{"id":2413,"date":"2015-08-05T13:48:14","date_gmt":"2015-08-05T13:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/edrspro.com\/?p=2413"},"modified":"2015-08-05T13:48:14","modified_gmt":"2015-08-05T13:48:14","slug":"ellsa-karlsson-and-nils-ola-andersson-surprise-samu-kemppainen-and-jan-sturla-hegre-also-win-at-gardermoen-drag-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/2015\/08\/05\/ellsa-karlsson-and-nils-ola-andersson-surprise-samu-kemppainen-and-jan-sturla-hegre-also-win-at-gardermoen-drag-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Ellsa Karlsson and Nils-Ola Andersson surprise, Samu Kemppainen and Jan Sturla Hegre also win at Gardermoen Drag Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"karlsson_ellsa_gm_rl1\"<\/a>

Ellsa Karlsson<\/p><\/div>\n

Ellsa Karlsson was the surprising winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle at Gardermoen Raceway. In an all-female final the 17-year old rookie defeated her 19-year old sister Elvira to take her first victory of her still young PSM-career. Another major surprise in Super Street Bike, where the top three qualifiers failed and Nils-Ola Andersson took a well-deserved win in the third round of the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship. No upsets in Super Twin Motorcycle as Samu Kemppainen won his second consecutive race of the 2015 EDRS Pro Nordic MC season. Jan Sturla Hegre gave the Norwegian home crowd something to cheer about with a win in Top Fuel Motorcycle at the Gardermoen Drag Challenge.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"gardermoen_track_rl\"<\/a>

Gardermoen Raceway<\/p><\/div>\n

The Drag Challenge at Gardermoen Raceway was the third race of the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship and after Tierp Arena and Alastaro, the third track and third country of the series. In many ways it was an historic event, as it was the last Drag Challenge at the \u2018old\u2019 Gardermoen Raceway.<\/p>\n

\"karlsson_ellvira_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Elvira Karlsson<\/p><\/div>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Qualifying<\/p>\n

After their dominance at Alastaro, the Karlsson family was also strong in Gardermoen qualifying with a clean sweep for Elvira, Ellsa and Robert Karlsson. \u00a0After two qualifying runs on Friday, Elvira was already in the lead with 7.10 seconds and Robert in second position (7.19), but Ellsa had some problems and was the number eight qualifier. But with a fresh engine the only 17-year old Pro Stock Motorcycle rookie smashed her personal best by more than 0.6 to take the lead with 7.09 seconds. In the next round Elvira bounced back with 7.06 seconds, good enough to stay in the number one position after five qualifying attempts. Robert Karlsson improved to 7.14 seconds, but had to leave the number one and two qualifying positions to his teenage daughters.<\/p>\n

\"larsson_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Anders Larsson<\/p><\/div>\n

Best of the rest, but very close behind Robert Karlsson, was Anders Larsson with 7.16 seconds, while Kalle Lyr\u00e9n had solved his engine problem from Alastaro, made consistent runs, to follow in fifth position with 7.17 seconds, still only 0.1 seconds short of the number one position.<\/p>\n

\"vik_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Kenneth Vik<\/p><\/div>\n

Number six qualifier was Kenneth Vik, but the Norwegian rider crashed in Saturday qualifying. Almost at the finish line Vik was separated from his bike, but the safety equipment did what it had to do and Vik stayed uninjured. That couldn\u2019t be said about his bike and so Vik had to withdraw from eliminations.<\/p>\n

\"holmberg_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Kenneth Holmberg<\/p><\/div>\n

Kenneth Holmberg couldn\u2019t come close to his personal best and ended qualifying in seventh position. Thomas Olsen was happy with the ever improving handling and performance of his fresh colored bike and reset his personal best.<\/p>\n

\"olsen_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Thomas Olsen<\/p><\/div>\n

\"lyren_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Kalle Lyr\u00e9n<\/p><\/div>\n

Eliminations<\/p>\n

Quarter finals<\/p>\n

Due to safety reasons the race director decided to run the Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations over the 1\/8 mile. But that didn\u2019t change the names off the favourites. Elvira Karlsson defeated Olsen and Ellsa Karlsson had a close finish with Holmberg, but was also the winner.<\/p>\n

\"karlsson_robert_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Robert Karlsson<\/p><\/div>\n

Robert Karlsson and Lyr\u00e9n had a bye run, as Vik couldn’t and Larsson choose not to take part in eliminations. And so, like at Alastaro, all three Karlssons advanced to the semi-finals, together with reigning EDRS Pro Nordic MC champion Lyr\u00e9n.<\/p>\n

\"semi_final1_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Semi-final<\/p><\/div>\n

\"semi_final2_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Semi-final<\/p><\/div>\n

Semi-finals<\/p>\n

Like at Alastaro, Robert had to face Ellsa in the semi-final. But the 17-year old proved to learn fast and got her revenge by defeating her father and advance to the final. In the other semi-final it was a close race too, but Elvira had a slightly better reaction time and ET and beat Lyren. Thus Gardermoen had a historic all-female final between the two teenage sisters Ellsa and Elvira<\/p>\n

\"psm_final_gm_rl\"<\/a>

The final, Ellsa and Elvira Karlsson<\/p><\/div>\n

Final<\/p>\n

But where most people expected the more experienced Elvira to take the win, it was Ellsa who took the win, the first one in her still young Pro Stock Motorcycle career.<\/p>\n

\"karlsson_ellsa_gm_rl4\"<\/a>

Ellsa Karlsson<\/p><\/div>\n

Championship<\/p>\n

With only one race to go, Elvira Karlsson is the new leader, but with only one point behind, everything is still possible for number two Robert Karlsson. Ellsa Karlsson is third and with 22 points short of the lead, she is still in the title race. Lyr\u00e9n is 69 points behind, and so it’s almost impossible for the reigning champion to win a second consecutive title.<\/p>\n

\"bengtsson_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Per Bengtsson<\/p><\/div>\n

Super Twin Motorcycle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Qualifying<\/p>\n

Like in Pro Stock Motorcycle, Super Twin Motorcycle qualifying was close, fast and exciting too. Business as usual after Friday qualifying with Alastaro winner and championship leader Samu Kemppainen in the number one position with 6.59 seconds. But after some problems on Friday, Per Bengtsson bounced back with a stunning 6.41 seconds to take over the number one qualifying position on Saturday. Kemppainen improved to 6.57, but had to accept the second position.<\/p>\n

\"olstad_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Hans Olav Olstad<\/p><\/div>\n

Hans Olav Olstad is getting better race by race and with 6.579 seconds the reigning EDRS Pro Nordic MC champion was only 0.009 behind Kemppainen in third position. Ronny Aasen and the Zodiac team had their first race of the season in the EDRS Pro Nordic MC. The Dutch team left all problems from the first FIM race behind, made some consistent passes and with 6.82 Aasen was the number four qualifier.<\/p>\n

\"aasen_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Ronny Aasen<\/p><\/div>\n

Vidar Ravnsborg, Ismo M\u00e4enp\u00e4\u00e4, Anders H\u00f6rnstr\u00f6m and Trond H\u00f8iberget couldn\u2019t break the 7-second barrier, but completed the eight bike elimination ladder.<\/p>\n

\"ravnsborg_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Vidar Ravnsborg<\/p><\/div>\n

\"maempaa_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Ismo M\u00e4enp\u00e4\u00e4<\/p><\/div>\n

Eliminations<\/p>\n

Quarter finals<\/p>\n

In the first round of eliminations no problems for Kemppainen (against H\u00f6rnstr\u00f6m) and Aasen (against Ravnsborg), who improved to 6.77 seconds, and so both top four qualifiers advanced to the semi-finals. Olstad improved again to a new personal best of 6.54 seconds to defeat M\u00e4enp\u00e4\u00e4. It\u2019s loud and clear the EDRS champion is a force to be reckoned with again. And number one qualifier, Bengtsson? Well, a major upset; like in Friday qualifying \u2018The Beast\u2019 suffered some mechanical problems and was defeated by number eight qualifier H\u00f8iberget.<\/p>\n

\"hoiberget_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Trond H\u00f8iberget<\/p><\/div>\n

Semi-finals<\/p>\n

As Aasen couldn\u2019t come back for the semi-final, H\u00f8iberget had a bye run and went straight into the final. The second semi-final had everything that makes Super Twin Motorcycle exciting. In a great side-by-side race Kemppainen defeated Olstad with 6.72 for the Finn and 6.74 for the reigning champion.<\/p>\n

\"gardermoen_stm_fin\"<\/a>

The final<\/p><\/div>\n

Final<\/p>\n

In the final H\u00f8iberget did what he could do, improved to 7.62 seconds, his best run of the weekend, but still that was by far not enough to come close to Kemppainen\u2019s 6.62 seconds. And so the consistent Kemppainen won his second consecutive EDRS Pro Nordic MC race of the season.<\/p>\n

\"kemppainen_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Samu Kemppainen<\/p><\/div>\n

Championship<\/p>\n

With only one race to go, it\u2019s almost sure Kemppainen will be the new EDRS Pro Nordic Super Twin Motorcycle champion. Number two, Olstad, is 94 points behind. It will be a close fight for the runner-up position at Tierp, as Bengtsson is only one point short of Olstad.<\/p>\n

\"fristrom_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Bj\u00f6rn Fristr\u00f6m<\/p><\/div>\n

Super Street Bike<\/strong><\/p>\n

Qualifying<\/p>\n

No big surprises in Super Street Bike qualifying at Gardermoen. Like at Alastaro reigning EDRS champion Bj\u00f6rn Fristr\u00f6m was the number one qualifier with an impressive 7.39 seconds. Alastaro winner Dag Wagenius impressed again with a number two position, but the gap to the leader was already 0.24 seconds.<\/p>\n

\"blanck_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Anders Blanck<\/p><\/div>\n

Anders Blanck was close behind in third, while Nils-Ola Andersson was fourth with 7.75 seconds. In fifth position Svein Ove Braendhagen was the second Norwegian rider in the field, with Emil \u020cstlund in sixth position in the eleven bike field. With ten bikes in the 7 seconds and last qualifier Roberth H\u00e4ggblom with 8.09 seconds, eliminations promised to be interesting<\/p>\n

\"wagenius_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Dag Wagenius<\/p><\/div>\n

Eliminations<\/p>\n

First round<\/p>\n

Except one, all top six qualifiers won their first round to advance to the quarter finals. That exception was Alastaro winner Wagenius. The Norwegian favourite had problems with the turbo boost of his bike and was defeated by H\u00e4ggblom.<\/p>\n

\"ostlund_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Emil \u020cstlund<\/p><\/div>\n

Quarter finals<\/p>\n

In the quarter finals H\u00e4ggblom couldn\u2019t surprise again and was beaten by Braendhagen. For the Norwegian rider an important win, as he would have a bye run in the semi-final to go straight into the final. In the other quarter finals Andersson surprised Blanck and Fristr\u00f6m was too fast for \u020cstlund.<\/p>\n

\"andersson_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Nils-Ola Andersson<\/p><\/div>\n

Semi-finals<\/p>\n

In the semi-final Fristr\u00f6m had to face Andersson. The reigning champion couldn\u2019t keep his bike on the line and left even before the tree was activated. And so no final for Fristr\u00f6m, but Andersson and Braendhagen in the last round of the day.<\/p>\n

