FIM Long Track World Championship Final 4
Eenrum, The Netherlands - 20th August 2017
World championship action returns to Holland this weekend when the penultimate Final takes place on the 625-metre grass track at Eenrum for the seventh time on Sunday.
Frenchman Mathieu Tresarrieu currently holds a slender three point lead over Michael Hartel but his superiority may be put under pressure after he suffered a disastrous European Grass Track Final in Germany last week finishing sixteenth after a series of motor problems. Hartel, the winner of the last round in Muhldorf, has been climbing the leader board since finishing third in the first Final and Tresarrieu will have to have his machinery in its best condition if he is to repel the young German’s challenge.
Stefan Katt, currently in third place overall thanks to a second place in Muhldorf, still has a ten point deficit to recover but he is maintaining his good form and a fifth place in the European Championship confirm this. Veteran Theo Pijper, who traditionally performs well in Eenrum, and Britain’s James Shanes look to be the most likely to challenge for the medal places. Shanes in particular, confidence boosted by a dominant win at Hertigen to retain his European title, has never ridden better and the 20 year old is expected to put pressure on the leaders on a track that he enjoys.
Of the remaining riders, Wild Card Romano Hummel will look to impress his home fans with his usual exciting racing style and Jorg Tebbe will again replace current champion Jannick de Jong, still under suspension by his Dutch federation. The Czech pair Josef Franc and Hynek Stichauer are capable of upsetting the form book and former Grand Prix star Chris Harris will be hoping that his machinery problems are now behind him and that he can show the sort of form in his debut season that justifies his nomination for next year’s competition.
Leading positions after the third round are:
1. Mathieu Tresarrieu (France) 69 points
2. Michael Hartel (Germany) 66
3. Stefan Katt (Germany) 56
4. Theo Pijper (The Netherlands) 46
5. James Shanes(Great Britain)40
6. Josef Franc (Czech Republic) 37
7. Richard Hall (Great Britain) 27.
Racing in Eenrum begins on Sunday at 13.30 local time and there will be a ‘meet and greet’ session with the riders at 11.30. The weekend will also include a full programme of national and sidecar races beginning on Saturday.
FIM Jury President will be Christian Bouin from France and Referee, Guiseppe Grandi from Italy.
Graham Brodie