EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship ready for round two at Alastaro
Samu Kemppainen
Only one week to go and at Alastaro Circuit in Finland the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship will have its second race of the season. After a great qualifying battle, eliminations were rained out at Tierp Arena, so all riders are looking forward to a restart of the championship, including full eliminations at the last year resurfaced and great Finnish track. At Tierp, Sverre Dahl, Samu Kemppainen, Robert Karlsson and Richard Stubbins were the number one qualifiers, but who will shine in Finland?
After the kick off at Tierp Arena, the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro is the second round of the four races in the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship. Qualifying at Tierp Arena already showed the teams and riders had prepared exceptionally well for the new season, as great elapsed times were recorded. Especially in Pro Stock Motorcycle, the field was close together and an exciting race was expected. But only Super Street Bike could complete an elimination round before rain made an early end to the Swedish race. The only upside is that differences in the championship standings are marginal, so whatever happens at Alastaro, the title race will still be completely open after Finland.
Robert Karlsson
Pro Stock Motorcycle
In Pro Stock Motorcycle Robert Karlsson surprised with a stunning number one qualifying position at Tierp. Can the father of Elvira and Ellsa go for a second consecutive ‘pole position’ in what will be his second race after his comeback? Elvira and Ellsa both had serious handling problems at Tierp, and especially Elvira will be looking for rehabilitation and to show what she is really capable of.
Ellsa and Elvira Karlsson
Another favorite is of course Kalle Lyrén, the reigning EDRS Pro Nordic MC Pro Stock champion. The Veidec Lyrén Motorsport rider is eager to get back the number one position in the championship. At this moment Anders Larsson is the leader, but the Swede is not entered for the race in Finland.
Kalle Lyrén
Kenneth Holmberg reset his personal bests at Santa Pod and did that again at Tierp Arena. The Swecomposite rider will try to do the same in Finland and might surprise with a final round position. Thomas Olsen could only complete one qualifying run at Tierp, but back in Norway the team worked very hard to do better at Alastaro and show how fast they really are.
Timo Savolainen
Timo Savolainen made major progress at Tierp and will try to step up again at his home track. But when we talk about local heroes, for sure Marko Leppänen must be considered. The second Finn in the field lives in Loimaa, and closer to the track is hardly possible. For Leppänen and his Buell, Alastaro is the first race in this year’s EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship.
Per Bengtsson
Super Twin Motorcycle
Samu Kemppainen was in a class of his own at Tierp. In his own country the reigning FIM European champion will try to do the same and will get the support of all Finnish fans. But reigning EDRS Pro Nordic MC champion Hans Olav Olstad will not accept that dominance and already showed at Tierp he was on the right way with his impressive Thunderstruck. Per Bengtsson had some problems at Tierp, but sure these will be solved and the loud and powerful ‘The Beast’ will challenge Kemppainen.
Ismo Mäenpää
Ismo Mäenpää only needed one pass to jump into the number three qualifying position at Tierp. This local hero will be looking for more. The next Finn is Asko Määttä, who had to skip the first race after engine damage in a test run, and will have his first international outing of the season at Alastaro.
Anders Hörnström
From Norway Svein Olav Rolfstad can always be fast, but had to deal with problems in the first race. Anders Hörnström and Greger Johansson, both from Sweden, were at Tierp and will this time try to qualify in the first half of the field.
Björn Friström
Super Street Bike
Super Street Bike was the only class at Tierp to complete one elimination round. So far the race was dominated by Richard Stubbins and Alex Hope with their extremely fast Super Street Bikes. But the two Brits will not be at Alastaro and so the eight Swedish, four Finnish and one Norwegian rider can divide the points among themselves. One the favourites is of course reigning champion and number three qualifier at Tierp, Björn Friström.
Anders Blanck
But Anders Blanck was never far behind and is eager to win some extra points too. Dag Wagenius was also a first round winner at Tierp and will be back to go some more rounds.
Nils-Ola Andersson
Kimmo Pulakka
Nils-Ola Andersson, Leif Larsson, Kimmo Pulakka, Emil Östlund, Roberth Häggblom, Pelle Lakmaker and Niclas Johansson were first round losers at Tierp and they all want to do better at Alastaro. The three Finns, Henri Kolehmainen (last year’s runner-up in the championship), Jani Kumpulainen and Vesa Ruhanen will start their 2015 championship race at their home track.
Sverre Dahl
Top Fuel Bike
There are only two entries in Top Fuel Bike at Alastaro, and both from Norway. Sverre Dahl was extremely fast at Tierp and with 6.13 seconds, the 6.0 and maybe 5.9 is coming close. Jan Sturla Hegre is also back for his second EDRS Pro Nordic MC race of the season. After 7.0 seconds in qualifying at Tierp, the young Norwegian will for sure want go back into the 6 seconds. But Dahl might be difficult to beat.
Jan Sturla Hegre
Qualifying for the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship at Alastaro will start on Friday 3rd July, with two more rounds on Saturday 4th July. Eliminations will start on Sunday morning, 5th July.
