FIM Sidecar World ChampionshipRound Two, Le-Mans, France. With a large sun kissed crowed at Le-Mans the lights went out for the second round of the FIM Sidecar World Championship.
As the lights went out it was Pekka Paivarinta and Kirsi Kainulainen on their “44-Racing” LCR, BMW who got the whole shot into the first corner. Just as fast as Paivarinta/Kainulainen took the lead, Tim Reeves and Gregory Cluze on their “Team E-Aide Motorsport” LCR, Kawasaki nipped up the inside into the fast uphill chicane to take the lead from Paivarinta/Kainulainen.
The Dutch pairing of Bennie Streuer and Geert Koerts with their “Team Streuer” LCR, Suzuki were right on the tail of Paivarinta/Kainulainen after this move by Reeves /Cluze. Slotting into fourth was Uwe Gurck and Manfred Wechselberger with their “Polizei Sport Verein Wels Gurck Racing” LCR, BMW. Mike Roscher and Anna Burkard on their “Roscher-Burkard-Penz 13 Racing” LCR, BMW slipped up to fifth just in front of John Holden and dean Kilkenny on their “John Holden Racing” LCR, Suzuki.
Reeves and Cluze were off into the distance and were never threatened throughout the race, they were to have a lonely race, but with no problems they crossed the line for the win and set the fastest lap of the race, a time of 1:42.460. Reeves and Cluze were delighted with the win with Tim saying “The bike was great, the first win for us, it’s great for the team and all our sponsors” Gregory also said “I am so happy, after what happened in Donington last week, this is just what we needed. It was a quite hard race being out all on our own, but I am very happy”
The battle for second and third spot was hot for the first half of the race between Paivarinta/Kainulainen and streuer/Koerts. Streuer was pushing hard and Paivarinta had to defend on a number of occasions. By the end of the race though Paivarinta/Kainulainen managed to put a good gap between them and Streuer to cross the line for second spot in the race. The team are very happy heading back to Finland leading the championship. Streuer and Koerts were delighted with their third place, with Bennie saying “This is great for all the hard work the team dose, second in the championship, not bad!”
There was a great battle for fourth place between Gurck/Wechselberger and Holden/Kilkenny. Holden and Kilkenny were sitting in fourth spot but getting pressure from Gurck and Kilkenny, Holden fought off some passing manoeuvres from Gurck, but in the end Gurck and Wechselberger were to get the better of Holden and pass. They were to take fourth place in the race, a very happy Gurck said “Thank goodness! I was beginning to think I could not drive a sidecar anymore, but here we are, fourth place, very good”. Holden and Kilkenny were slipping back down the field as the race was coming to an end, unfortunately passenger Kilkenny was to fall from the machine on the last lap, meaning the team had a DNF. Kilkenny was unhurt after the fall.
Fifth place in the race went to Philippe Le Bail and Sebastien Lavorel, “Auto-Moto Terca” LCR,Suzuki. They had a lonely race, but did not have any problems during the race, the team were very happy with the result.
Mike Roscher and Anna Burkard were to cross the line in sixth. Again, a lonely race for them. Roscher said after the race, “I am pleased with the result, but I just could not get into the groove this weekend, the bike was great and Anna did a great job all weekend”
Jakob Rutz and Thomas Hofer took seventh place on their “Sidecar-Racing-Team Rutz” LCR, Yamaha. The team were happy with the result, and hope the next round will be good for them too.
Words & Pictures Mark Walters
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Reeves and Cluze Delighted with win at Le-Mans
