FIM Sidecar World Championship, Croatia

1st Qualifying practice at the Grobnik Circuit took place under blazing sunshine however a very strong wind still affected times, but all teams were faster than free practice. Over night two teams made engine changes, Remse Racing, and Team Suzuki Finland. With the two teams starting with slower laps to bed the engines in, it was down to the Birchall Brothers and Tim Reeves with Gregory Cluze to set the pace. By the end of the session though Team Suzuki Finland Pekka Paivarinta and Adolf Hanni who were fastest with a time of 1.33.90 followed by the Birchall Brothers Ben and Tom on their Mitchell’s of Mansfield LCR Yamaha only 0.695 behind. The Pagetts/Haith LCR Honda of Tim Reeves and Gregory Cluze came in to make gearing changes but found that time was running out in the session, but they still managed to slot into third just in front of The Hock Racing LCR Suzuki of Kurt Hock and Enrico Becker with a time of 1.35.480. Wild card entrant for this meeting, Australian Adam Treasure with Finnish passenger Aki Aalto, Treasure Racing LCR Suzuki put in a time of 1.38.66 to slot into 5th place. Teams will be hoping that the wind drops for the 2nd qualifying session which will take place just after Midday, then they will have race 1 of the weekend, a 10 lap Sprint Race. In the 2nd Qualifying, Ben and Tom Birchall, Mitchell’s of Mansfield LCR Yamaha sit on poll position for todays 10 lap sprint race, they are 0.973 in front of Pekka Paivarinta and Adolf Hanni Team Suzuki Finland, Tim Reeves with Gregory Cluze Pagett’s/Haith LCR Honda slot into third with a time of 1:34.28 all the top three teams changed rear tyres during this session. Hock Racing, Kurt Hock and Enrico Becker are 4th with Adam Treasure and Aki Aalto 5th. Gary and Daniel Knight are pleased with 6th on their RSR Suzuki. Bennie Streuer and Kees Endeveld did only 2 laps on their Team Struer LCR Suzuki to conserve their rear tyer for the race this afternoon but sit 7th on the grid. The Slovenian teams of Milan Spendal and Peter Hill, Janez Remse and paul Knapton will be battling, with Spendal/Hill just in front of Remse and Knapton 8th and 9th on the grid. 10th on the grid is Jakob Rutz and Manuel Eckert, Team Rutz LCR Yamaha.