FIM Sidecar World Championship and the FIM F2 Sidecar World Trophy
Sprint Race, Oschersleben.
With the sun blazing down on a large expectant crowd, 23 sidecar teams waited for the lights to go out for the 12 lap sprint race.
It was Markus Schlosser and Thomas Hofer with their “Team Schlosser” LCR, Suzuki who took command of the race from word go, right on their tail was Tim Reeves and Gregory Cluze on their “Remse Racing/Team Eaide” LCR, Yamaha. Pekka Paivarinta and Kirsi Kainulainen were stuck on the tail of Reeves and Cluze, with their “44-Racing” LCR, BMW. The French pairing of Sebastien Delannoy and Kevin Rousseau with their “Team Sand Seb 72” LCR, Suzuki tucked in just behind Paivarinta and Kainulainen. John Holden and Mark Wilkes with their “Silicone/Barnes Racing” LCR, Suzuki were trying to fend off Bennie Streuer and Gerard Daalhuisen on their “Team Streuer” LCR, Suzuki.
Lap three of the race, things were settling down, but Ben and Tom Birchall on their “Birchall Racing” LCR, Honda, the first of the F2 Trophy class had overhauled Olivier Dechamp and Vincent Peugeot on their A.C.T. LCR, Suzuki. Dechamp and Peugeot had the better of Brian Gray and Adam Christie on their “Brian Gray’s Powerbiking” LCR, Yamaha.
An incident involving John Smits and Jeffrey Verhagen on their “Sidecar Racing Team Smits” RCN, Yamaha, brought the red flags out, driver Smits was unhurt, but passenger Verhagen required medical treatment for a leg injury.
The race restart was to be over 9 laps. Once again it was Schlosser and Hofer who took command as the lights went out for the second time of asking. The restart was just about the same as the first start as the top teams jostled for position. But the Birchall Brothers Ben and Tom got a flyer and were to be locked in a great battle all through the race with Streuer/Daalhuisen and Holden/Wilkes. The three teams were to swap places all throughout the race.
As the race progressed it looked at one point that Reeves and Cluze were starting to catch Schlosser and Hofer and possibly make a move for the lead, but it was not to be, Schlosser and Hofer were in full command of the race from start to finish. They were to take the chequered flag for the win and they also had the fastest lap of the race a time of 1:31.298. Schlosser said after the race “This is great, we are so happy, the bike was perfect, and we had no problems with the tyres, even in this heat. Tomorrow we might make some small change, but overall just perfect. It is great for our championship points; I hope we can do the same tomorrow”.
Reeves and Cluze took second place. Driver Reeves did not look so happy with the result, and explained after, “The first race start was perfect for us, and we could stick with Schlosser/Hofer. However the second start was not so good for us, we had a small problem with the bike and just could not keep with Markus and Thomas. We will sort the problem for tomorrow and we hope we can get top spot this time”.
Crossing the line for third place was Pekka Paivarinta and Kirsi Kainulainen, they had a trouble free race all be it a lonely race. Paivarinta said, “The race was okay for us, with no problems, I could see the leaders but just could not get up with them, but it is good points for us”. Passenger Kainulainen also said, “Yes I am happy with the result, (But with a cheeky grin on her face) I want to win again, and again. But, no, good result and good points for the championship”.
Delannoy and Rousseau took the flag for fourth place, again the team were happy with this result, and they also had no problems with their machine. They hope that they can do the same in tomorrow’s race, if not better.
The battle for fifth, sixth, and seventh place was great, and had the spectators on their toes, wondering who would come out best. Holden and Wilkes were swapping places with Streuer and Daalhuisen, but who would come to join in the party but the Birchall Brothers. This battle went on right to the flag, the Birchall Brothers got the better of Streuer/Daalhuisen on a couple of occasions, but the Dutch team were to come out on top, they were to get right up with Holden/Wilkes coming into the last corner on the last lap, they made the pass and it stuck. Streuer and Daalhuisen took fifth with Holden/Wilkes sixth. The Birchall Brothers took seventh overall, but another win in the F2 Trophy Class. When the teams arrived after the race, all helmets off, and the smiles on all the drivers and passengers faces said it all, they all congratulated themselves on a great clean race.
Crossing the line in eighth was Mike Roscher and Anna Burkard on their “Roscher-Burkard-Penz 13 Racing” LCR, BMW. They were pleased and had no problems with their machine, Roscher said “Phew, it was hot out there, but we did okay, I hope we have a good race tomorrow”.
Dichamp and Peugeot were to cross the line in ninth place just in front of Gray and Christie, in tenth. Both teams were really happy with the results and are all ready to do battle in tomorrow’s race.
Crossing the line in 12th place overall, but second in the F2Trophy Class was Michael Grabmuller and Sophia Kirchhofer with their “Polizeisportverein Wels” LCR, Yamaha. The team were really happy with this, with no problems with their machine, it was to be a good clean and check for tomorrow’s race.
Third place in the F2 Trophy class went to Eckart Rosinger and Steffen Werner on their “Team Early Gray” Baker, Suzuki. Once again the team were overjoyed with the result in the smaller class, and giving them good points in the class championship. They hope that they can do the same tomorrow, if not better.
Tomorrow there will be a 20 lap Gold race starting at 12.45 local time. It will be a hard gruelling race if the temperatures stay the same as it was today.
Mark Walters