again to tie him at the top as two-time champion and round one winner Lasse Kurvinen (KTM) took his first victory of the afternoon from Britain’s Tim Neave (Yamaha) – who was runner-up when the championship kicked off a week ago in Italy – and Czech charger Ondřej Svědík (Yamaha) who won at the opening round of 2023.
With Krajčovič then dropping a point to his compatriot Svědík, Halbert’s third consecutive win – that came at the expense of Kurvinen and Neave – gave him a clear lead and victory number two for Corradetti ensured the Italian remained firmly in contention heading into the final block of Heats.
With the top ten riders gaining an automatic place in the Grand Final, the fight at the front of the field was now about getting a favourable gate pick rather than simply just qualifying for the programme’s main race and when Halbert finally tasted defeat at the hands of 2022 series runner-up Matteo Boncinelli (Beta) from Italy and Krajčovič won again it was all square between the leading pair.
Corradetti went through to the Grand Final in third ahead of Kurvinen who won his fourth Heat and they were joined by Svědík, Boncinelli, Neave, the Italian pairing of Daniele Tonelli (KTM) and Giacomo Bossetti (GASGAS) and Bailo who all earned a direct transfer.
The remining places in the Grand Final were decided in a Last Chance Heat for the ten riders finishing the Heat stages ranked from eleventh through to twentieth that saw Germany’s Markus Jell (KTM) – who was sixth at the opening round – and Japanese rider Masatoshi Ohmori (Zaeta) secure the two slots that were up for grabs.
Halbert signed off on a dominant display with victory – and a maximum twenty-five points – in the Grand Final ahead of Krajčovič with Svědík putting the disappointment of finishing tenth at Boves-Cuneo seven days ago firmly behind him in third with Corradetti, Kurvinen and Boncinelli completing the top six ahead of Bailo and Neave.
The result gives Halbert a four-point lead from Kurvinen with Krajčovič another point adrift in third, but with four rounds still remaining in the extended 2024 championship the title chase is still wide open.
After the first two rounds in the space of seven days, competitors now have a well-earned four-week break before the action resumes at the Adrian Flux Arena at King’s Lynn in Great Britain on Saturday 24 August. For more information click here.
Results
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Race Report by FIM Flat Track – Feature Image by Jesper Veldhuizen
