FIM Europe Magazine #03|2023

MAGAZINE FIM EUROPE

CONTENTS

FIM EUROPE MAGAZINE

Chief Editor: Dalila Agrati

Photo Credit: Actiongraphers, Coen Vleugels, Dorna, Hellas Rally Raid, Galicia Rally, Gerwin van Rosmalen - Info SupermotoPics, Giorgio Panacci, Infront, Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes, Jarek Pabijan, Jesper Veldhuizen, Maxim, MotoXRacing, Toma Nedelea - FRM, NitroShutter.com, RFME, Plamen, Kodrov Toma, Xiem, Yamaha, WSC.

FIM EUROPE

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FIM EUROPE PRESS OFFICE

Dalila Agrati

dalila.agrati@fim-europe.com

The articles pusblished in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of FIM Europe. The content of this pubblication is based on the best knowledge and information available at the time the articles were written. The copying of articles and photos even partially is forbidden unless permission has been requested from FIM Europe in advance and reference is made to the source (©FIM Europe).

POINT OF VIEW

MICHAL SIKORA

FIM Europe President

Dear Friends,

another season is passing and we are almost at the finish line.

The majority of tournaments have already ended and we already know this year's European Champions. Competitions gave us a lot of emotions and unforgettable experiences. The European Enduro Championship, Speedway Euro Championship and FIM Europe Club Experience - Prosecco Hills are just a small part of the excitements we had the chance to experience during this season. Once again, we saw the talented European riders, who were full of passion and fair-play rivalry.

I am convinced that there are still many extraordinary events ahead of us at the highest level!

You can read about what is already behind us in the latest issue, which is fully packed with massive numbers of events coverages what is showing enormous activities of our stakeholders – Federations, Promoters, Clubs and of course our Officials. Thanks to their experience and commitment, we witnessed extraordinary events. Thank you!

I hope that in the Mag you will find a lot of interesting content and experience joy while reading!

EDITORIAL

DALILA AGRATI

FIM Europe Press Officer

Dear readers, we are getting closer to the end of another season rich of events and races.

It has been an amazing year, with fights and challenges. Thank you to all FIM Europe members, partners and promoters, that gave and are still giving their best for a season full of excitement.

Some champions had already been crowned, while some others have to wait a bit more to take the European title.

As of today, we are going towards the end of this 2024. In November the Sporting Commissions and

Beyond-Sporting Commissions will have the chance to meet and discuss the current season and prepare the next one. It will be the occasion to meet again after the great time spent during the FIM Europe Congress in Zaragoza.

From my side I’m glad to arrive at the end of the year with a lot of adventures and experiences. It has been a pleasure to live another incredible year with all of you.

In the research of new stimulus and way to be in connection with our public, I’m happy to tell you that soon the FIM Europe will have a great news! So… Stay tuned!

TR2 Transponder

Manage your transponder & check all your practice and event results in the MYLAPS Speedhive app

FIM EUROPE CLUB PROSECCO HILLS 2023

The FIM Europe Club Experience 2023 was held from 26th to 29th September in the famous area of the Prosecco Hills, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The base of the event was the Hotel Contà in Pieve di Soligo which, with its owner Francesco Ferracin, offered a warm and hospitable welcome to the motorcyclists gathered.

Almost forty participants, coming from four countries aboard twenty-four motorbikes, enjoyed routes that meandered through the surprising vineyards of the green hills that rise from Conegliano to Valdobbiadene. Through exciting passes it was possible to discover fantastic plateaus and splendid forests that have donated wood for the Repu-

blic of Venice since the 15th century. The participants were welcomed by the Mayor of Pieve di Soligo Stefano Soldan, by the Councilor of the Veneto Region Tommaso Razzolini and by the FIM Europe Vice President Francesco Mezzasalma. The Experience was organized in collaboration with the Moto Club Omobono Tenni of Treviso. The Member of the FIM Europe Touring Commission Luigi Favarato, supported by Renato and Antonello, created the tours with a care and dedication reserved only for friends. Thanks to all of them! Among the participants as organizers also the General Secretary Alessandro Sambuco and the Chairman of the Touring Commission Panagiotis Kalaitzis.

From left: Francesco Ferracin ( Owner Hotel Contà), Luigi Favarato (Member FIM Europe Touring Commission), Alessandro Sambuco (FIM Europe Secretary General), Stefano Soldan (Mayor Pieve di Soligo), Panagiotis Kalaitzis (Chairman FIM Europe Touring Commission).

ALESSANDRO SAMBUCO

FIM Europe Secretary General

“This occasion also made clear what the true added value of these events is: in addition to sharing moments of passion with colleagues in a convivial atmosphere, it offers an important opportunity for the host Federation to showcase the historical, architectural, landscape and food and wine excellences of the territory. The impact on tourism promotion is easily understood. Many will return as tourists to these places, just as many of us will certainly return to savor again the extraordinary local gastronomic specialties and the spectacular wines that (only in the evening on foot or on board the bus) we were lucky enough to taste".

VALK SEES DOUBLE IN EMX250

The Round of Sweden delivered intense racings and battles over the whole weekend in both categories. It was especially challenging on Sunday for the riders with the rain coming in play.

In EMX250, Fantic Factory Team Maddii’s Cas Valk got the perfect win with a 1-1 I front of Red Plate Hutten Metaa Racing Team’s Andrea Bonacorsi who stayed solid to go 2-2 while BT Racing Team’s Kay Karssemakers fought hard to get on the third step of the podium.

“It was just the perfect weekend.

P1 in sessionevery and two race wins".

Cas Valk

BONACORSI GETS BACK TO WINNING WAYS IN ARNHEM IN EMX250

The Round of Netherlands in EMX250 witnessed many battles across the board. The sand track of Arnhem allowed riders to show all their skills and speed to overtake and fight for the top spots.

Red Plate Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Andrea Bonacorsi won his 3rd round of the season and kept his 100% podium record this season while extending his lead in the Championship. Fantic Racing MX’s Cas Valk confirmed his emphatic win in Sweden with the 2nd overall while BT Racing Team’s Kay Karssemakers pulled out another podium after fighting hard to come back in the first race.

“I never give up and I feel comfortable in the sand". Andrea Bonacorsi

BONACORSI DOMINATES IN TURKIYE TO CLINCH THE TITLE

The penultimate round of the EMX250 in Afyon, Turkiye witnessed greatness in the making with many battles and good racing happening over the weekend.

In the end, Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Andrea Bonacorsi managed to clinch the overall and the EMX250 Championship Title with one round to spare and a 100% podiums which shows the dominance of the Italian this season. Bonacorsi cannot be caught up by Husqvarna BT Racing Team’s Kay Karssemakers in the last round in Great Britain and can enjoy to be a double European Champion following his title in EMX125.

The round of Turkiye then saw Andrea Bonacorsi win the overall with an impressive second race win in front of Fantic Racing MX’s Cas Valk in second who is confirming week after week his talent and Kay Karssemakers, third, who has been consistently riding for the top spot throughout the season.

03RD SEPTEMBER AFYONKARAHISAR, TÜRKIYE

“We finallymade it and thanks to everyone".

Andrea Bonacorsi

0n 3rd September there was the EMX250 European Championship in Afyon Karahisar, Turkey. A group of MOTOE riders (18 people on 15 motorcycles) was among the spectators of the event as part of a tour we organised there to watch the race.

We decided to take the opportunity of the FIM & FIM Europe MotoCross race weekend to visit the AfyonKarahisar area for a touring long weekend. Setting off from Kavala at 05.30h, catching the sunrise before entering Turkey.

Crossing the Dardanelia Sea on a ferry on our way to Afyon and over the Dardanelia bridge on the way back

First evening in the MX paddock, a welcome meeting with the TMF in their tent

Parallel to the Races, there was a Live Music & Street Food Festival for the duration of the races event.

Visiting the Ancient Region of Phrygia, the Ancient Kingdom of King Midas. and a visit to the city of Afyon-Karahisar

BONACORSI CROWNED IN GREAT BRITAIN

ROUND 24TH SEPTEMBER MATTERLEY BASIN, GREAT BRITAIN

In EMX250, it was Team VRT KTM Factory Juniors’ Marc-Antoine Rossi who closed the season from the best of manners with his second overall win of the season in front of his teammate Ferruccio Zanchi and Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Karlis Reisulis who cliched his first podium of the season in third place.

“I’m happyreally and I want to thank all the team because without them I couln’t have achieve what I did this year".

Andrea Bonacorsi

REISULIS WINS IN BELGIUM

In EMX125 presented by FMFM Racing, it was Red Plate MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Janis Reisulis who won his second round in a row in front of the surprising and strong Kassimir Hindersson who got his first podium and the consistent second in the Championship, 737 Performers GASGAS’s Mathis Valin who finished third.

"It was a consistentgood, and tough weekend for me at the same time. Maybe not the speed and strengthphysical that I wanted but we managed the overall win. It’s mywinsecond here in Lommel”.

Janis Reisulis

REISULIS GETS CLOSER TO THE EMX125 TITLE

ROUND 13TH AUGUST UDDEVALLA, SWEDEN #08

In EMX125 presented by FMF Racing, MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Janis Martin Reisulis continued his winning streak with his 3d win in a row in front of 737 Performers GASGAS’s Mathis Valin who went 2-2 to keep a chance of Title victory on the last round. Kasimir Hidersson completed the podium to get a good back-to-back podium.

"I’m happysuper about the weekend”.

Janis Reisulis

REISULIS VICTORIOUS IN BRITISH ROUND

ROUND

24TH SEPTEMBER MATTERLEY BASIN, GREAT BRITAIN #09

In EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing, Janis Reisulis jumped on the highest step of the podium to receive the Gold Medal while 737 Performers GASGAS’s Mathis Valin got his silver medal after securing it in the last round and Maximilian Werner accepted his bronze medal after a strong season.

"I really want to thankaroundeveryone me, the team, the whole Yamaha squad and my family as the put so much worked into it”.

Janis Reisulis

VALK CLINCH EMX GOLD MEDALS IN LOKET

The MXGP of Czech Republic hosted the unique round of EMX2T series. The fastest European riders battled over two days saw the fastest riders in Europe go head-to-head for gold, silver and bronze medals! The amazing battles throughout all categories gifted the public with a stunning show where Fantic Factory Team Maddii’s Cas Valk went on to win Gold Medal in EMX2T.

"It was just the perfect weekend! I raced great all weekend. I’m super happy that I am the new champion!".

Cas Valk

GOUPILLON IS VICTORIOUS IN EMX OPEN

“I really want to thanks all my sponsors, my family, my team and everyone for everything!".

Pierre Goupillon

In EMXOpen, Tech32’s Pierre Goupillon came out victorious in front of Miro Sivhonen solid second and Ken Bengston who managed to finish on the third step of the podium.

15TH - 16TH JULY LOKET, CZECH REPUBLIC

EMX85

In the opening EMX85 race, Liam Bruneau made the fastest start and led the race. Bruneau kept going with the lead until the checkered flag to dominate the first race. Behind him Nicolò Alvisi had to fight his way during the whole race as the Italian found himself in 6th on lap 1 but charged forward to make great passes along the way. Alvisi even touched wheel with Riccardo Pini as they were fighting for 3rd in mid-race. Alvisi got the best of Pini to finish 2nd in the end and even put pressure on Bruneau in the last lap while setting the fastest lap. Pini finished 3rd. Dex Kooiker was second behind Bruneau for a while until lap 8 of 12 when Alvisi and Pini powered through to overtake him. He had to settle for 4th and finish there in the end. On the podium in the last round in Romania, Dean Gregoire could not do better than 7th in the end.

In the second race, it was Juan Izaguirre who got the best start but Alvisi followed closely to make his move within the first lap to take the lead. Alvisi kept going at the lead until the end although Bruneau who quickly got to 2nd place set some fastest laps and reduced the gap with Alvisi. Alvisi responded shortly after with a fastest lap of his own. In the last lap Bruneau gave everything he had to get closer. The crowd was on its feet but Alvisi held on to win race 2 and go 2-1 to win the gold medal in EMX85. Thanks to his great speed and skills, Bruneau went 1-2 to clinch the silver medal. Kooiker had to battle to get on the podium. He found himself 5th on lap 1 but he had to move up the rank to get the bronze medal. He quickly capitalised on Pini’s fall to get to 4th in lap 2 of 12. Kooiker kept a great pace and determination as he moved pass Izaguirre for 3rd on lap 5 which placed him on the 3rd step of the podium. Izaguirre unfortunately went down and struggled to get back up and finished 19th. Pini lost his chance of a podium with a fall on lap 2 as he picked himself up in 10th. He still managed to get back up to 7th to go 3-7 but fell short of the podium in 4th position.

FINAL CLASSIFICATION

EMX 85

1. Nicolò Alvisi, ITA

2. Liam Bruneau, FRA

3. Dex Kooiker, NED

FINAL CLASSIFICATION

EMX65

In race 1, the holeshot went to Francesco Assini as he took the best start and took the lead in front of Tim Lopes. The front two riders engaged in a big battle as Lopes was closing in on Assini. Lopes even set the fastest lap as he was chasing the lead but then made a mistake which left Assini off the hook for a while. Lopes came back for more but the young Italian held his ground superbly under pressure until the very last corners to win race 1 in front of Lopes.

The 3rd place was pretty open with Enri Lustus, Loan Torro and Kenzo Jaspers. Lustus started well and got 3rd for the first two laps until he made a mistake to see Torro moving up to 3rd. Lustus in the end finished 8th.Torro showed good speed but a mistake on the very last lap saw the young French rider moving down to 5th. This mistake benefitted to Jaspers who came back from 5th on lap 1 to finish 3rd in the end.

The winner of the last round in Romania Patrick Cirulis finished 6th while Harry Dale made an extraordinary comeback after a fall in the first lap. He went from the 37th place on lap 1 to 13th in the end over the space of 7 laps. In the second race, Dale made a stunning start to take the lead. The young British showed a huge talent as he led the race from start to finish extending his gap to 13 seconds. This incredible performance put him on the 3rd step of the podium to get the bronze medal. Behind him was Lopes who showed a lot of composure as he got 2nd from the start and chased after Dale although he could not keep with Dale’s pace. Lopes got his 2nd place under threat by Torre Van Mechgelen on the last lap. Lopes knew he had to hang on to win the EMX65 Championship when all of a sudden, he went down. Lopes was out of 2nd and picked himself up quickly to finish 3rd in the end. Van Mechgelen finished 2nd. In the meantime, Assini displayed some willpower to overcome an average start. Assini went heroically from 9th on lap 1 to 4th and force his way onto the top step of the podium with an excellent 1-4.

EMX 65

1. Francesco Assini, ITA

2. Tim Lopes, FRA

3. Harry Dale, GBR

KARL ROBIN RILLO IS THE NEW LEADER AFTER ROUND THREE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Third round of the EMX Quad European Championship in Northern Ireland in Redbrae Park, an international event run together with the Sidecarcross GP, which has returned here after 43 years.

Rain was a major factor that influenced Saturday’s races, as the track became very muddy forcing the cancellation of the warm-up. It was again local rider McLernon who managed to win Race 1 by a comfortable margin, leaving his chasers Kacper Mieszkowski from Poland in second place and Patrick Turrini from Italy in third place behind by a 6 seconds gap and an impressive 31 second gap. In the fight for survival in the mud, Estonian rider Karl Robin Rillo finished only in sixth position, opening the door for Turrini’s escape in the front of the Championship.

Second race saw an immediate withdrawal of McLernon due to a mechanical problem in the first lap while Patrick Turrini was in the lead by a comfortable margin for half of the race. Unfortunately for Turrini, instead of grabbing maximum points, he had to settle for 12th place as his quad broke down halfway. After a bad start, Karl Robin Rillo of Estonia picked up riders in front of him one by one until reaching third position, thus securing his third place on the overall podium. Race 2 was won

by Lithuanian Laurynas Mikalauskas, who won the overall by 1 point in front of Polish rider Kacper Mierzkowski.

Teenager Jan Brehl from Czech Republic had a very promising evolution despite his young age, finishing second in the Race 2 but missing out on the podium also by 1 point.

After this round the new Championship leader is Estonian Karl Robin Rillo who is in front by 6 points to Italian Patrick Turrini while heading to next’s week’s round in Gusses Corse (United Kingdom).

WALKER AND TURRINI SHARE VICTORIES IN MIXED CONDITIONS AT CUSSES GORSE

Next to last round of the EMX Quad European Championship has been hosted at Cusses Gorse Circuit in Aylesbury, Great Britain.

Race 1

The gates slammed down and 21 riders stormed uphill toward the tight left-hand turn, with #5 Dafydd Davies claiming the holeshot with a marginal advantage over McLernon. Turrini slotted into third ahead of Walker, and #96 Murray Graham, having a better day than yesterday, finding himself in seventh as the riders completed the first lap. With the Italian and Norwegian having clear track in front of them, they increased their pace in the pursuit of McLernon, who was unable to match the pace of the race leader. Heading into the mid-point of the race, all eyes were firmly set on the battle for second place.

Turrini soon found his groove, and commenced his mission of chasing down Walker, but with only five laps remaining, it seemed as though it was too much of a challenge. What was not taken into consideration, was Turrini’s sheer speed and determination, which saw him close the gap with every passing lap. Much to the delight of the local crowd, Walker reappeared, soaring through the air to take victory over the determined Turrini, to claim the victory by 0.794 seconds, with Tveraen rounding off the podium to take 20 valuable points. Tucek crossed the line in a respectable sixth position, however, failing to pass the post-race sound test meant the Czech was penalised 5 positions, and was eventually credited with 11th position.

Race 2

Pre-race favourites Walker and Turrini both made impressive starts, with the experienced Italian taking the holeshot ahead of Walker,

and fast-starting Dafydd Davies keeping a watching brief in third. As ever, there was drama throughout the opening lap, with the luckless Murray Graham having to retire from the race due to his rear-left wheel coming off of the machine, and #41 Jan Brhel also retiring through, what appeared to be, a mechanical issue. In the latter half of the opening lap, it was local man and race one victor Harry Walker who skilfully took the lead from Turrini, and immediately looked to increase the advantage.

The two-laps remaining board was shown to the 13 circulating riders, and Tveraen was the man on the charge in his attempts to close the gap between himself and Walker, in second position. Backmarkers were now coming into play and, despite a slight loss of time for Turrini, his gap was large enough that he was not challenged in his pursuit of race victory.

Turrini knew he had enough of an advantage over Walker to take the victory as he punched the air in jubilation, with Walker crossing the line to complete the race in second place, and Tveraen once more rounding off the podium with another third position. Dafydd Davies was once again inside the top-five with his fourth place, and Rillo completed the race comfortably in fifth position.

PATRICK TURRINI TAKES THE TITLE

The fifth and final round of the EMX Quad European Championship was raced in the Czech Republic. Here the dream became true for Patrick Turrini (Yamaha).

The young Italian talented rider arrived to this last challenge in Loket with an advantage of 17 points on his direct opponent Karl Robin Rillo, but the challenge for the title already finished even before starting as the Estonian rider did not take part to the race.

Without the direct challenge between these two top riders, Turrini took his first European title.

In hot Loket the new Champion easily faced the two races, after finishing third in qualifying. In the first heat he was third behind Czech Jan Brhel (Yamaha) and Norwegian Joakim Granli (Honda) for a long time, but in the course of the race he overtook Granli and secured second place. Instead, in Race2 Turrini won with no pressure ahead of Granli and the Czech David Susa with Brhel only fifth. In the fight for standings Brhel became Vice European Champion and Rillo had to settle

with the third position.

Overall, top three Patrick Turrini, ITA (22-25=47)

Joakim Granli, NOR (20+22=42)

Jan Brhel, CZE (25+16=41)

Standings, top three Patrick Turrini, ITA

Jan Brhel, CZE

Karl Robin Rillo, EST

SCORCHING HEAT IN PLEVEN

#03

After a long break the S3 and SM Junior European Championship were back in action at the track of Pleven in Bulgaria – an iconic track for the discipline, as it was the first circuit to include the asphalted off-road section also called sky section.

SM Junior

In Race 1 Andrea Benvenuti (MTR Ktm Racing) took the lead at the start of the first moto, after the first corner and despite Matej Kokes (Husqvarna) tried to overtake his rival, he did not succeed. The top three was rounded off by Nathan Terraneo (Ktm). Benvenuti’s race pace was unsustainable for his rivals, so he was the protagonist of a solitary race. The young Italian rider followed the recommendations his team gave him from the pit lane and managed the race without exagge-

rating and without making mistakes. The rider came home with the first victory of the day, while Kokes crossed the finish line in second and Terraneo was third.

In Race 2 Benvenuti took the lead of the race thanks to a perfect start but slipped after the third corner, so he had to start from the last position. In the meantime, Matej Kokes had taken the lead of the race followed by Terraneo. Benvenuti did not give up and was the author of a storming recovery; with record time he worked his way up and climbed the standings and reached Kokes in the last lap eventually overtaking him so that he won the race. The Ktm rider was joined on the podium by second qualified Matej Kokes while Natahan Terraneo was third. Thanks to this result Benvenuti is the new red plate holder.

S3

The French Gianni Catorc hit a double win ahead of Czech rider Jan Ulman. Thanks to the third position in Race 2 Brando Compocasso was third overall.

FIRST VICTORY FOR GOURDEON IN THE S4 AND SERRA IN THE SM JUNIOR

#04

ROUND 17TH SEPTEMBER ALCARRAS, SPAIN

The Circuito de Alcarrás in Spain welcomed the fourth round of the S4 and SM Junior European Championship. Riders offered thrilling shows in their respective races: Gourdon Rafael took the victory in the S4 and home hero Alex Serra Ginestra triumphed in the SM Junior.

S4

In Race1, as the red lights blinked off, pole man Francisco Gomez Requena (Husqvarna) took the lead of the race after pulling away at the first corner, chased by Alex Gourdon Rafael (Husqvarna) and Kevin Vandi (L30 Racing Tm Factory). Gomez Requena was affected by a technical problem in the first lap so was forced to leave the race and Gourdon Rafael and Kevin Vandi moved to the front. The Italian rider tried to keep the race pace of the leader, but preferred not to take any risks since his closest rival was offside. Theo Gourdon Rafael kept third spot for most of the session, but with two laps to go and a flat tyre had to leave his place to Loris Ford Dunn.

A few minutes after the start of Race2 heavy rain forced riders to mount rain tyres and a hard-fought battle for the victory took place among three rivals who opened a huge gap over the other challengers. Francisco Gomez Requena immediately took the lead tailgated by Alex Gourdon Rafael and Kevin Vandi. The race pace of the three riders was very impressive as they moved very far from the other riders within just a few laps. Gomez

Requena kept the lead and made no mistake, furthermore he never gave the chance to his chasers to attack him. Kevin Vandi, third, tried to overtake once and for all Gourdon Rafael but could not complete his attempt.

French Alex Gourdon Rafael reached the first step of the podium, joined by second qualified Kevin Vandi and Francisco Gomez Requena was third. In the Championship standings Kevin Vandi remains the current red plate holder and strengthened his advantage.

SM Junior

The SM Junior Race1 had just one protagonist, Spanish Max Serra Ginesta, who took the lead of the race right after the start and opened a huge gap over rivals; this allowed him to ride all nine laps without rivals getting any closer. Behind him, Matej Kokes could not do anything to keep up with the leader’s pace. Third place was hard fought but went to red plate holder Andrea

Benvenuti

In Race2 Max Serra Ginesta stretched away at the start to take the lead of the race and no rider could get any closer to him in this circuit where he opened a huge gap over rivals after just a few laps and was the first to cross the finish line after a solo race.

Behind him riders battled it out for the top positions. Kokes was second after the first corner and Andrea Benvenuti tried to overtake two rivals at the first corner but failed. However, the Italian rider worked his way up till the second place in the first laps also taking advantage of Koke’s mistake in the off-road. Unfortunately, Benvenuti was affected by mechanical problems which slowed him down, so he qualified in the final positions. Riccardo Andreotti finished in second and Nathan Terraneo was third.

who succeeded despite a tough start.

DOUBLE VICTORY AND LEADERSHIP FOR CAMPOCASSO IN ROMANIA

Prejmer Raceway Circuit near Brașov, about 200 km north of capital Bucharest, offered a perfect setting for Supermoto some with wide turns, fast corners and a nicely built offroad.

First race of Saturday was a real thriller with incredible highs and lows and an unexpected unfolding of events.

Bulgarian Jivko Ivanov (KTM) was on pole and managed to take the holeshot only to throw everything away in the second corner as he lost grip at the offroad entrance and crashed while going from first position to dead last in just a few seconds.

It was then French rider Brando Campocasso (KTM) who was gifted the lead and started to open up a gap to second place rider Bulgarian Atanas Lekov (KAWASAKI).

But it was a revival race for Jivko Ivanov after picking himself up after his early race crash as he made up great lengths of time and arrived second with only few laps to go.

Only a misfortune or a mistake could take the win away from Campocasso and before the finish a lapped rider crashed in front of the leader to take him out and give the victory to Jivko Ivanon from Bulgaria, who arrived from first at the start to immediately last after two corners and back to first again at the finish.

Campocasso managed to pick himself up and finish in second position while Atanas was third.

Second race was a mission of Campocasso, who managed to win in style and win round tied in points with Ivanov, while Atanas was third.

Third round on Sunday had the same history in both races, with Campocasso leading, Ivanov and Atanas running close by in second and third respectively, giving Campobasso of France the lead in the standings.

BRANDO CAMPOCASSO IS THE NEW CHAMPION!

Two weeks after the second and third rounds of the FIM Europe S3 Junior Supermoto European Championship in Romania, the fourth and the fifth rounds of the series was raced Pleven, Bulgaria. Expectations were high and not dashed too as perfect conditions were reunited to offer an amazing and special show in this last date with the crown of the new champion.

Ruler in the last two races, Brando Campocasso from France grabbed the S3 Junior European title, taking the gold medal with just two points ahead of his biggest rival from Bulgaria, Jivko Ivanov.

Both riders finalized an interesting season and event in Pleven. Despite Ivanov was on home soil, a mistake in the first race on Saturday costed him these two points gap to the French rider. Even if the Bulgarian rider took three wins, that was not enough, giving the title in the hands of Campocasso who calculated his chances and did perfect tactical races which at the end led him to the gold place.

Third position for Nikola Dosev from Bulgaria, tied on points with Atanas Lekov: missing the event because of an injury the bronze medal went to Dosev.

KOŁODZIEJ WINS IN GÜSTROW!

05TH AUGUST GÜSTROW, GERMANY

Janusz Kołodziej once again demonstrated that the track in Guestrow is one of his favorites. He won the second round of the TAURON Speedway Euro Championship and secured his first points in this year's series. Mikkel Michelsen claimed the second place and the lead position in the overall classification. Andzejs Lebedevs finished third.

After the absence caused by an injury during the first round in Częstochowa, it could be expected that the silver medalist from last year's SEC would do everything to make up for the points against his opponents. However, Janusz Kołodziej's performance on the German track was close to perfection. He won 4 out of 5 heats and confidently advanced to the final.

A similar form was shown by Mikkel Michelsen in Guestrow. A failed eleventh heat, in which he finished behind Kołodziej, Lindbaeck, and Madsen, allowed him to advance to the final from the second place.

Andzejs Lebedevs and Antonio Lindbaeck provided a positive surprise. Both riders met in the 17th heat, which turned out to be crucial in determining the order of places in the Last Chance Heat. The Latvian won it, while unfortunately, the Swede suffered motocycle failure.

The disappointment of the tournament was Leon Madsen, who scored only 4 points in 5 heats. The representatives of Germany - Kai Huckenbeck and Norick

Bloedorn - could also finish the competition with a sense of dissatisfaction. They brought in 7 and 3 points respectively.

The outside starting positions proved to be very beneficial for the riders. From them, in the Last Chance Heat, Andzejs Lebedevs and Dominik Kubera launched, maintaining the first two places by crossing the finish line ahead of Patryk Dudek and Antonio Lindbaeck.

In the final, the standout performer during the second round, Janusz Kołodziej, held off Mikkel Michelsen's attacks and won Final 2 in Guestrow.

In the overall classification, Mikkel Michelsen took the lead, having a 9-point advantage over Leon Madsen. Kacper Woryna, Andzejs Lebedevs, Patryk Dudek, and Janusz Kołodziej moved into the top positions.

The next event will be held on the 9th of September in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Top three

1. Janusz Kołodziej, POL, 17 points

2. Mikkel Michelsen, DEN, 14 points

3. Andzejs Lebedevs, LAT, 11 points

MADESEN RULES IN POLAND

09TH SEPTEMBER BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND

Leon Madsen won in the third round of the Individual Speedway Euro Championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Madsen's third victory during SEC competitions in Bydgoszcz became a reality. The Dane showed that he really knows the oval secret of the track. This win extends his hopes for the title.

The podium was completed by Mikkel Michelsen and Dominik Kubera.

Janusz Kołodziej might feel the disappointment. After the regular phase the leader finished the most crucial race of the evening in fourth place. Nevertheless, the points he gathered still keep him in the race for medals in TAURON SEC 2023.

Michelsen is continuing his course towards the championship title. The Dane scored fifteen points and gain the second place. Unless something unexpected happens in Pardubice, he will secure his third Individual European Champion title in his career.

Surprisingly, Kai Huckenbeck and Antonio Lindbäck performed admirably on the Bydgoszcz track. The German collected ten points on his tally and came close to reaching the final race. Meanwhile, the Swede had to settle for a respectable sixth place.

Top three

1. Leon Madsen, DEN, 18 points

2. Mikkel Michelsen, DEN, 14 points

3. Dominik Kubera, POL, 12 points

MICHELSEN CLAIMS HIS THIRD EUROPEAN TITLE!

22ND SEPTEMBER PARDUBICE, CEZCH REPUBLIC

The Final 4 in Pardubice, in the Czech Republic, finished after the fourth series. Kołodziej, who only dropped a single point, took the first place. Dominik Kubera came second with ten points. Leon Madsen took the final podium spot. Right behind the podium finishers was Mikkel Michelsen. The Dane clinched the title after his third race. Despite a fall in his first heat, he stayed on course. Michelsen is now the only rider in the history of Speedway Euro Championship to win the European championship three times.

To the delight of local fans, Vaclav Milik performed well at the Pardubice track, finishing fifth with seven points. It was his best performance in TAURON SEC in a long time. Kai Huckenbeck also demonstrated his form once again, maintaining the level he showed in Bydgoszcz. The German secured sixth place on Czech soil.

It was a tough night for Kacper Woryna. The Polish rider managed to score only two points in four races. Unfortunately, this was not enough to secure a place in the top five of the series.

In TAURON SEC 2023, Michelsen claimed his third Individual European Championship title with 52 points. Madsen took second place with eight points less than his compatriot over the four rounds. The bronze medal of the European Championship went to Janusz Kołodziej. 'Koldi' managed to reach the podium despite missing the inaugural round. In next year's series, they will be joined by Patryk Dudek and Andzejs Lebedevs, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Top five – Final 4 TAURON SEC 2023

1. Janusz Kołodziej, POL, (3,2,3,3) - 11

2. Dominik Kubera, POL, (2,3,2,3) - 10

3. Leon Madsen, DEN, (0,3,3,3) - 9

4. Mikkel Michelsen, DEN, (3,2,3,1) - 9

5. Vaclav Milik, CZE, (0,3,1,3) - 7

Standings - TAURON SEC 2023

1. Mikkel Michelsen, DEN, 52 pts

2. Leon Madsen, DEN, 44 pts

3. Janusz Kołodziej, POL, 42 pts

ROMANO HUMMEL RETAINS EUROPEAN GRASS TRACK TITLE ON WET WERTLE WEEKEND

GERMANY

ding under an Austrian licence- finished third with 16 points, after winning heat 16. Appleton won this race 10 seconds slower than the quickest time on the night, which fully demonstrated just how badly conditions had deteriorated before the decision taken by the FIME Jury President.

Romano Hummel sailed through the rain-soaked conditions in Wertle, Germany, to retain the European Individual Grass Track Championship title. In one evening when the weather did all it could to cause problems to the track and riders, the Dutch stayed calm and focused, riding unbeaten his four scheduled qualifying heats and conquering a deserved title.

That is the final result at the end of heat 16 and before the planned finals could be raced. In fact, at that point the FIME Jury declared that the conditions had deteriorated due to the heavy rain, such that the meeting could not safely continue any further.

Four race wins and 20 points, two points ahead of his nearest rival Chris Harris, allowed Hummel to get the title. The two fierce rivels faced each other in heat 4 after both comfortably won their opening races. "Bomber" Harris gated but Hummel hunted him down and produced a stunning high-speed pass that the Englishman couldn't fight back from. Hummel then completed the clean sweep by gating and winning by some distance in his other two races.

As happened in the previous years, the rostrum was filled again with two British riders, as Harris took second after scoring 18 points and Andrew Appleton -ri-

The unluckiest rider of the night was Dave Meijerink. The Dutchman finished fourth, but was left kicking himself for a self-inflicted error in heat 4, when he lost control and fell while he was leading the race by a clear 100 meters. Meijerink easily won his other three qualifying heats and so would have been tied level with Hummel but for his fall.

The top five see Mika Meijer and Henry Van Der Steen respectively fifth and sixth after scoring 15 and 11 points respectively.

Top three

1. Romano Hummel, NED

2. Chris Harris, GBR

3. Andrew Appleton, GBR

DENMARK RULES THE SECOND ROUND

2

16TH JULY

MOTALA, SWEDEN

After the first round in Slovenia, the second round of the European 250cc Pairs Speedway Championship was raced at Autoexperten Arena in Motala, Sweden.

Even if the race was delayed due to the weather conditions, the event confirmed a great show with lots of fight, fights and emotions.

This time Team Denmark won ahead of Poland at the end of a tough final heat. Third position for Sweden after beating Germany in the B final.

Final classification

Denmark - Mikkel Andersen, Patrick Kruse, TM Erik Gundersen

Poland - Kacper Mania, Maksymilian, Filip Beszkowski, TM Robert Kosciecha

Sweden - Rasmus Karlsson, Leo Klason, TM Magnus Sandberg, TM Richard Karlsson

POLAND WALKS AWAY THE WINNER

29TH AUGUST PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Dramatic battles set place in occasion of the third round of the European 250cc Pairs Speedway Championship in the city of Prague, in the Czech Republic.

Once more Championship’s leaders Denmark and Poland ruled the race, competing together in the final heat. At the end of a thrilling fight, home team won with the result 4:2. Thanks to this success team Poland leads the standings by two points: the last race promises a big fight for the title.

Third place for Great Britain ahead of Sweden, that in the final round will fight for the bronze medal.

Top three

1. Poland (Kacper Mania, Maksymilian Pawelczak, Emil Maroszek)

2. Denmark (Mikkel Andersen, Patrick Kruse, Villads Pedersen)

3. Great Britain (William Cairns, Cooper Rushen)

POLAND GRABS THE TITLE AT HOME FIGHT

4

31ST AUGUST BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND

Team Poland put in a commanding performance to rule with Kacper Mania, Maksymilian Pawelczak, Emil Maroszek as the battle for supremacy in the 2023 European 250cc Pairs Speedway Championship ended at Bydgoszcz in Poland, last Thursday.

It was an exciting round for home heroes in a perfect race organized by Moto Club Bydgoszcz.

All expectations were not disappointed and the challenge for the title between team Poland and Denmark was a thrilling show. Arrived at this Final event with just two points difference, the Danish had to deal with a bad day while Poland did it through. Home riders grabbed the title also winning the race with 12 points ahead of Comi team (10 points, Pavel Sitek from Poland and Zoltan Lovas from Hungary) and Great Britain (8 points).

Thanks to a good season the Danish team could get the silver medal, while Sweden the bronze one after the ninth position in this last event at the end of a close fight with Slovenia.

Final standing:

1. Poland (Kacper Mania, Maksymilian Pawelczak, Emil Maroszek), 46 points

2. Denmark (Mikkel Andersen, Patrick Kruse, Villads Pedersen), 38 points

3. Sweden (Rasmus Karlsson, Dante Johansson), 24 points

DENMARK TRIUMPHS IN FINLAND

Semi Final 1 of the European Pairs Speedway Championship took place in Varkaus, Finland. The event was raced in front of a warm audience in a perfect condition track and good weather. The fight for the first place was a matter between Denmark and home heroes from Finland and only one point allowed Denmark to win. Third place for Great Britain.

Final classification

1. Denmark, 21 pt

2. Finland, 20 pt

3. Great Britain, 18 pt

AMAZING ITALY WINS IN HUNGARY

02ND SEPTEMBER NAGYHALASZ, HUNGARY

Following the Semi Final 1 set in mid-July in Finland, the season of the European Pairs Speedway Championship continued last weekend with the Semi Final 2 in Hungary. The town of Nagyhalász, situated in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Country, hosted for the second time this year a Track Racing competition as in May was the venue of the ECC round of the SEC.

Amazing day for the Italian team, that did at the end of a spectacular race made it through winning the Semi Final with 23 points.

After a slow opening heat, Italian duo Paco Castagna and Nicolas Covatti won 4 straight heats and secured the victory in their second last heat. Although Italy secured the victory early, the fight for the last two qualifying spots remained opened.

