Once again, some teams were noticeable by their absence from the qualifying races of round seven of the FIM World Sidecarcross Championship from Gdansk in Poland, but equally there were others to take their place. The track looked fast in free practice, and some took to it immediately. It would remain to be seen if left-handed sidecars were favoured. Qualifying day was cloudy but warm, so conditions would be good for the teams. Once the groups were sorted, free practice gave them all a first look at this new track.
Race Report by Barry Nutley – Images by WSC
The low turn-out meant that for two weeks in a row there would be no last chance, so all the teams were in and running. A crash took Koen Grondman out with a broken collarbone, so his weekend was done.
The general opinion was that the track was good, if a little narrow in places.
Timed Practice (pre-qualifying)
The good weather held and the quest for one fast lap began in earnest. with Group “A” teams having first crack.
Initial times were good with the Lielbardis twins and Etienne Bax looking strong. He was one of only two drivers who had been to this track previously, and it was totally different anyway.
At the half-way stage of the session, Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard had yet to show a true turn of speed having been upside down against the bank. They recorded ninth fastest with a 1.51.6. This compared with Bax and Cermak’s 1.46.8 left them with work to do and no time in which to do it.
Then Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset went top, showing their intention to retain the red plate. Not to be outdone, Bax returned the compliment with a stunning 1.45.7 in the closing minutes. This would almost certainly put him top of Group “A”.
Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans again showed their speed posting fourth ahead of Heinzer/Betschart.
Group “B” runners took to a track which was now clearly defined. The jumps were phenomenal, and like last week in Lange, needed total commitment. Much time could be made up by flying over the doubles, particularly the double step-down into a left-hander.
Koen Hermans and Ben Van Den Bogaart were among the bravest and set the early standard, from a very determined Davy Sanders and Luc Rostingt and the ever-impressive Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman.
A new name to me was the German Lukas Erlecke, who with Leon Freygang alongside was also impressive in the air.
It was good to see the Leferink brothers back in action having missed Estonia, and they were riding fast and well, sitting fourth.
Next up was Jason van Daele with new passenger Gianni Dhondt followed by Thom Van de Lagemaat/Han Van Hal. This young pair have really got to grips with the job in recent weeks.
Hermans stayed fastest but was unable to match Bax’s Group “A” time. Qualifying race Group “A” –
The gate dropped and Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans beat Bax/Cermak to turn one. It was a fantastic start from the German, but his luck ran out with an incident on the opening lap. Bax headed Vanluchene/Musset until Marvin moved ahead. The Lielbardis boys sat third, with Stephan Wijers/Loet Van der Putten in a strong fourth. Marco Heinzer/Reudi Betschart were also strong in the early stages holding third, but then their front suspension strut collapsed, and they were out. The Swiss team were flying up to that point. Bad luck seems to follow them.
Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard fought up from a bad start and battled though the pain barrier to fourth place behind the Lielbardis twins. Tim Prummer meanwhile was also charging back through and was up to sixth place before the two-lap board came out. That was where he and Jarno stayed. They could do no more and had run out of time. It was, however, a great performance and would still give them a reasonable gate slot, albeit not as good as Bax and Vanluchene. They were still split by just one second advantage to Vanluchene with Bax now right on his tail and closing. Would the red plate holder keep his nerve?
Not for nothing did he hold the red plate, and he held to take victory from Bax/Cermak. Both crews were hitting the jumps hard and high. It was quite a spectacle.
Result
Qualifying race group “B” – This would be an interesting one, with Gert van Werven having changed an engine, and Jason Van Daele teaming up with a stand-in passenger. The experienced Gianni Dhondt has been a good passenger on the scene, but with little action of late.
Koen Hermans/Ben Van Den Bogaart made no mistake from the tight inside line but were pressed hard into the turn by Jason Van Daele and Justin Keuben.
Davy Sanders/Luc Rostingt gave chase in fourth and were looking good. The big Dutchman Van Werven had to battle in the lower order but made great strides as the race unfolded. On lap four he passed Gert Gordejev to move into sixth place with eyes on Tim and Sem Leferink.
Hermans was flying at the head as Keuben/Rietmen, now second, suddenly had Sanders for company. This was another master class by Hermans/Van Den Bogaart and would set up a battle royal in the two Grands Prix races tomorrow.
The Weinmann brothers and fellow Germans Lukas Erlecke/Leon Freygang were fighting together in eighth and ninth pace respectively. It was great to see the young teams putting on a good showing.
Towards the end of the race Van Werven had made his move ahead of Leferink to fifth, and shortly after passed Van Daele into fourth.
Closing stages and the top three were all but settled. Hermans was home and dry, and Sanders had dropped off the back of Keuben. Unhappily for them, the Leferink boys dropped of the list with one lap to go into tenth.
Result
With no Last Chance, the day was at an end with loads of great action guaranteed tomorrow.
