FIM-E European Drag Bike Championship – Round Four – Euro Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, UK 4th-7th September
Following on rapidly from the NitrOlympX last weekend in Germany, with barely a pause for breath, the FIM-E season comes to a close at Santa Pod with the championships yet to be decided in all five categories.
After skipping Hockenheim, Rikard Gustafsson remains at the head of the FIM-E Top Fuel Bike points sheets although the chasing pack is now right on his heels. Stuart Crane and Eric Richard are both within an elimination’s round of the top spot, so the little points in qualifying could prove critical in positioning ahead of eliminations.
Eleven entries comprise the declared field so we can anticipate another shot at the class record bump spot with all teams needing to be on their game. However, Gustafsson has barely skipped a beat this year and looks to be in a strong position to take the title back to Falkenberg in southern Sweden.
Only five entries in FIM-E Super Twin probably mean that Marcus Christiansen will have to have a series of mishaps to forego a X title in a row, this isn’t something that has been on the horizon for a few years now. However, there are still numbers to be chased, Christiansen looking to improve on his 6.077 out of FIM-E competition and Per Bengtsson looking to improve on his 6.195 PB from Germany last weekend.
Coming off the back of a record setting field in Germany (the bump spot of 7.297 being the quickest in class history) the 19 entries in FIM-E Super Street Bike could be threatening this mark over the weekend.
The multinational flavour of the field adds much variety to the pits, but the point chase looks like it will be dominated the UK with reigning champion Alan Morrison Jnr currently on top of the heap from NitrOlympX winner Jake Mechaell less than an elimination’s round behind.
Malta’s Luke Farrugia is in third with some ground to make up to complete the title contending trio.
FIM-E Pro Stock Bike sees the surprise return to action of points leader Bertrand Maurice, having recovered from his injuries received in a dog attack a couple of weeks ago that forced him to miss the NitrOlympX last weekend.
With permission from his doctors, Maurice will see how things go when he drops the clutch for the first time this weekend.
Current champion Jorg Lymant, Karl-Heinz Weikum (winner in Hockenheim) and Alex Hope come into the meeting very much in contention for the title.
After a spectacular meeting for the FIM-E Junior Dragbike Cup teams in Germany last weekend, the destiny of the points title is pretty much anyone’s guess for the thirteen entries. With a four round all run ladder, the opportunity for major moves on Sunday is almost a given, but Alia Lester (points leader) and Leah Morrison (NitrOlympX winner) will be looking to defend their positions.
Entry list available here: https://www.santapodracersclub.com/entry_lists/2025/8_european_finals/europeanfinals_entry_list
Live Timing available here: ETSlips.co.uk
Live Stream available via the Santa Pod Raceway Facebook page and YouTube channel here:
https://www.facebook.com/santapodraceway
https://www.youtube.com/@SantaPodTV
Text and photos: Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