Four teams fought till the end to secure the second and third spot. Slovenia finished tied on poin-

ts with Latvia and a run-off heat for second and third position was raced. Slovenia put the result out of reach of its rival.

The top five was completed with Ukraine and Chzech Republic: both finished tied on points (20) missing the qualifying for just one point.

The fight for the title begins now. The focus switches to Opole in Poland on 1 October for the Final.

Top three

1. Italy (Paco Castagna 11, Nicolas Covatti 12), 23 points

2. Slovenia (Nick Skorkja 14, Anze Grmek 7, Matic Ivacic DNR), 21+3 points

3. Latvia (Jevgenijs Kostigovs 11, Daniils Kolodinski 10), 21 + 2 points

TEAM POLAND GRABS THE TITLE IN POLAND

The championship has been close and competitive all season with no clear favorite for the crown, but in the end the fireworks fizzled out and Team Poland took the European Pairs Speedway Championship title in the grand Final.

A thrilling night for Przemysław Pawlicki, Szymon Woźniak and Mateusz Cierniak in Opole, Poland, as the champions were not decided until the last series of heats.

At home Team Poland ruled from the beginning and beat Denmark in an exciting heat finished 4:2.

The battle for the third place involved all the other teams, but in the deciding heats it was Finnish pair led by Timo Lahti and Antti Vuolas who claimed the third place on the podium.

Final standings

1. Poland (PrzemysławPawlicki, SzymonWoźniak, Mateusz Cierniak)

2. Denmark (Rasmus Jensen, Mads Hansen)

3. Finland (Timo Lahti, Jesse Mustonen, Antti Vuolas)

MIESZKO MUDŁO IS THE NEW CHAMPION

ROUND

GDAŃSK, POLAND #01

22ND JULY

Racing on home soil, young rider Mieszko Mudło ruled the one event of the European 125cc Youth Track Racing Cup raced in in Gdank, Poland. 28 riders competed in a hard-fought Final, rich of overtaking and battles. The race was ruled by Polish riders and the final heat saw the challenge of 4 home riders.

The final podium positions were only decided in the afternoon’s dramatic concluding heat which put Polish riders head-to-head. At the end Mieszko Mudło run out as clear winner of the event ahead of Krzysztof Harendarczyk and Jakub Plutowski.

Final top three

1. Mieszko Mudło, POL

2. Krzysztof Harendarczyk, POL

3. Jakub Plutowski, POL

POLISH TEAM CONQUERES THE FINAL

17TH JULY MACON, FRANCE

After the QR in Germany, the city of Macon in the east of France hosted the Final of the European Under23 Team Speedway Championship.

In perfect weather condition and in front of a large audience four teams battled for the title. Beside home team also team Sweden, that won in Stralsund in May, while teams Poland and Denmark were seeded into the meeting according to the 2022 season ranking. Weather was perfect for a thrilling evening race and track was very well maintained, providing good racing.

Polish U23 team confirmed its role of favourites, pushing hard from the beginning of the race. Even if the other teams started pulling up points, Polish U23 teams maintained the advantage to the last heat deserving a clear win ahead of Denmark and Sweden. Fourth final position for home team.

Final top three

1. Poland, 45 points

2. Denmark, 37 points

3. Sweden, 27 points

YOUNG RIDERS EDUCATION

Young Riders Education

European 125cc Youth Track Racing Cup Final – GDAŃSK – 22nd July 2023

In occasion of the European 125cc Youth Track Racing Cup Final in Gdansk, a group of 28 riders took part in a meeting presenting eco-friendly behaviours at the track racing competitions.

The riders represented 10 European countries: Germany, Ukraine, Latvia, France, Czechia, Great Britain, Estonia,

The riders signed the posters popularizing the very important campaign of the 2023 World Environment Day: which calls for global solutions to combat plastic pollution.

The riders received very nice souvenirs and gathered for the family photo at the end of the meeting.

The officials, managers, teams of the riders and guests joined the meeting.

Today a group of 28 riders participants of the European 125cc Youth Track Racing Cup Final took part in a meeting friendly behaviours at the track racing comeptitions. The riders represented 10 European countries: Germany, Ukraine, Latvia, France, Czechia, Great Britain, Estonia, Netherlands, Finland and Poland. The riders signed the posters popularizing the very important campaign of the 2023 World Environment Day: #BeatPlasticPollution which calls for global solutions to combat plastic pollution.

The riders received very nice souvenirs and gathered for the family photo at the end of the meeting. The officials, managers, teams of the riders and guests joined the meeting.

The Chairwoman of the FIM Europe Environment Commission said:

The meeting held in Gdansk is a part of the FIM Europe Green Education Strategy the Environment Commission has developed since 2014. the environmental education during motorsport events active Environmental Steward at every event who can advise and help.

"The meeting held in Gdansk is a part of the FIM Europe Green Education Strategy – the project that the Environment Commission has developed since 2014. The FIM Europe Commission recommends the environmental education during motorsport events. Young riders should know that there is an active Environmental Steward at every event who can advise and help".

GRAZYNA MAKOWSKA

Chairwoman of the FIM Europe Environment Commission

SEMIFINAL 2 FINAL

29TH JULY ZARNOVICA, SLOVAKIA

The SF2 of the European Under19 Individual Speedway Championship took place in Žarnovica, Slovakia.

On a very well-prepared track, 17 riders competed for the promotion to the Final, which will take place on the 19th of August in Poland.

Young riders gave a demonstration of their skills showing some interesting actions. Polish rider Wiktor Przyjemski won all the races ahead of Nazar Parnitskiy from Ukraine and countryman Oskar Paluch.

Antoni Mencel (Poland), Norick Blodorn (Germany), Daniel Thompson (UK), Sebastian Kössler (Austria) and Anže Grmek (Slovenia) were promoted to the final too.

Due to a storm started after the 20th race, an extra run for the reserve position could not take place. In accordance with the qualification rules, place 9 was taken by Matouš Kamenik (Czech Republic).

Top three

1. Wiktor Przyjemski, POL, 15 points

2. Nazar Parnitskiy, UKR, 13 points

3. Oskar Paluch, POL, 12 points

19TH AUGUST GORZÓW WIELKOPOLSKI, POLAND

The SF2 of the European Under19 Individual Speedway Championship took place in Žarnovica, Slovakia.

On a very well-prepared track, 17 riders competed for the promotion to the Final, which will take place on the 19th of August in Poland.

Young riders gave a demonstration of their skills showing some interesting actions. Polish rider Wiktor Przyjemski won all the races ahead of Nazar Parnitskiy from Ukraine and countryman Oskar Paluch.

Antoni Mencel (Poland), Norick Blodorn (Germany), Daniel Thompson (UK), Sebastian Kössler (Austria) and Anže Grmek (Slovenia) were promoted to the final too. Due to a storm started after the 20th race, an extra run for the reserve position could not take place. In accordance with the qualification rules, place 9 was taken by Matouš Kamenik (Czech Republic).

Top three

1. Wiktor Przyjemski, POL, 15 points

2. Nazar Parnitskiy, UKR, 13 points

3. Oskar Paluch, POL, 12 points

POLAND STORMS THE TITLE

ROUND

31ST AUGUST BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND #03

Single-race events for the European Under19 Pairs Speedway Championship in Pardubice, in the Czech Republic. Located about 90 kilometres east of Prague, the city lies on the Elbe River: it was the perfect venue for the series, as the city is really well known for its sport events. This season also hosted the second round of the European Team Speedway Championship in mid-April.

The strong heat and high temperatures put a strain on riders, but did not prevent the smooth running of the race, raced on a dry and good conditioned track.

At the end of 28 thrilling and very battled heats team Poland claimed the victor thanks to the good job of Damian Ratajczak, Jakub Krawczyk, Oskar Paluch.

The fight for the second position remained open till heats 27, with the challenge between the Swedish and Danish. At the end of an exciting heat Denmark grabbed P2 ahead of Sweden.

Top three

Poland (Damian Ratajczak, Jakub Krawczyk, Oskar Paluch)

Denmark (Jesper Knudsen, William Drejer, Nicolai Heiselberg)

Sweden (Casper Henriksson, Noel Walquist, Theo Bergkvist)

GERMANY HOSTS THE FINAL

12TH AUGUST BAD HERSFELD, GERMANY

The Final of the European Sidecar Championship took place in Bad Hersfeld, a nice town in central Germany in a picturesque setting in a wooded valley, on the outskirts of the town.

Great job done by the staff of the MSC Bad Hursfeld, that worked extremely hard to ensure the event was completed, despite the bad weather that threatened to jeopardise the whole event.

A good crowd of approximately 2,500 people of all ages eventually witnessed a great evening’s racing, but the meeting itself was delayed due to a heavy downpour of rain, just as the riders came out to be presented to the crowd. Due to the surface water that was now laying on the track, the Jury agreed that the commencement of the meeting would be delayed until the track was in a suitable condition to race on. With the track maintenance team working together, fine wood chippings were spread on the track to assist in drying out the surface water that was laying on both corners.

After a delay of one hour, the track was finally in a suitable condition and the first three heats were completed without any incidents. However, due to the bad weather forecast, after a short break the next three heats followed very quickly.

It was during this third session of heats that race 8 produced the first of a number of exciting races. Dutch reserve Sven Holsten and passenger Dennis Smit came into the heat to replace the German team of Markus Venus and Markus Eibl. The Austrian team of Markus Hundsrucker and Florian Niedermeier made a fast start and lead the race, but Holsten was not done and chased Hundsrucker for three laps before finally beating his opponent in the run up to the finish flag.

With signs of more rain fading, it was agreed that the Solo support races would be brought back into the race programme, giving the European Sidecar riders a chance to catch their breath.

Once the support Solos had completed their races, the action return to the last section of qualifying heats for the Sidecars.

Race 11 had the spectators on their feet once again as one of the pre meeting favourites, English team Mitch Godden and Paul Smith, dropped the clutch and the bike stood on “up on end” 5 metres from the start. All three other teams were already into the corner as Gooden now had to get his head down, if he wasn’t going to lose vital points. One by one he picked off his opponents over the three remaining laps with only French team Remi Valladon and Dylan Fourcade between him and the finish flag. With great determination, Godden gave one last brave attempt to defeat his opponent with both teams neck and neck coming out of the last bend, with Godden getting the verdict as he just got his front wheel over the finish line before Valladon.

With the qualifying heats completed, all the riders were allocated into the C, B and A Finals.

With the first and second winning riders in B Final qualifying through into the A Final, this was always going to be a tough race.

Swiss team Imanuel Scramm and Nadin Foftier and German crew Markus Brandhofer and Sandra Mollema, fought let another hard race with both riders eventually beating their rivals for this last chance opportunity to have a crack at the European crown.

With the crowd rising to their feet, the four A finalists came out onto the track like Roman centurions entering the arena in their chariot’s. Brandhofer made another lightening start. Godden tried as he could to chase after the German for four laps, but was unable to make up the ground he needed. At the end Brandhoffer took the chequered flag and the 2023 title. Godden was second, Dutch team Wilfred Detz and Bonita Van Dijk third and Imauel Scramm fourth.

Top three

1. Markus Brandhofer - Sandra Mollema, GER

2. Mitch Godden - Paul Smith, GBR

3. Wilfred Detz - Bonita Van Dijk, NED

DANISH JACOB BOLCHO TAKES THE TITLE

FINAL

12TH AUGUST

The Final of the European 85cc Youth Speedway Racing Cup was a one-off event held in Rybnik, Poland, in perfect weather conditions.

17 riders from 5 nations faced a great race day in front of an excited crowd that has the pleasure to see some very exciting heats.

As usual, Danish riders ruled the event, but the German and Swedish didn’t make thigs easy.

Fourth in 2022 one step away from the podium, this year Jacob Bolcho grabbed the title after a great fight against compatriot Phillip Ekfeldt. The race was decided by the 19th race, at the end of which the fourteen-year-old Bolcho became the winner of the duel.

RYBNIK, POLAND

Top three:

1. Jacob Bolcho, DEN

2. Phillip Ekfeldt, DEN

3. Villads Pedersen, DEN

The 2022 Champion, the Danish Villads Pedersen, tried to hold on the title, but he finished third.

SEMI FINAL 1 SEMI FINAL 2 FINAL

19TH AUGUST RIGA, LATVIA

19TH AUGUST RIGA, LATVIA

These two meetings had been run under extremely hot weather conditions with temperatures over 30°. All young riders had been on a high professional level and the two Semi Finals only had one heavy crash. The rider had been transported to the hospital, but was released later and seen in the pit again. Racing was on a high level with good overtaking and close finish on some of the heats.

