FIM-E European Drag Bike Championship – Round Three – NitrOlympX, Hockenheimring, Germany 29th-31st August

The 2025 edition of the NitrOlympX is the first of a back-to-back season finale with the Euro Finals at Santa Pod the weekend following. This scheduling has caused a few headaches for a number of teams across the FIM-E classes but the NitrOlympX should be pivotal in the championship chases.

FIM-E Top Fuel Bike is missing some notable entries with Mikko Rajaniemi and the Finnish Sirpa nitro burner being the quickest of those attending. A bit of consistency from the newly crowned five second runner could power Rajaniemi into a strong finish over the course of the event. The only other nitro bike in the field is veteran Rene van den Berg who will be looking to join the five second club with the Shark Attack Puma. Funnybikes make up the rest of the eight bike entry, including last year’s winner UKs Mark Smith, with Frenchman Eric Richard and Malteser Glenn Borg contesting championship points and aiming to make up ground on the absent Rikard Gustafsson.

Ten entries in FIM-E Super Twin could provide some challenges in qualifying, while the sharp end of the field will see the resumption of friendly hostilities between the Danes and the Swedes in the shape of points leader Marcus Christiansen and veteran challenger Per Bengtsson, with what might be a swansong for Vesa Lipponen and his ‘first into the fives’ ride adding some Finnish spice into the mix.

Six twenties or better will be needed to contest for top spot in qualifying if the weather and track play ball.

Last year’s NitrOlympX FIM-E Super Street Bike field proved to be the quickest in history with the 7.400 sixteen bike bump being a definite target in 2025. Twenty two entries with Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Malta and the UK all represented will make for a truly international experience.

Predicting the destiny of the NitrOlympX title ahead of the event is somewhat tricky, but championship points leaders Alan Morrison Jnr, Luke Farrugia and Jake Mechaell certainly have the pace and race craft to feature high on the list of contenders.

The FIM-E Pro Stock Bike field has dropped to eight with the withdrawal of the French entries of points leader Bertrand Maurice and Jerome Rougemont in second spot after Maurice’s injuries in an off track incident.

Unfortunately, this blows the championship wide open with Brit Alex Hope and Jorg Lymant, in front of his home crowd, perhaps being best placed to make a move although don’t count out Lymant’s compatriot Karl-Heinz Weikum or the assembled Greek ranks to take the NitrOlympX crown.

The NitrOlympX also sees the resumption of the FIM-E Junior Dragbike Cup after a post-Main Event sojourn. As one of the three events counting towards the end of season points, Hockenheim will see some major moves in the current table, and an all run field for the fourteen entries will give plenty of scope for drama. Current points leaders Declan Butt and Alia Lester will be looking to defend their positions.

Livestreaming will be here – with full coverage commencing on Saturday https://www.nitrolympx.de/en/livestream/

Entry list https://www.tw-sportsoft.de/NitrolympX_2025_403250/TW_ON_Teilnehmerliste.php

More info https://www.nitrolympx.de/

Text and photos: Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes