The FIM Long Track World Championship will start in Forssa, Finland, on 9 June, on one of the biggest tracks of the series.
The 17 best riders will compete in the first event of the series of six Finals in 2012.
Reigning FIM World Champion Joonas Kylmäkorpi is the man to beat on his home track, and he will certainly be trying to hang on to his title.
Newcomers Cameron Woodward and David Howe, local heroes Aki-Pekka Mustonen and wild-card Rene Lethinen, and regulars Smolinski, Speiser and Pijper will all be raring to go for this first round!
After competing in Finland, riders and staff will leave for Forus, Norway, where Final 2 will take place one week later.
Line-up for the 2012 FIM Long Track World Championship Final 1, Forssa, Finland – 9 June 2012
| 1 | 8 | Jannick De Jong | KNMV | NED |
| 2 | 12 | Bernd Diener | DMSB | GER |
| 3 | 9 | David Howe | ACU | GBR |
| 4 | 16 | Cameron Woodward | MA | AUS |
| 5 | 10 | Jerôme Lespinasse | FFM | FRA |
| 6 | 13 | Jörg Tebbe | DMSB | GER |
| 7 | 5 | Matthias Kroger | DMSB | GER |
| 8 | 17 | Aki-Pekka Mustonen | SML | FIN |
| 9 | 11 | josef Franc | ACCR | CZE |
| 10 | 2 | Richard Speiser | DMSB | GER |
| 11 | 14 | Glen Phillips | ACU | GBR |
| 12 | 4 | Theo Pijper | FFM | NED |
| 13 | 18 (Wild card) | Rene Lehtinen | SML | FIN |
| 14 | 1 | Joonas Kylmäkorpi | SML | FIN |
| 15 | 7 | Stéphane Tresarrieu | FFM | FRA |
| 16 | 3 | Stephan Katt | DMSB | GER |
| 17 | 15 | Andrew Appelton | ACU | GBR |
| 18 | 6 | Martin Smolinski | DMSB | GER |
| 19 Reserve | Aarni Heikkilä | SML | FIN | |
| 20 Reserve | Simo Pulli | SML | FIN |
The Event will open on 9 June.
Practice: 10.00
Parade: 16.30
First heat: 17.00
Text: Lydia Robin
Photos: Ubbo Bandy