In Semi Final 1 Polish rider Kacper Mania took the overall win ahead of British William Cairns and Danish Mikkel Andersen. 8+1 riders qualified to the Final on Sunday.

In Semi Final 2 Polish rider Maksymilian Pawekczak claimed the victory ahead of Swedish Rasmus Karlsson and Sven Cerjak from Slovenia. 7+1 riders qualified to the Final, one of these was local rider Damirs Filimonovs).

A hot day welcomed riders in a well-prepared track, that at the end of the day crowned the new European Champion.

Heat 1 started with a small crash, but all 4 riders had been participating in the re-run. Heat 5 was a really good racing between Mania, Karlsson and Pawekczak and at the end the Polish rider took the win. Heat 9 was another exciting race: Andersen fought hard till the last lap overtaking Cairns and taking another step towards the gold medal.

After 19 Heats two riders had 11 points and one rider 10 points: Heat 20 was the Final! Andersen took the lead right from the start and won ahead of Mania and Emil Maroszek. 7th final position for local hero Filimonovs.

Top three

1. Mikkel Andersen, DAN

2. Kacper Mania, POL

3. Emil Maroszek, POL

TOURING ACTIVITIES WITH ALTERNATIVE FUEL MOTORCYCLES

by Dimitris Margaritis Chairman Public Affairs Commission

FIM Europe, in collaboration with the Mobility and Vehicle Innovation Group (MOVING) at the University of Florence, has undergone an innovative study that explores the future of FIM touring activities and the successful organization of events in light of noise irritation concerns and the introduction of electric Powered Two-Wheelers (ePTWs). The study focuses on identifying potential future scenarios and recommendations for FIM touring activities over the next decade, with a particular emphasis on addressing the issue of noise irritation and the integration of ePTWs, which encompass motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds.

In the initial phase of the study, the team has identified key recommendations to address noise irritation concerns and ensure successful event organization, such as the introduction of pre-gathering motorcycle inspections, aimed at preventing the use of non-standard and overly loud exhaust systems by participants, or reducing the number of riders per group during riding sessions and increasing time gaps between different groups, to effectively minimize excessive noise caused by a large volume of PTWs riding closely together within a short timeframe. Moreover, the study emphasized the importance of implementing informative initiatives to educate local communities about noise emissions and the presence of substantial motorcycle groups in rural areas where FIM events and gatherings are organized. By proactively addressing these issues, FIM Europe is committed to creating a harmonious environment for participants and communities alike.

The second phase of the study focused on investigating future scenarios for FIM touring activities and gatherings, taking into account the integration of electric PTWs among participants. A literature review was conducted to examine the challenges associated with the future adoption of ePTWs, current technologies related to vehicles, batteries, and charging infrastructures (including their potential development over the next decade), as well as an outlook on the future distribution of ePTWs across Europe. To assess the performances of current ePTWs technologies, a field test session was carried out, simulating FIM touring activities, using currently available ePTWs on the market. In addition, a survey involving more than 1200 European respondents was conducted to gauge their attitudes towards ePTWs. These combined efforts have yielded valuable insights for the smooth integration of ePTW riders into gatherings and touring events organized by FIM Europe.

According to the market analysis performed within the study, the overall share of electric motorcycles in circulation is expected to remain below 10%. As for the adoption of ePTWs in FIM touring activities, it is anticipated to be relatively low in the next decade, allowing for tailored measures to support riders who choose for ePTWs. Interestingly, participants have displayed limited interest in innovative changes aimed at facilitating the inclusion of ePTWs in gatherings. Instead, it is expected that, as the penetration of ePTWs continues, riders' habits will naturally evolve. Participants have expressed the expectation that ePTWs deliver performance similar to conventional internal combustion engine PTWs, making them unwilling to accept compromises in touring events due to the introduction of ePTWs. Additionally, it is worth noting that knowledge and interest in ePTWs are more prominent in North-Centre Europe compared to South Europe. This suggests organizing and designing experimental touring activities specifically targeted at ePTWs in these regions to capitalize on the existing interest and potential for growth.

FIM Europe will be working closely with relevant stakeholders to address the recommendations and findings from this study, ensuring the sustainable and harmonious growth of touring events for all participants.

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR EEMIL POJHOLA

A perfect summer weekend in Paikuse, Estonia, welcomed the third round of the Enduro European Championship. The route: 3 laps, 64 km, with 3 special tests - Airoh Cross Test, Eleveit Enduro Test and 24MX Extreme Test.

Day1

Eemil Pohjola read perfectly all the tests, taking the lead with a fair gap. Alex Walton took the second overall position defending himself from Diego Haution, third, and Lucas Bergstrom.

Luca Colorio won for the very first time in the Youth class. Thanks to the excellent lap times set throughout the day he managed to keep the championship leader Romain Dagna behind. The gap that separated the two young champions was only 3 cents.

Fifth success for Riccardo Fabris in Junior 1 ahead of Miks Rasmanis.

After fighting hard all day long, Diego Haution took his first win in Junior 2, while Lucas Bergstrom was second and Lorenzo Bernini third.

In E1 class Eemil Helander interrupted Andreas Beier’s successes, winning ahead of Jacopo Traini. The Italian, after missing the second round, was back to the action and took the podium ahead of class leader Beier, who finished third.

Eemil Pohjola won E2 class ahead of leader Alex Walton and reigning champion Erik Willems.

David Abgrall was still the best riders of E3 class. The Frenchman won one more time, while reigning champion Dietger Damiaens was second and Polish Gabriel Chetnicki third.

Maurizio Micheluz topped the Senior Class, managing to confirm himself as the best senior rider by tying Nico Rambow in second position and Mika Karma in third. Tanja Schlosser was back to the victory in the Women class. Great time laps allowed her to triumph over championship leader Vilde Marie Holt and Vivi-Maria Makinen.

Day2

Eemil Pohjola ruled the race from the very first special test, proving to be the best riders. David Abgrall started the day slowly, but then was able to find the right pace. He took the second position ahead of his classmate Damiaens Dietger, who was back to the overall podium after one year. At the end of this second day Abgrall is the new leader.

The hard-fought Youth class saw a new name: Gabin Allemand. The young Frenchman won ahead of Pietro Scardina and Davide Mei.

Sixth success in a row and championship victory for Riccardo Fabris. Dawid Babicz managed to took the second place ahead of Miks Rasmanis.

Second win for Diego Haution in Junior 2. Eemil Helander repeated what he did in Day 1 winning E1 class.

Eemil Pohjola won E2 class.

David Abgrall won E3 class ahead of Damiaens Dietger and Gabriel Chetnicki. Sixth consecutive success for Maurizio Micheluz.

Vilde Marie Holt won the Women class.

POLAND CROWNED THE 2023 CHAMPIONS!

#04

The

Day1

Endgame for the Overall: thanks to a fourth place David Abgrall became the new European Champion. Day 1 overall winner was the Czech Krystof Kouble: at the end of a perfect day he signed the best time ahead of Alex Walton and the 2022 European Champion, Erik Willems.

In the hard-fought Youth class Pietro Scardina signed the best time after a long battle with the two title contenders Luca Colorio and Romain Dagna, respectively second and third.

The Junior 1 European Champion Riccardo Fabris continued to demonstrate his skill by winning the seventh day of race ahead of Dawid Babicz and Tomas Vanovacan, who both tried to keep up with the Italian. In the Junior 2 Lucas Bergstroem confirmed the good feeling with the sandy terrain by winning for the first time. The Swedish prevailed over the Frenchman Diego Haution and Czech rider Matyas Chlum.

The Borilli Enduro European Championship’s season finale kicked off in Kielce-Piekoszov, Poland, with the crowning of the 2023 Champions.

FIM Europe President Michal Sikora attended the Season Finale by seeing and supporting all the riders all day long, both in the special test and during the prize ceremony.

In E1 class Andreas Beier won not only day 1, but also the title. The German rider finished first ahead of Polish racer Aleksander Bracik and Italian Alessandro Di Gregorio.

Victory for Krystof Kouble in E2, ahead of New European Champion Alex Walton; the Welsh rider succeeded in the feat of winning the continental title. Third place for Belgian Erik Willems.

David Abgrall graduated European Champion also in the E3 class. After a tough start the Frenchman managed to turn the tide of the final ranking by taking home the success right in front of the 2022 European Champion, Dietger Damiaens. Hungarian rider Noel Liszka was third on the podium.

In the women's class the German Tanja Schlosser won the day reducing the gap with the leader Vilde Marie Holt, who today finished third. Second position for Italian rider Francesca Nocera.

Thirteenth title for Maurizio Micheluz, this time in the Senior class. Second position for Nico Rambow, while Polish Jacek Roman was third.

In the class reserved for Trade Teams won Diligenti Racing.

In the European of Nations the Czech Matej Skuta, Matyas Chlum, Jarolasv Kalny and Krystof Kouble triumphed in the National Trophy ahead of France and Italy. In the Junior/Youth Trophy Italy was majestic winning ahead of France and Poland. In the Senior Trophy Poland triumphed thanks to the performances of Zych Tomasz, Krolikowski Waldemar and Roman Jacek. Second position for Germany. In the Women Trophy Italy ruled, while Czech Republic won between Clubs.

Day2

The Czech rider Krystof Kouble ruled the Overall ahead of Alex Walton and Dietger Damiaens.

In the Youth class Luca Colorio won ahead of Davide Mei and Pietro Scardina. The Italian rider conquered the title followed by Romain Dagna, who had to fight against the pain for a broken hand, and Davide Mei.

In the Junior 1 Riccardo Fabris finished a perfect season, collecting the eighth victory and taking the European title. Second place, both in race2 and in the standings, for home rider Dawid Babicz, while German Maximilian Wills finished third in race and Herman Ask in the standings.

Matyas Chlum won Junior 2 and took the second position in the standings. Second position for Diego Haution, while the new Junior 2 European Champion Lucas Bergstroem was third.

In the Enduro 1 class Alessandro Di Gregorio brought back home the first victory of the season, fighiting against home rider Aleksander Bracik and German Patrick Irmscher. The E1 title went to Andreas Beier, while the silver medal to Aleksander Bracik and the bronze to Alessandro Di Gregorio.

Overall winner Krystof Kouble also won in Enduro 2 ahead of Alex Walton and Erik Willems.

In the Enduro 3 class Dietger Damiaens won ahead of David Abgrall and the Hungarian Roland Liska. David Abgrall, Dietger Damiaens and Roberto Da Canal are the riders who make up the Enduro 3 class podium. Another win for Maurizio Micheluz in the Senior class, thus scoring a perfect season. Second position for Nico Rambow and third for Andre Decker.

In the Women class perfect fay for Francesca Nocera: the Italian rider won ahead of the new European Champion Tanja Schlosser and Norwegian Vilde Marie Holt.

In the class reserved to Trade Teams, Diligenti Racing kept on winning ahead of KTM Korona Novi and Norway Enduro. In the standings Diligenti Racing confirmed the title.

In the European of Nations the Czech riders set the double becoming the new Champions. Second position for France and third for Italy. In the Junior/Youth Trophy won Italy ahead of France and Poland. In the Senior Trophy triumphed Poland, while in the Women Trophy won Italy. Between the Clubs won the Czech Republic.

RO RALLY MARATHON

#02

ROUND

The second event of the Tout Terrain Rally Cup was held in beautiful Romania from 18th to 23rd July with the Ro Rally Marathon, organized by Baja 500 Motorsport.ù

This prestigious event brought together rally raid and off-road motorsport enthusiasts from all over Europe and was organized under the aegis of FIM Europe and FRM. The competition took place in Călărași, situated about 100 km east of Bucharest.

RO Rally Marathon participants covered impressive distances and passed through picturesque landscapes and extremely challenging terrain. The race took place over four very hot days, providing a continuous challenge and testing riders’ skills.

German rider Matthew Gird (KTM) ruled day1 and day2, but in the third day of competition had to withdrew because of a crash. At the end Nicola Quinto (Husqvarna) from Italy took the lead of the Overall classification and won the race ahead of Libor Podmol (Husqvarna) from Czech Republic and Mateo Bottino (Beta) from Italy.

Race winners

M2 class - Milos Sochor (Husqvarna), CZE

M3 class - Nicola Quinto (Husqvarna), ITA

M4 class - Mateo Bottino (Beta), ITA

M5 class - Francesco Piocci (KTM), ITA

M6 class – Sulleyman Aydin (Yamaha), TUR

18TH - 23RD JULY CALARASI, ROMANIA

DINARIC RALLY

ROUND 20TH - 26TH AUGUST KNIN, CROATIA #03

The Dinaric Rally was the perfect setting for the third and next to last round of the Tout Terrain Rally Cup. A unique experience that took participants through some of the most challenging terrain of Croatia, with a focus on navigation, endurance, and the thrill of the race.

Open to motorcycles, quads and SSVs featured a variety of stages and time trials. With its combination of high-speed racing, technical challenges, and breathtaking scenery, Dinaric Rally was the perfect destination for seasoned rally riders but also for motorsport enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.

The event was raced from 20th to 26th of August with special stages through endless fields, razor-sharp rocks, hills, mountains, rivers, ancient bridges, and more. Six days of racing particularly warm with the start at 7am and routes of 110 to 415 km per day.

Austrian rider Tobias Ebster (Husqvarna) ruled the Overall classification finishing first on all days. Behind him two Italian riders: second position for Christian Pastori (Husqvarna) and third for Matteo Bottino (Beta).

Race winners

M1 class – Paolo Carraro (Husqvarna), ITA

M2 class – Thomas Zoldos (Beta), FRA

M3 class – Tobias Ebster (KTM), Austrian

M4 class – Christian Pastori (Husqvarna), ITA

M5 class – Marco Rubbiani (KTM), ITA

M6 class – Sulleyman Aydin (Yamaha), TUR

GALICIA RALLY

ROUND 25TH - 30TH SEPTEMBER LA ESTRADA, SPAIN #04

The fourth and last round of the Tout Terrain Rally Cup was the Galicia Rally, raced from September 25th to 30th in northwestern Spain, close to the boarder with Portugal.

The race took place in the beautiful landscape of Galicia region, with everyday route between 100 and 240 km in different terrains and in sunny weather conditions.

Italian rider Matteo Bottino (Beta) won the race keeping the leadership since the first day of the competition ahead of Christian Pastori (Husqvarna). Third until the next to last race, Charlie Julia Barthe lost the position in favor of Milos Sochor (Husqvarna).

Final standings

M1 - Paolo Carraro, ITA

M2 - Milos Sochor, CZE

M3 - Jacque De Molay, ITA

M4 - Matteo Bottino, ITA

M5 - Marco Rubbiani, ITA

M6 - Suleyman Aydin, TUR

ROUND

22ND-24TH SEPTEMBER

Round two of the Bajas European Championship got underway from September 22nd to 24th in occasion of the Baja TT Sharish Gin, official round of the Portuguese National Championship and FIA European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.

Three days event in the amazing landscape of south Portugal, close to the border with Spain, through the towns of Reguengos de Monsaraz, Mourão and Redondo, on both sides of beautiful artificial Alqueva Lake and just a sight from Monsaraz Castle

The schedule saw Friday’s Prologue of 7 km, Saturday one Selective Section (SS) of 182 km and 201 km, Sunday one Selective Section (SS) of 134 km. Total length of the race: 323 km of SS and additional 143 km of liasons on dry and hard routes.

After the victory in the first round in Spain in April, Portuguese rider David Megre won again the Moto class ahead of Bruno Borrego and Paulo Cardoso. Second victory for Antoine Sanchez in the Quad category. In SSV amazing race for the Portuguese couple João Monteiro and Nuno Morais.

Final classification

MOTO

David Megre, POR#21

Bruno Borrego, POR #69

Paulo Cardoso, POR #25

QUAD

Antoine Sanchez, FRA #104

Luis Fernandes, POR #152

SSV

João Monteiro / Nuno Morais, POR - #803

Gonçalo Guerreiro / José Sá Pires, POR#801

THRILLING WEEKEND IN BRNO

The Women's European SSP 300 Championship raced in Brno the fourth round of the 2023 season together with the third round of the European STK 1000 and SSP 300 Cup.

Sara Sanchez's (511 Racing Team) comeback in the Women's European Championship was more than positive. The Spanish rider won Race 1 starting from pole position and making a comeback after a difficult start. Sanchez ended the race ahead of her team-mate Beatriz Neila Santos (511 Racing Team), second at the chequered flag.

Roberta Ponziani (Roc'n'DeA) finished third, co-

ming back to the podium after some tough races. Italian Sara Cabrini (Gradara Corse) was fourth with a ten second gap and Aurelia Cruciani (Roc'nDeA) was fifth.

In Race 2 Natalia Rivera (Trasimeno) took her first win, while Santos conquered her fourth European title thanks to the second position. The Spanish rider of Trasimeno team found redemption in Race 2 after Saturday's bad luck due to a problem, winning by only 41 thousandths over Santos. Ponziani took another third position, although with a wider gap from the first two.

SANTOS WINS A THRILLING HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH RIVERA

The Autodromo del Mugello welcomed the Women's European Championship for the penultimate round of the 2023 season. This Italian Circuit in the middle of Tuscans hills saw action, battles and adrenaline: the perfect ingredients for an incredible round until the chequered flag.

Beatriz Neila Santos (511 Racing Team) beat Natalia Rivera (Trasimeno) winning by just 43 thousandths. Third position for Roberta Ponziani (Roc'n'DeA), who completed the podium. Fourth position for Sara Cabrini (Gradara Corse), while Aurelia Cruciani (Roc'n'DeA) finished fifth ahead of Austrian Lena Kemmer (Bertlkr Racing).

Race results

1. Santos Beatriz Neila 21’42”235,

2. Rivera Natalia +0.043; 3. Ponziani Roberta +6.147; 4. Cabrini Sara +6.221; 5. Cruciani Aurelia +23.842;

Standings top ten

6. Kemmer Lena +33.555; 7. Howden Jessica (Trasimeno) +33.576; 8. Yochay Ran (Celo Racing) +34.087; 9. Sowa Patrycja (Sowa Racing) +35.889; 10. Guarino Martina (MotoXRacing) +37.817; 11. Barbera Beatrice (GP3 AD11) +38.736; 12. Saluste Maria (Motoclub Sinilind) + 1 lap.

1. Santos Beatriz Neila 212 points; 2. Rivera Natalia 151; 3. Ponziani Roberta 120; 4. Cruciani Aurelia 109; 5. Cabrini Sara 98; 6. Yochay Ran 82; 7. Carreno Isis 63; 8. Kemmer Lena 60; 9. Guarino Martina 49; 10. Rusthen Mia 48.

INDONESIA’S MAHENDRA TAKES PHENOMENAL DOUBLE VICTORY AT IMOLA

The R3 bLU cRU European Championship held its fifth round at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola and history was made in the class when Aldi Satya Mahendra achieved a huge race winning margin in Race 1, and a second impressive victory in Race 2.

Race1

Mahendra made a strong start in Race 1 and managed to dominate the pace from the early stages of the race, with a chasing pack of six eager riders trying hard to keep up.

Championship leader and 2022 SuperFinale winner Emiliano Ercolani

tried to stick to his plan of starting off calm and pushing in the latter half of the race, but the Italian suffered a crash on the kerbs after shooting into second place with four laps to go. While the pack battled for positions, Mahendra kept his head down to build a phenomenal lead, crossing the line seven seconds ahead of his nearest rival. Krittapat Keankum finished in a hard-fought second place, while Kevin Fontainha completed the podium.

Race2

In Race 2 the gaps were smaller and the result much harder to call until

the final flag, but Mahendra once again got off to a flying start. Marc Vich and Ercolani gave chase and were joined in the lead group by Keankum and Eduardo Burr. Despite the best efforts of the leading group of seven, they eventually had to surrender to Mahendra’s dominating pace as the Indonesian star extended the gap to two seconds in the closing laps. Ercolani, who worked his way through the field, finish second while Keankum was third. With this double victory, Mahendra moves to second in the title chase and closes the deficit to just 16 points ahead of the final round.

EMILIANO ERCOLANI CROWNED 2023 R3 BLU CRU CHAMPION IN DRAMATIC FINALE

Italy’s Emiliano Ercolani became the Yamaha bLU cRU European Champion in Magny Cours, France, after a shocking series of twists and turns that saw him crash in both races.

The day’s action got underway with Race 1, where six riders were still in contention for the crown. But drama is never far away in the class for upcoming talent and a crash early in the race saw three of those contenders - Aldi Mahendra, Ercolani, and Kevin Fontainha – down and out. The red flag was shown due to the debris and a rush ensued to get the bikes repaired and the riders back on track. Despite their best efforts, Mahendra and his crew ran out of time and were unable to take the restart, ultimately costing the Indonesian rider the crown. Meanwhile,

Fontainha and Ercolani were forced to start from the back of the grid. Spain’s Marc Vich came out as the eventual winner of the exciting and unpredictable race, which included several fantastic battles for the victory. French rider Dorian Joulin thrilled his friends and family as well as the assembled crowd when he claimed a brilliant second place, and Shoma Yamane became the first Japanese rider to take a podium in the R3 bLU cRU series. Ercolani made an impressive comeback to fourth, but Vich’s calm and calculated victory moved him to 23 points from the Italian title leader. In Race 2 there were yet more plot twists when Ercolani suffered his second crash of the day and was left waiting nervously for the race result with Vich riding in the lead group. The Mallor-

can needed to win the race in order to claim the crown, and he certainly gave it everything to try and achieve that, but it simply wasn’t to be when he lost ground after running wide. Vich eventually finished sixth, meaning Ercolani could finally celebrate the title despite not finishing the race. Mahendra came back from a double long lap penalty to win the season finale ahead of Brazilian pairing Fontainha and Gustavo Manso. Mahendra and Fontainha also placed second and third in the final standings.

As the R3 bLU cRU European Champion, Ercolani will now move up to the WorldSSP300 class for next season, a perfect progression for the 19-year-old who won his place in this year’s series thanks to a victory in last year’s R3 SuperFinale.

VALENTIN FOLGER BECOMES THE 2023 WINNER

22ND - 23RD SEPTEMBER ARAGON, SPAIN

The second ever R7 SuperFinale saw two thrilling races at Motorland Aragon, Spain, for the 27 riders participating from all over the globe. The first race of the day had plenty of tense battles throughout the field, but pole-sitter Eric Molina was quick to stamp his authority during his second year at the SuperFinale. The Spaniard pulled a gap early on that proved insurmountable for his rivals after he extended the lead to 6.5 seconds. However, the chasing pack squabbled amongst themselves for the remainder of the unpredictable race. Folger kept it smooth and consistent to push his way into podium contention, and this strategy paid off for the German when he took second place at the chequered flag. Italy’s Davide Conte was thrilled to take a strong third place finish.

It was all to play for in Race 2, and with the temptation of winning the title of ‘R7 SuperFinale winner’ and picking up a brand new R7, the competition was hotter than ever. Molina used his track knowledge to take the holeshot, but this time he was unable to pull away and instead he was for-

ced to battle it out with a huge lead group of riders. Italy’s Nikolas Marfurt looked very strong, but a crash in Race 1 cost him the chance to progress in the points standings. Conte also put in another very impressive display, and the effervescent youngster came close to another podium spot. Eric Molina was urged on by the Spanish fans, but despite his best efforts he could only manage third in Race 2, while Italy’s Tommaso Occhi took a great second place. But it was Folger who shone brightest, setting the fastest lap and carving through for the race victory and the overall win thanks to his haul of 45 points.

The Top 3 overall in the 2023 R7 SuperFinale were Folger (Germany), Molina (Spain), and Conte (Italy).

SPAIN’S GONZALO SANCHEZ IS THE 2023 R3 SUPERFINALE WINNER

22 riders from seven different countries gave their all over the course of two fantastic races at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal, as they fought it out for the chance to win the ‘crown’ and a supported ride in next year’s Yamaha R3 bLUcRU European Championship.

In Race 1 it was 15-year-old Sanchez who took command, pulling out a very impressive lead of over six seconds on the chasing pack. Behind him a large group of riders were in contention for the final two podium spots and a superb last lap from fellow Spaniard Natalia Rivera saw her take second place. Italy’s Christian Pucci completed the Race 1 podium.

With his confidence levels high following such a dominant victory,

Sanchez seemed odds on favourite to take a second win when Race 2 rolled around, and while the youngster was in fact able to make it two from two it was a much more closely contested competition. Unfortunately Race 1 podium sitter Rivera was ruled out in a crash on Lap 4, a real pity considering her excellent performance throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, new names were ready to rise up the ranks, and a hard-charging Cameron Swain was determinedly carving his way through the field. The Australian took the final spot on the podium, while an equally impressive Mario Salles (Brazil) managed to better the fourth place he achieved in Race 1 when he charged through to a great second. Italian star Pucci suffered a crash in the closing stages of the

race which brought out the red flag and halted the race prematurelyhe thankfully avoided serious injury, although he was taken to hospital.

The Top 3 in the final standings of the R3 SuperFinale were Sanchez, Salles and Swain.

Sanchez will now be given a fully supported ride in next year’s R3 bLUcRU European Championship series, which runs alongside selected rounds of the FIM Superbike World Championship. A second competitor will also be offered support from Yamaha for 2024, and this rider will be announced in due course following a meeting of the Yamaha Racing Committee.

DOUBLE WIN FOR SZAMADO AND TRITSCHER

The European STK 1000 and SSP 300 Cup raced in Brno the third round of the 2023 season.

SSP300

In SSP 300 Mate Szamado from Hungary won both Race 1 and race 2 ahead of Polish rider Mateusz Molik, twice second. Double third for home rider Daniel Turecek.

STK 1000

In STK 1000 double victory for the Austrian rider Martin Tritscher. Behind him double second for Lenni Ulbl. In Race 1 third place for Daniel Ersek from Hungary, while in Race 2 Hristijan Buzalkovski took the third position.

RAINY WEEKEND IN CROATIA

The 4th round of the European STK 1000 Cup and SSP 300 Cup took place together with the Alpe Adria Championship at Automotodrom Grobnik, Croatia, under mixed weather conditions.

SSP300

On Saturday morning Hungarian rider Mate Szamado took the pole position in wet a qualifying practice. In the afternoon Race 1 started in wet conditions even if the track was mostly dry. Szamado immediately took the lead and won with a gap of 9 seconds on Polish rider Mateusz Molik. Third place for Konuk Mert from Turkey.

Race 2 started under a heavy rain. At the second corner Lukacs Hamilton crashed out, while his teammate Samado won again ahead of Molik and Mert.

STK 1000

The weekend started in the best way but finished with a bittersweet taste for Sinisha Kochoski, who got the pole position in mixed conditions.

Race 1, started in dry conditions, saw the North Macedonian rider immediately lose the lead in favour of Lennart Ulbel. At the end of 11 exciting laps Martin Tritscher won in front of Ulbel and Kochoski.

After a dry Race 1, Race 2 was declared wet. This time Ulbel maintained the lead of the race winning ahead of Hristijan Buzalkovski and Tritscher.

PERFECT WEEKEND FOR PAWELEC AND MOLIK

Fifth and penultimate round of the European STK 1000 and SSP 300 Cup at the Automotodróm Slovakiaring together with the Alpe Adria Championship in perfect weather conditions.

STOCK 1000

Race 1 was raced in a smoothly mood without any incidents. Polish rider Milan Pavelec easily won ahead of Austrian Martin Tritscher and Lennart Ulbl from the Czech Republic.

Race2 saw a thrilling battle for the second position between Tritscher and Ulbl. Pavelec made the double with a new track record (2’03’’368). At the end of the challenfe Lennart finished second ahead of Tritscher.

SSP 300

Perfect weekend for Polish rider Mateus Molik, who took a double win ahead of Hungarians Szamado Mate, two times second. In Race1 third position for Lukas Hamilton, while in Race2 P3 for Patricia Sowa, who was the only female rider.

PICASSO AND SONTACCHI GRAB THE TITLES

ROUND 04TH - 06TH AUGUST GROBNIK, CROATIA #03

The third and last event of the European Handy Bridgestone Cup took place together with the European STK 1000 Cup and SSP 300 Cup and Alpe Adria Championship at Automotodrom Grobnik in Rijeka, Croatia.

The Race Direction decided to cancel the first Qualifying Session scheduled on Friday due to heavy rain and the second Qualifying took place in wet conditions. Even if the bad weather, rain tyres and lap times of all riders were within the percentage set by the Regulation to participate to the races.

Race 1

In the 1000cc class Italian rider Lorenzo Picasso led the race for 8 laps, followed by Martin Horky from Czech Republic and Italian Emiliano Malagoli. In the final laps Horky overtook Picasso and crossed as first the finish line.

In the 600cc class, wild card Jakob Lorenz led the race from the beginning to the checkered flag. Behind the Austrian rider, Iacopo Gardiol finished second after overtook Maximilian Sontacchi in the middle of the race.

In the Lesser Impaired Category, the Italian Ivo Arnoldi won the 1000cc class, while the Spanish Antonio Montoya won the 600cc class.

Race 2

In wet conditions Horky immediately took a huge advantage racing a lonely way. The same did Picasso finishing second. A good comeback by Jacopo Gullà let him to take the third position of 1000 cc.

The second race of 600cc class was the same of the first one, with Austrian rider Lorenz as fastest in wet conditions. Behind him Gardiol and Sontacchi.

In Lesser Impaired category another win for Arnoldi in the 1000cc class and Montoya in the 600cc class.

At the end of Race 2 the new champions have been crowned: Picasso took the title in the 1000cc class and Sontacchi in the 600cc class.

Standing

1000 cc

Lorenzo Picasso

Emiliano Malagoli

Jacopo Gullà

600 cc

Maximilian Sontacchi

Jakob Lorenz

Iacopo Emilio Gardiol

Lesser Impaired

1000 cc - Ivo Arnoldi

600 cc - Antonio Montoya

ROUND FIVE AT THE CIRCUIT DE BARCELONA - CATALUNYA

Moto2 European Championship Leader Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP Team) was ruled out of both races, handing a big opportunity to his rivals to close the gap, and Xavi Cardelus duly obliged. The Andorran started on pole and led the majority of the race, put on an exhibitionary defensive performance to reject the advances of Unai Orradre for the win, though, the STV Laglisse Racing rider claimed a debut podium in the class. Alberto Surra (Team Ciatti – Boscoscuro) followed the two over the line, and those three riders were the main protagonists in Race 2. Later in the day, Orradre did manage to get the win in fine fashion in what has proved a breakthrough weekend, while it was Surra who came second, and Cardelus third after an epic three-way battle for the win. All that means that going into the next round, Cardelus comes back into the title picture and sits just 20 points behind Agius in the standings.

European Talent Cup

There were twists and turns at every corner in the European Talent Cup race in Barcelona. Guido Pini claimed the win, with Casey O’Gorman (SuperHugo44 Team) and Ruche Moodley (Finetwork Mir Junior Team) on the podium after showstopping event. Championship leader Max Quiles (Aspar Junior Team) started at the back of the grid, while his main rival Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) launched from pole. However, Quiles found himself among the lead group after just a few laps while Uriarte ended up in the gravel, ending his victory charge. The drama continued onto the last lap, with Quiles’ teammate Dodo Boggio attempting an ambitious move at Turn 10, only for the Italian to wipe out his teammate and Rico Salmela (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0). As a result, Pini profited enormously to take the win and enter the title picture heading to Aragon.

Stock European Championship

Daniel Muñoz took the win, and did so in style. In a race that often saw a strangely slow pace set at the front, the Championship leader decided to take things into his own hands with just a few laps remaining. Eric Fernandez (FAU55 Racing Team) applied the pressure from behind, and even took the lead on the last lap after a brilliant Turn 10 maneuver, but Muñoz showed his x-factor with a Valentino Rossi-like overtake at the final corner to secure a sensational win. Dino Iozzo (IUM Motorsports) ran with the top two in the title race, and claimed a superb P3. After Muñoz sensational late move, it stretches his advantage in the Championship to 35 points, and with just 50 left on the board, he can claim the Stock crown in Aragon after the summer break.

ITALY HOSTED THE PENULTIMATE CHALLENGE

ROUND 05TH - 06TH AUGUST SPOLETO, ITALY #04

The fourth round of the Hill Climb European Championship took place in the beautiful mountains of Umbria region, near the old city of Spoleto, Italy, on a track winding up the mountain to Forca di Cerro.

The championship has 5 classes: 250 GP, SuperSport 300, SuperSport 600, SuperBike and SuperMoto.

In good weather conditions riders from five different nations faced free practices, qualifying and two races.

In 250 GP both races were ruled by Italian rider Guido Testoni, who is leading the championship ahead of Bernard Depierreux, second in Italy, and Rolf Haller, third.

Daniele Stolli from Italy won both races of SuperSport 300, increasing the gap in the standings where he is the leader ahead of countrymen Gionata Grassi and Marco Vigilucci.

Double win for Maurizio Bottalico in SuperSport 600, while Tiziano Rosati confirmed a double second.

In SuperBike the qualifying saw French rider Jean Luc David and the Italian Maurizio Bottalico have the same time. In the first race Bottalico managed to pull away from David, but only with a time difference of 0,7 sec. and a speed difference of 1 km/h. The track included two chicanes to keep the speed down on the straights: if a rider went over the chicane, it was a track limit violation with a penalty of 3 seconds. In race 2 Bottalico crossed the chicane losing the first position and giving the win to David. Now they are both leader of the standings with 45 points. The final score will be settled at the final event in September.

Double win for Carmine Matarazzo in SuperMoto class.

BACK IN ITALY FOR THE FINAL ROUND

#05

The final round of the Hill Climb and Vintage Hill Climb European Championship took place in Italy. The track started in Saline and finished in the ancient and well-known city of Volterra, Tuscany.

The qualification of the Superbike class saw a rerun of the situation in the previous race in Spoleto with a very close result between the French Jean Luc David and Italian rider Maurizio Bottalico, with a difference of 0,02 seconds in Botallico’s favor.

The 2023 Champions

250 GP - Guido Testoni, ITA

SuperSport 300 - Daniele Stolli, ITA

SuperSport 600 - Maurizio Bottalico, ITA

SuperBike - Maurizio Bottalico, ITA

SuperMoto - Carmine Matarazzo, ITA

PHOMMARA AND FRELLSEN EMERGE VICTORIOUS IN EXHILARATING RED BULL RING BATTLES

Lenoxx Phommara and Frellsen split the wins in Spielberg. One wet race and one dry sees the Red Bull Ring shake the standings up once again.

ROUND

AUGUST RED BULL RING, AUSTRIA

#06

Race 1

1. Lennox Phommara SUI

2. Filip Novotny CZE

3. Jurrien Van Crugten NED

Race 2

1. Julius AHRENKIEL-FRELLSEN DNK

2. Rocco Sessler DEU

3. Lenoxx Phommara SUI

SESSLER TAKES CROWN BY FIVE POINTS IN NAIL-BITING FINISH

Race 1

1. Rocco Sessler DEU

2. Antoine Nativi FRA

3. Martin Vincze HUN

Race 2

1. Lenoxx Phommara CHE

2. Tobias Kitzbichler AUT

3. Rocco Sessler DEU

Title fight takes dramatic turn as cup leader Lenoxx Phommara crashes out on last lap of Race 1.

In Race 2 Sessler takes crown by five points in nailbiting finish to epic Northern Talent Cup season.

ALESSIO BONETTA GRABS THE OVERALL TITLE

Thrilling weekend for e-bike lovers in Piedmont, Italy.

The town of Sestriere, well-known for the Winter Olympic Games and the Ski World Cup, for two days became the e-bike capital with the single round of the E-Bike Enduro Cup, raced together with the E-bike Enduro World Championship and the third and fourth rounds of the Italian Enduro Championship and the Italian E-Bike Cup.

A sunny day welcomed all participants to this second edition of the Cup, that took place in the Alps, about 2.000 meters above sea level: a breath-taking scenery for its natural beauty.

At the end of the 6 different special tests, Italian rider Alessio Bonetta (Rockmountain 250 2T) took the win of the Overall Class with three minutes gap on countryman Grassi Marco (Fulgur Mula-Polini).

The E3 class was won by Davide Rossin (Sem 450 2T) ahead of French rider Quentin Busuttil (Surron LB) and Victorien Bouvard (Dur-Ron).

Andrea Sassoli (Exept 250 2T) won the E2 class.

GERMANY RULES THE SECOND ROUND

Day 1

MSC Puma Kuppenheim – Troyes, 9-0

The first match saw the Germans dominate the field. It was an intense match that saw the MSC Puma players take the upper hand right from the start with two superb goals that immediately set the tone. Unfortunately for the Troyens, a refereeing decision cost them a red card, reducing their squad. Despite their courage and determination, they were ultimately beaten 9-0 by a very strong Kuppenheim side.

Day 2

Troyes – Kretinga, 3-3

Troyes and Kretinga had a thrilling match as both teams showed unfailing determination from the outset, showcasing their skills and experience in this demanding sport. Throughout the match, action followed action, creating a palpable tension in the stadium. Each team had its moments, taking the lead in turn. The Troyes players showed their technical mastery and cohesion in attack, while the Kretinga players defended relentlessly, making it difficult for their opponents to break through. The match ended in a tie.

MSC Puma Kuppenheim – Kretinga, 17-1

In the last match of the day Germany dominate Lithuania. The motorbikes roared around the pitch, the players moving with agility, giving life to a spellbinding spectacle for the spectators who turned out in force for the occasion. The match ended 17-1 in favour of Germany: a remarkable performance that already puts Kuppenheim in the final of this competition.

The championship continues with more matches to come, promising Motoball fans some thrilling moments and fiery competition.

KUPPENHEIM CLINCHED THE TITLE

ROUND

19TH -20TH AUGUST TROYES, FRANCE

Day 1

Suma Troyes – Kretinga 9 : 4

The game between Kretinga and Suma Troyes was a showcase of exceptional Motoball skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Suma’s dominant performance secured them a well-deserved victory, while Kretinga displayed resilience and determination throughout the game. Full stadium of fans was treated to an exciting spectacle of Motoball action. As the teams leave the arena, they can take pride in the display of their young talents and the indomitable spirit they brought to the pitch.

Day 2

Puma Kuppenheim – Kretinga 16 : 1

Puma Kuppenheim wasted no time asserting their dominance, with an early two goals in the opening minutes. The German club’s skilful ball control and strategic positioning allowed them to maintain possession for the majority of the game. Their aggressive attacks caught the Lithuanian defense off-guard, resulting in a series of quick-fire goals that left Kretinga reeling.

Day 3 (Final)

Suma Troyes – Puma Kuppenheim 6 : 0

The much-anticipated European Motoball Champions Cup final between Suma Troyes and Puma Kuppenheim took place amidst roaring excitement and a packed stadium. The two powerhouse teams battled fiercely for the coveted championship title, with Puma Kuppenheim emerging as the victors with a dominant 6-0 victory over Suma Troyes.

GERMAN TEAM TAKES THE MOTOBALL JUNIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Four years after the last event, the Motoball Junior European Championship was finally back in action with some great challenges in Jarmen, Gemany. Teams from Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands and France competed for the title. No less than 64 players and members of the delegations enjoyed the matches, with 70 goals scored in 8 games. At the end of 2 thrilling days of action the German team took the title in front of home crew.

THE BAD WEATHER AFFECTED THE EVENT IN SWEDEN

Unlucky weekend for the Dragbike European Championship, that stopped in Tierp for the second round in a row and the third round of the season.

For the second time in a row the city of Tierp hosted the Dragbike European Championship. Unfortunately, it has been a tough weekend because of the severe weather in the whole Scandinavia. In fact, Storm Hans has swept over Norway and Sweden, terrorizing these countries. And we know that rain and Dragracing are not the world's best friend.

However, above all expectations, the organizer has managed to get most of the racing done. Against all odds and in an uphill battle, 3 rounds of qualifying have been laid down on Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately, on Sunday the weather got even worse. The scheduled start of the elimination

rounds had to be postponed time after time and the first rounds only started at 16:00 instead of the programmed 10:00.

The audience saw good racing with some remarkable performances showing the skills and determination of both the racers and the track crew until 20:00, time set by the Government to make noise. The event ended up after the Semi Finals with the following racers. In Top Fuel Bike the two finalists were Rikard Gustafsson (5.98) from Sweden and Kari Rautanen (7.86) from Finland. In Super Twin Bike the two finalists were Marcus Christiansen (6.32) from Denmark and Per Bengtsson (6.61) from Sweden. In Super Street Bike the two were Daniël Donat Lencses (6.80) from Hungary and Mathias Bohlin (6.93) from Sweden. In Pro Stock Bike the two were Bertrand Maurice (7.69) from France and Theodor Vik (7.73) from Norway.

NEXT TO LAST ROUND IN GERMANY

ROUND 25TH - 27TH AUGUST HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY #04

Perfect conditions for the fourth and next to last round of the Dragbike European Championship in Hockenheim, Germany.

Despite the bad weather forecasts, races were disputed with no delays or problems and bout 60 riders got on track for thrilling challenges.

Winners of this round

Junior Dragbike - Geeuwke Siersema, NED

ProStockBike - Jörg Lymant, GER

SuperStreetBike - Alan Morrison, GBR

SuperTwinBike - Marcus Christiansen, DEN

TopFuelBike - Eric Richard, FRA

SANTA POD HOSTED THE FINAL

GREAT BRITAIN #05

The Final of the Dragbike European Championship took place in Santa Pod, Great Britain, in extremely difficult weather conditions.

If on Friday and Saturday the series had to deal with very high temperatures, to top it off, on Sunday in halfway the eliminations a thunderstorm hit the track, flooding the complete facility. A very tough and critical condition that the Promoter and the local crew handled with professionalism.

Marcus Christiansen from Denmark came very close to the world record with his normally aspirated Harley Supertwin.

The winners of the event

JuniorDragBike – Leah Morrison, GBR

ProStockBike – Bertrand Maurice, FRA

SuperStreetBike – Jake Mechaell, GBR

SuperTwinBike – Marcus Christiansen, DEN

TopFuelBike – Rikard Gustafsson, SWE

The 2023 European Champions

JuniorDragBike – Leah Morrison, GBR

ProStockBike – Bertrand Maurice, FRA

SuperStreetBike – Alan Morrison Jr, GBR

SuperTwinBike – Marcus Christiansen, DEN

TopFuelBike – Rikard Gustafsson, SWE

VINTAGE > VINTAGE HILL CLIMB EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND #03

16TH - 17TH SEPTEMBER

SALINE VOLTERRA, ITALY

The final round of Vintage Hill Climb European Championship took place in Italy. The track started in Saline and finished in the ancient and well-known city of Volterra, Tuscany.

The 2023 Champions

Vintage Class 1 - Dario Cavanna, ITA

Vintage Class 2 - Bert Heider, GER

Class 3 - Bert Heider, GER

Class 4 - Guido Testoni, ITA

Class 5 - Roberto Della Latta, ITA

Class 6 - Hermann Altenhuber, AUT

Class 7 - Dieter Reuter, GER

Class 8B - Armin Pfalf, GER

Class 8C - P. Gierlinger, GER

Class 9A - Stefan Dobler, AUT

Class 9B - Johan Tetour, AUT

VINTAGE > VINTAGE ENDURO EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND #03

30TH SEPTEMBER - 01ST OCTOBER

MARCOLES, FRANCE

Expert 75 up to 75cc

1. Federico FREGNAN

2. Carlo CAVALLI

Expert 75 up to 125cc

1. Xavier ARENAS

2. Augustyn RYSZARD

Expert 75 over 125cc

1. Xavier ARENAS

2. Augustyn RYSZARD

3. Stefano TORRINI

Classic 80 up to 75cc

1. Francis MACE

2. Adriano MICOZZI

Classic 80 up to 125cc

1. Ole FLEISCHER

2. Paolo DI MAURO

Classic 80 up to 250cc

1. Matteo RIVOLTELLA

2. Johannes STEINEL

3. Carrion David GOMEZ

Classic 80 over to 250cc

1. Miquel Angel BOET SERRA

2. Jürgen ALTHAUS

3. Jens OESTREICH

Classic 89 up to 80cc

1. Patrice MOURGUES

2. Giorgio VOLPI

3. Philippe BARTHOMEUF

Classic 89 up to 125cc

1. Frederic RIVALAN

2. Riccardo TERRANOVA

Classic 89 up to 250cc

1. Pere Xavier MONTANE RODRIGUEZ

2. Ricard MARTINEZ SANCHEZ

3. Bruno PELLEGRINI

Classic 89 over 250cc

1. Eric CYFFKA

2. Domenico Dario LAMURA

3. Gabriele MECHI

TEO COLAIRO CONTINUES HIS RACE FOR THE TITLE

The second round of the Trial European Championship in Hobøl, Norway, where the bad weather conditions have put a strain on the entire country.

In occasion of this second round the Championship had a new live results system with also the championship standings (trial-live.eu). The same system will be also available for the next and last event in Sweden, scheduled for next weekend. Despite the rain the Moto Club of Hobol did a great job preparing a very selective and well-prepared sections, not dangerous, but extremely muddy and slippery.

Both on Saturday and Sunday the participants were almost 130, proving the great formula of this European Championship.

In the opening day of action 132 riders started the race: Trial European Championship (61 riders in 4 classes), Women’s Trial European Championship (31 riders in 2 classes), Youth Trial European Championship (40 riders in 2 classes). On Sunday 128 riders took part to the race.

After the amazing opening round in Italy, French rider Teo Colario had another great performance in Norway, finishing second on Day1 and first on Day2. On the first day of action the Championship leader had a three time penalties in the first lap and the tie points in the second lap with home rider Jarand-Matias Vold Gunvaldsen was not enough to give him the victory. Third position for Swiss rider Noè Pretalli. Instead, on Day2 Colario made it perfect and with a total of 37 points he grabbed another success that confirmed him leader of the standings. Second position for Pretalli and third for Vold Gunvaldsen.

One win each for home hero Sander Bjoraa and Italian rider -leader of the Junior Cup- Giacomo Brunisso. The Norwegian Jonas Jørgensen finished third on Day1, while Danish rider Alex Overby on Day2.

Double victory for Dan Clark in the Over 40 Cup, British rider Alice Minta in the Woman Class and Fabio Sacht in the Youth Class.

SWEDISH ROUND AWARDS THE 2023 CHAMPIONS

ROUND 19TH - 20TH AUGUST #03 GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN

The third and last round of the Trial European Championship was raced in Ale, Sweden.

An important weekend for the series as after the race in Italy at the beginning of July and last week’s competition in Norway, the Swedish round crown the 2023 Champions.

Once more almost 130 riders took part at the event for a weekend of fight and excitement, proving the success of this European Championship.

First in the standings with a lead of 60 points, French rider Teo Colario moved from Norway to Sweden confident in the fight for the title. With two triumphs in the previous rounds, his goal should be to keep on the race for the gold medal, but he had not reckoned with home hero Jarand Matias

Vold Gunvaldsen. The Swedish rider performed well in front of his home fans and ruled the weekend taking two outstanding victories ahead of German Paul Reumschussel and Noè Petralli. With a double third position Colario took 140 points, while Vold Gunvaldsen 200 points: finishing tied on points and with the same win, second and third positions, the double win in the last round allow Paul Reumschussel to grab the title. Silver medal for Colario and bronze for Swiss rider Petralli.

In the Junior Cup category, the fight for the title was a matter between Swedish rider Sander Bjoraa and Italian Giacomo Brunisso. They both took a win, but P6 on Sunday and a good advantage in the standings were enough for Brunisso to become Champion. Bjoraa had to settle with the second final position ahead of Noel Johansson.

Dan Clark confirmed his leadership in the Over 40 Cup and was crowned European Champion. The British rider got one win and one second position, the same result of Finnish rider Jussi Haapanen, second in the standings. Third position for Staffan Floessel, double third this weekend.

In the Women Championship one win each for British Kaytlyn Adshead and Italian Alessia Bacchetta, but British rider Alice Minta managed to take the European title thanks to P3 on Saturday, P2 on Sunday and the good performances in the previous rounds.

Thrilling season finale in the Youth Class too, with an all-German fight. Fabio Sacht and Johannes Heidel finished tied on points: with two win each, Sacht took the title thanks to three second positions. Bronze medal for Echene Pablo.

REMEMBERING JøRGEN BITSCH

The FIM Europe is saddened to inform about the recent passing of Jørgen Bitsch, the President of the Danish Motor Union (DMU) since 2009. Jorgen finally succumbed to his injuries on 5th August 2023, which he had sustained as the result of a motocross accident two weeks previous.

Jørgen was passionate about all aspects of motorcycling, having been long associated with two wheels as a rider, a spectator, an event organiser and as a member of the FIM, FIM Europe and DMU in several different roles, having first joined his National Federation in 1975. Mr Bitsch has been FIM Europe Vice President from 2010 to 2012 and member of the FIM Board of Directors from 2012 to 2020.

Mr Bitsch was a former Sidecar Motocross Grand Prix winner and regular top ten finisher overall in the FIM Sidecar Motocross Championship during the mid-eighties through to the early nineties, with his best ranking being

fourth in the series in 1988. Jørgen remained an active solo motocross rider throughout his life and continued to ride both modern and classic bikes on a regular basis right up until his sad passing.

In addition to heading up two Danish motocross clubs, namely Frederiksborg Amts Motorklub and Fredensborg-Humlebæk Moto Cross Klub, Jørgen was also appointed the Chairman of the Danish Speedway League in 2022. His missions included bringing professionalism to the sport, developing young talent, and the progression of elite riders, however his key focus was always rider safety, as he looked for the DMU to lead by example on this topic and others amongst the national and international Federations.

A popular and familiar figure within the motorcycling community, Jørgen will be hugely missed by the entire FIM Europe Family, who extends its condolences to his family and many friends at this difficult time.

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