FIM Sidecar World Championship
Oschersleben, Germany
Preview
It has been nearly twelve weeks since the world sidecar teams have raced, but they will be coming to the 3,667 km “Motosport Arena” in Oschersleben, just south of the city of Magdeburg, Germany, October the 1st and 2nd.
Although there has been no racing for the world championship, most of the top teams have been competing in their domestic championships, some with great success.
The last world round was held at Donington Park, England, with championship leaders Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement, and third place team Stephen Kershaw and Ryan Charlwood taking a win between them.
Ellis and Clement will be hoping to add to their 255 points tally so far in the championship, they know that it is getting to crunch time in the championship, and they will be checking and double checking over their machine, as will all the other teams. Ellis and Clement have had success in their domestic British championship with race wins; they will want to continue this success.
41 points adrift on Ellis and Clement, Markus Schlosser and Marcel Fries, second in the championship will be hoping for success and try to claw back valuable points on the title leaders with the possibility of retaining their 2021 championship title. Another team with podium visits in their domestic IDM German championship. But they too are aware that Kershaw and Charlwood are not too far behind in the points tally.
Only 23 points separate Stephen Kershaw and Ryan Charlwood from second in the championship Schlosser and Fries. Although not competing in domestic championships the team have with success raced and won the prestigious “Jock Taylor” memorial trophy for a record sixth time. Also success one off races at the British and Scottish championships. They will be trying their hardest to bridge the gap between themselves and Schlosser and Fries with the possibility of jumping up to second in the championship.
With 121 points and fourth in the championship is Lukas Wyssen and Thomas Hofer, they have had some great battles so far in the championship this year, and are very happy with how their machine is performing and hope this will continue. Wyssen has had podium visits in the French championship during the break for the world championship.
Fifth in the championship is Harry Payne and Mark Wilkes, they have 102 points, really good considering they missed some races. I am not sure whether they will contest this meeting as there has been no info from the team.
Bennie Streuer and Kevin Kolsch have 101 points in sixth position. What a toppsy- turvey season they have had, a big crash in Croatia, only one week from standing on the top spot of the podium in Hungary, passenger Kolsch falling from the machine in the British round at Donington, and with handling problems throughout the season, they will be hoping for a trouble free weekend. They too have had success with podium visits in the IDM German championship
Ted and Vincent Peugeot have 93 points in seventh place. They were so disappointed in missing the last round at Donington Park. A passport problem scuppered their chance of contesting the British round. They will have no such problem here in Germany, and the team will be hoping for good results, with good points. Again another team with podium visits in their domestic French championship.
These top teams have been busy during the long break in the championship keeping their race heads in gear, so I am sure the races in Oscherleben will be close like they have throughout the season so far
With Tim Reeves and Kevin Rousseau not contesting the event, this will give the ninth place team, Kevin Cable and Charlie Richardson who have 66 points the chance to step up into eighth place in the championship, barring any problems like they had at their home GP at Donington, leaving the team with very little track time in practice and qualifying.
Rounding off the top ten in the championship is Claude Vinet and Sebastien Arifon, they have been working away steadily with their championship quest. They have also had some great battles with Cable and Richardson so far in the season.
There will be a host of teams joining the above mentioned. Teams from, France, Germany, Belgium, and Slovenia.
A very welcome back for Pekka Paivarinta and Ilse de Haas making a return this weekend. Paivarinta from Finland had a shoulder injury during the winter months ruling the team out of the championship for most of the year.
There will be two 21 lap races over the weekend. The first on Saturday starting at 17.20 local time. The second on Sunday at 13.15 local time.
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