\"ssb_final_gm_rl\"<\/a>

The final, with Nils-Ola Andersson and Svein Ove Braendhagen<\/p><\/div>\n

Final<\/p>\n

With the numbers four and five from qualifying in the final, everybody expected a close race, but where Andersson saved his best run of the weekend for the right moment and stepped up to 7.59 seconds, Braendhagen couldn\u2019t improve and had to accept the runner-up position.<\/p>\n

Championship<\/p>\n

In the championship Fristr\u00f6m is the new leader, but only ten points behind is Andersson. Wagenius, number one after the Alastaro race, is third, 33 points behind leader and reigning champion Fristr\u00f6m.<\/p>\n

\"hegre_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Jan Sturla Hegre<\/p><\/div>\n

Top Fuel Motorcycle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Qualifying<\/p>\n

Top Fuel Motorcycle had three entries at Gardermoen. It was great to see Rikard Gustafsson make his series debut with his brand new state-of-the-art Fueler. But after one qualifying pass the race was over. An oil pressure problem that couldn\u2019t be solved at the track, made the risk of severe engine damage too high. Also technical and traction problems for Sverre Dahl. With 7.53 the Norwegian rider was far away from what we are used to see from this very fast combination. Jan Sturla Hegre had less problems with the bike and track and stormed to 6.54 seconds.<\/p>\n

\"gustafsson_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Rikard Gustafsson<\/p><\/div>\n

Eliminations<\/p>\n

As Dahl also had to withdraw from eliminations, Hegre was the only competitor left. After a careful 9.43 in the semi-final, the Norwegian crowd favourite stepped up to 6.52 seconds in the final, his best run of the weekend.<\/p>\n

\"dahl_gm_rl\"<\/a>

Sverre Dahl<\/p><\/div>\n

Championship<\/p>\n

The championship will be decided at Tierp, as Hegre is the leader with 174 points and Dahl is the number two with 152 points.<\/p>\n

Drag Challenge statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top Fuel Motorcycle<\/p>\n

Low ET: Jan Sturla Hegre, 6.526 seconds<\/p>\n

Top speed:<\/p>\n

Super Twin Motorcycle<\/p>\n

Low ET: Per Bengtsson, 6,412 seconds<\/p>\n

Top speed:<\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle<\/p>\n

Low ET: Elvira Karlsson, 7.069 seconds<\/p>\n

Top speed:<\/p>\n

Super Street Bike<\/p>\n

Low ET: Bj\u00f6rn Fristr\u00f6m, 7.395 seconds<\/p>\n

Top speed:<\/p>\n

Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

Link to final qualifying list:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top Fuel Motorcycle<\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Results-TOP-FUEL-BIKE-Q-RUNDE-5.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Super Twin Motorcycle<\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Results-SUPER-TWIN-TF-Q-RUNDE-51.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle<\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Results-PRO-STOCK-BIKE-Q-RUNDE-5.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Super Street Bike<\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Results-SUPER-STREET-BIKE-Q-RUNDE-5.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Link to Elimination ladders<\/p>\n

Top Fuel Motorcycle<\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Results-TOP-FUEL-BIKE-Gardermoen-2015.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Super Twin Motorcycle<\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Results-SUPER-TWIN-MC-Gardermoen-2015.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Pro Stock Motorcycle<\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Results-PRO-STOCK-MC-Gardermoen-2015.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Super Street Bike<\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Results-SUPER-STREET-BIKE-Gardermoen-2015.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Link to championship point standings after the Drag Challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/edrspro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/NM-POINTS-2015-RD3.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

For more pictures see: EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship facebook<\/p>\n

Text: Remco Scheelings<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos: Remco Scheelings<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ellsa Karlsson was the surprising winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle at Gardermoen Raceway. In an all-female final the 17-year old rookie defeated her 19-year old sister Elvira to take her first victory of her still young PSM-career. Another major surprise in Super Street Bike, where the top three qualifiers failed and Nils-Ola Andersson took a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2413"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2413\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/edrspro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}