The qualifying day of round 3 of the 2023 World Sidecarcross Championship began with free practice and the first sight of Kramolin for our new young Swiss driver and his passenger. Unlike most Swiss traditionally, the new generation prefer a right-handed sidecar, and that might well work in his favour. The Kramolin track is a favourite with many, but less so with the left-handed sidecars. As always, qualifying is not just a serious business, but a vital one for the start.
Report by Barry Nutley – Images by WSC
Young British driver Dan Foden and his team were busy changing an engine overnight, so he was now ready to rock ‘n roll.
As for the top men, well, focus was the name of the game and none more so than Etienne Bax, fully aware of his points deficit.
The group split looked pretty loaded to group “A” with Etienne Bax finding himself drawn against Vanluchene, Hermans and Van Werven.
Brett Wilkinson on the other hand was pitted against Justin Keuben and Jason van Daele. Still no easy task but a clearer run in qualifying maybe?
Veteran Daniel Willemsen was celebrating his birthday this weekend, so would he enjoy a special present? Well only time would tell.
Timed Practice
The search for one fast lap is all that was needed for a good qualifying start, and they all had thirty minutes in which to find it.
Group “A” and from the word go, Vanluchene/Musset set the pace, with Bax/Cermak close behind. Deep into the session, Koen Hermans/Ben van den Bogaart put in a flying lap of 1.49.318 to claim top of the pile.
Vanluchene and Bax completed the top three, followed by the Lielbardis boys, Heinzer/Betschart and the Prunier brothers. Gert van Werven/Robbe de Veene were almost five seconds down in seventh fastest.
Group “B” and there was something of a surprise when Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans quickly set fastest time which lasted until the very end. Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman were, as expected, very much on form once again, running Prummer close.
Daniel Willemsen, with Aivar van de Wiel alongside sat fourth fastest behind Davy Sanders/Luc Rostingt, as Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard kept young Dan Foden at bay, both chasing Jason van Daele. The two Brits were seventh and eighth fastest respectively.
Qualifying race Group “A” – The hole shot was won by Hermans/Van Den Bogaart from Vanluchene/Musset and Bax/Cermak from the Lielbardis twins and Marco Heinzer/Ruedi Betschart.
A big crash off the line took out #95 Kevin Van Vaerenberg/Jens Mans fortunately without injury.
Koen Hermans was riding very fast and well with his multiple World Champion passenger alongside and stretched the gap from the red plate holders. These twenty-minute plus two lap races were short stuff compared to the GP races, so it would be run at a fast pace.
Etienne Bax seemed to have no answer for the front pair, but still held his position some five seconds off the leader.
Hermans lap pace was marginally faster, and as such, he slowly opened the gap still further. Further down, Marco Heinzer had the Latvian Lielbardis boys in his sights, but was it too little too late?
Into the final two laps and Hermans’ lead was now well over ten seconds as the rain fell heavily. Bax was closing on Vanluchene but as with Heinzer, was there time left? The answer in both cases was a resounding “NO”.
Result
Qualifying race group “B” – The sun was back out to witness a great start by Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman chased by Prummer/Steegmans. In a fine third off the line were Dan Foden/Ryan Humphrey chased in turn by Jason van Daele/Kostas Beleckas and Wilkinson/Millard.
Foden was then passed by Van Daele as Prummer disappeared from the race at the bottom of the circuit and out of sight.
Wilkinson was then on his young compatriot’s case, very quickly finding a way by to go third.
This was hard-fought at the front, but all credit to Justin Keuben who, after six laps, had pulled a seven-second lead over the Belgian van Daele and his Lithuanian passenger.
Lap eight, and Foden now had Davy Sanders/Luc Rostingt for company, but what a ride the young Brit had enjoyed to this point. Sanders moved fourth with new Swiss sensations Remo Kaser/Cornelio Dorig now pressing Foden.
After a bad start, Daniel Willemsen had made his way to eighth, still finding his feet with the KTM four-stroke after a lifetime with Zabel. He also had his hands full with a recovering Tim Prummer, who slowly caught and passed him.
Remo Kaser did indeed overhaul Dan Foden for fifth place as Wilkinson closed to within eight seconds of the leader, and within sight of second place.
Keuben/Rietman were nothing short of terrific, and their progress marches on. They will be formidable opponents in the GP races tomorrow.
Result
Last Chance – The sun was back out as the non-qualifiers fought against the clock for the six places still available on the gate. Sven Wisselink found himself in the mix along with Adrian Peter. Three non-starters from the two previous races were also eligible, so that made a grid of ten. There was still something worth fighting for, and it would all depend on the six teams with the fastest laps. George Kinge would not be taking part with his passenger Paul Horton out with injury. At half distance Stephan Wijers/Loet van der Putten sat fastest from the Czech Vejchoda team and Tim/Sem Leferink but that was to change.
Result
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