FIM Long Track World Championship Challenge
Berghaupten, Germany 27th August 2017
The fight for places in the 2018 Long Track Championship will be resolved in Germany on Sunday as fifteen riders compete in the Challenge meeting in Berghaupten. Only the top three riders from this meeting, other than those who have already qualified, will be guaranteed a place in the 2018 line up so competition is bound to be fierce.
The draw for this meeting has now been made and can be found here.
Favourites for the rostrum places must be those riders already well placed in the 2017 competition and who may yet qualify automatically by finishing in the top eight. Stephan Katt, Josef Franc and Romano Hummel are involved in a close battle for a medal place this year and will hope to prove a point or two in the Challenge meeting. Jörg Tebbe and Wild Cards Hynek Stichauer and Jesse Mustonen will also look to impress in the hope of selection next year if necessary.
France are well represented by Gaétan Stella and Jérôme Lespinasse as are Great Britain with debutant James Wright and Andrew Appleton keen to race again at world championship level. Seb Alden and Anders Mellgren form the Swedish contingent.
With some less experienced riders in the pits awaiting an opportunity to shine there could well be a surprise or two when the dust settles on the afternoon’s racing.
After morning practice the first race will start at 13.30 and with a full support programme of sidecar races an entertaining afternoon of racing is in prospect. FIM Jury President is Mick Bates from Great Britain and Referee Jesper Steentoft from Denmark.
FIM Communications