FIM Sidecar World Championship.
Assen, Netherlands.
Qualifying.
Dry conditions greeted the sidecar teams for two qualifying sessions in Assen for round four of the “FIM Sidecar World Championship”.
Once again it was the Birchall Brothers, Ben and Tom who were to be faultless in their preparation for the two sessions with their “Birchall Racing” LCR, Yamaha. They were to set the fastest time in Q1, and improve on that time in Q2. Their fastest time in Q2 was 1:44.347, so they will be once again starting on pole position. Both Ben and Tom are really looking forward to the 17 lap race tomorrow.
With a time of 1:45.246, only 0.899 down on the Birchall’s time is Pekka Paivarinta and Kirsi Kainulainen on their “44-Racing” LCR, Honda. Paivarinta and Kainulainen were happy with this. They did not have any problems with their machine, and some small changes they made between Q1 and Q2 were an improvement. The “Flying Finns” will be going all out to try and break the Birchall Brothers strong hold in the championship.
A good qualifying for John Holden and Mark Wilkes on their “Barnes/Silicone Racing” LCR, Kawasaki. They set a time of 1:46.704. Driver, Holden tried a small change in his driving position within the machine fairing, which he seems happy with. Also the team changed the gearing on their machine which helped, but was just not quite right. They will get this sorted for the race tomorrow.
Bennie Streuer and Kevin Rousseau set the fourth fastest time of 1:48.208 on their “Team Streuer” LCR, Honda. Although Streuer and Rousseau were not happy with this it was a good time for the team, as they were plagued with a problem with their machine throughout the two qualifying sessions. The team were not sure whether it was an electrical, or a fuel problem. They will be working hard to rectify this problem.
Fifth fastest was Michael Grabmuller and Sebastien Lavorel on their “Polizeisportverein Wels” LCR, Yamaha. The team were happy with this time and they had no issues with their machine. Both Grabmuller and Lavorel are looking forward to the race tomorrow.
Heading row three with a time of 1:48.865 is Alan Founds and Jeroen Schmitz on their “Brian Gray Powerbiking” LCR, Yamaha. The team did not have any problems with their machine and both Founds and Schmitz were happy and looking forward to the race.
Seventh fastest was Lewis Blackstock and Patrick Rosney on their “Holden Racing” LCR, Suzuki. They set a time of 1:49.380. The team were reasonably happy with this, but driver Blackstock was having problems getting a good driving position within the machine. The team have changed from their short chassis machine to a long chassis, so this is the problem for Blackstock. Also passenger Rosney is still finding out the best position for him to passenger the long bike.
The eighth fastest time of 1:51.443 went to Scott Lawrie and Calum Lawson on their “Team SLR” LCR, Suzuki. Another passenger for the team this year. Lawson was having some problems with the hand hold positions on the fairing of the machine, but this would be an easy fix. The team had a problem in Q2 with their machine, but again it has turned out to be an easy fix.
The ninth fastest time went to Peter Kimeswenger and Jens Lehnertz on their “Austria Sidecar Racing MRSC-Gunskirchen” LCR, Kawasaki. They set a time of 1:51.523. The team were happy with this and had no problems with their machine. Both are looking forward to the race.
Tenth fastest with a time of 1:52.174 were Janez Remse and Robbie Shorter on their “Remse Racing” ARS, Yamaha. Both Remse and Shorter were happy with this and say their machine is getting better every time they take to the track. They look forward to the race tomorrow and hope for a good result.
There will be a 17 lap “Gold Race” starting at 11:42 local time.
FIM Communications