Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

The title fight is on! 2023 FIM World Sidecarcross Championship Round 12 – Preview

As the battle for the 2023 FIM World Sidecarcross title comes down to the final six races, we return to the popular and demanding Loket circuit in the Czech Republic 19-20 August, and traditional hardpack going. Last year at Loket, Koen Hermans, then with Nicolas Musset, took overall victory with neither of the two current leading contenders featuring in the upper rankings.

Preview by Barry Nutley – Images courtesy of WSC

A variety of problems kept Marvin Vanluchene and Etienne Bax from scoring well, and this is something they must both avoid going into this all-important twelfth round of fourteen.

Defending champions Bax and Ondrej Cermak narrowed the gap to eighteen points in Strassbessenbach, and despite four hard-fought battles in Ireland and England, it has remained at eighteen points. It’s time for the deadlock to be broken, and the second visit to the Czech Republic must surely now change the picture.

Koen Hermans/Ben Van Den Bogaart had a miserable weekend in Cusses Gorse returning a zero score from the two races, giving Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard a golden opportunity to gain massive ground on third place.

Sadly, the British crew upended in race two, and were only to make a minimal eighteen-point in-road to Hermans at the end of the day.

The popular Brits now have a bigger problem looming from behind, as a debut podium for the seventeen-year-old Latvian Lielbardis twins in Cusses Gorse moved them to within fourteen points of Wilkinson/Millard.

Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman are a further five points back, so the battle for fourth place is firmly on, just as the top two teams also have it all to play for.

Ondrej Cermak will be on home ground with all that brings, so there will be no shortage of support for Bax/Cermak, just as the Latvian fans seem to be everywhere in large numbers with their flags and air-horns cheering for team Lielbardis.

Vanluchene/Musset will get steadily on with the job in hand, protecting the red plate, and barring breakdowns, can be counted on to give a totally focussed and methodical performance.

Expect a large entry at Loket, with other Czech teams joining in the action and making the most of the euphoric atmosphere.

Team WSC is already well prepared for what we know will be another great weekend in Loket and will be on-site from early Thursday morning to get the ball rolling ahead of round twelve.

What will the picture be at the close of play? This is anyone’s guess, as this is shaping up to be a grandstand finish with so much at stake.

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn