Gustafsson, Bengtsson, Morrison Jnr and Maurice lead after Friday’s qualifying

FIM-E European Drag Bike Championship – Round Two – Summit Equipment Internationals, Tierp Arena, Sweden 7th-10th August
Glorious conditions greeted the massed ranks of the FIM-E Dragbike classes at sunny Tierp Arena just north of Stockholm for today’s opening qualifying.

FIM-E Top Fuel Bike has Sweden’s Rikard Gustafsson on top of the heap with his first session 5.9226/243.49 although second session low six wasn’t quite the improvement anticipated from the Indian/RG Engineering team. Norwegian veteran Sverre Dahl rocked up for the second session and produced a nice 5.9576/230.70 to put the Sunshine Express bike in second spot, although some bearing issues will involve a bit of overnight work. With an early bump spot in the 6.9s and a further three sessions scheduled tomorrow, things are likely to improve across the field.

In FIM-E Super Twin Swedish veteran Per Bengtsson set low et of both sessions, opening with a six thirty before a super straight and smooth 6.2087/217.59 to lower his personal best ET mark and head the first day of qualifying. Close behind is reigning champion Marcus Christiansen with a 6.2647/216.85 from the Dane for second spot, with Finland’s Vesa Lipponen putting the early season woes behind him with a 6.4995 from the Harsh blower V to set the baseline on the new fuel system.

FIM-E Super Street Bike delivered the top five into the six second zone after today’s two qualifiers. Reigning champion Alan Morrison Jnr heads the pack with a 6.7523/222.06 improving on the Brit’s opening 6.8996. Second is occupied by compatriot Jake Mechaell on his first trip to Sweden with a 6.7688/220, Morrison’s elder sibling is at three with a 6.8538, Danish veteran Mogens Lund is four with a 6.9526 and Luke Farrugia is five with a 6.9708 from the MaltaBusa.

The FIM-E Pro Stock Bike field is topped by Bertrand Maurice with a PB threatening 7.1030 from the French Light Speed Suzuki and he’s followed by the German duo of Jorg Lymant (7.3255) and Karl-Heinz Weikum (7.4542) on a Buell and Suzuki respectively, with French compatriot Jerome Rougemont chopping over two tenths of his previous PB with a 7.5141.

Two qualifying sessions down and three scheduled tomorrow (Saturday). It looks like there are plenty of opportunities to run quick as the weather is set fair for the rest of the event.

Livestream can be access via Speedevents Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@Speedevents_se

Text and photos: Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes