Crane, Christiansen, Mechaell, Weikum and Morrison take the NitrOlympX spoils
It seemed touch and go with a number of delays during the course of eliminations day, but all five FIM-E classes ran to their conclusion at the Hockenheimring, with some big moves in the points as we head into next weekend’s European Finals at Santa Pod.
Stuart Crane was able to parlay his low qualifying spot into the event win in FIM-E Top Fuel Bike, covering Mikko Rajaniemi in the final with a 6.265/225.37 (Crane’s best of the weekend from the Warpspeed Funnybike) to a 6.439 from ‘Sirpa the Finnish Fuel Bike’. Rajaniemi had produced the class low ET in the semifinals with a 6.209/217, a weekend of struggles preventing a repeat of the five second performances for the Finn seen earlier in the year. Crane has now moved into a very close second spot behind Rikard Gustafsson who didn’t attend the NitrOlympX, so much is to play for next weekend.
FIM-E Super Twin continued on from the spectacular heights in previous events, but it was Marcus Christiansen who yet again emerged victorious with a 6.205/219.72 to defeat a 6.282/225.55 from Per Bengtsson in the trophy runoff. Christiansen also snatched the class low ET honours from Bengtsson with a 6.191 in a semi-final defeat of Vesa Lipponen. The points are now looking pretty favourable for the Danish team with one event remaining.
Where to start in FIM-E Super Street Bike but it was a classic eliminator which saw Jake Mechaell take the event win from the number one spot on the ladder over Alan Morrison Jnr with a 6.756 to a slowing 7.053. In gaining revenge for his semi-final loss to Morrison Jnr in Sweden a few weeks ago, Mechaell has tightened up the points chase to less than an elimination round. Despite being consistently in the mid seventies throughout eliminations, Mechaell lost class ET bragging rights to Luke Farrugia who jumped to a 6.701 in the quarter final stage before overpowering the track in the semis against Mechaell.
FIM-E Pro Stock Bike produced some tight racing through the ladder, with an all-German final to please the home crowd. Karl-Heinz Weikum bested compatriot Jorg Lymant with a 7.372 to a 7.404 in a Suzuki v Buell match-up; the respective reaction times of 0.003s v 0.015s were none too shabby either. Weikum’s win now puts the top three in the points within half a round of each other, Bertrand Maurice retaining the top spot while convalescing at home in France.
Qualifying in FIM-E Junior Drag Bike laid down a marker for tight racing and eliminations certainly lived up to the promise through the four rounds. Come the final and Leah Morrison took home the plaudits in defeating Alia Lester in the trophy run off. A delighted Morrison now moves to second in the points table, just shy of Lester whose runner-up finish puts her in the lead in the Cup chase.
Next week, it’s the Euro Finals. Should be fun!
Text and photos: Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
