The second of three rounds back-to-back for the 2023 FIM World Sidecarcross Championship is marked by a trip across two stretches of ocean with the teams departing mainland Europe, crossing the UK, followed by a second, longer sea crossing to the Province of Northern Ireland. Red Brae Park near Lisburn is a new track for everyone and is the culmination of years of planning and desire to have world class Sidecar Motocross in Ireland.
Preview by Barry Nutley – Images courtesy of WSC
It comes as the battle at the top of the standings reaches it closest point so far this season. Series leaders Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset have seen their points lead eroded in recent rounds, with both Etienne Bax/Ondrej Cermak and Koen Hermans/Ben Van Den Bogaart in the ascendancy.
These three teams are just forty-five points apart, with Bax/Cermak just eighteen points off the red plate.
Hermans job is more challenging, but he knows consistency is an absolute must from here on in. One more zero score will finish his chances, plus Ben Van Den Bogaart is carrying an old war-wound with a fragment of broken bone in his ankle causing extreme pain. He plans to have this treated once the goal is achieved.
Vanluchene too has suffered discomfort mid-race with arm-pump, so that will be on his mind. The going in Northern Ireland should be softer if we are to believe what we hear. After many days of rain and dampness, the going will almost certainly be soft, bringing with it a slower race pace.
Fourth place is occupied by British nationals Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard. They have enjoyed their best season together thus far and hope to carry the momentum into Ireland and beyond, when they will be racing less than one hour from home in England the following week.
One cannot help but imagine the new Red Brae track will have been designed with left-hand sidecars in mind, but that remains to be seen.
Wilkinson needs to keep an eye over his shoulder as Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman are only twenty points behind, with the Lielbardis twins a further two points back.
There have been great fights all the way down the field this year with German Tim Prummer in the thick of them. Sadly, his young Belgian passenger Jarno Steegmans has suffered a recurring knee problem which needs urgent treatment. The young Frenchman Rodolphe Lebreton will jump in to continue the fight having more than shown his worth this season. Only last week he partnered Julian Veldman to fourth overall in Germany.
All in all, we are set for two weekends of great racing presenting a new spectacle to thousands of UK fans. The Red Brae GP is yet another page in the rich history of motorcycle sport in the province of Northern Ireland.
