A friendly rivalry between Salakari and Petri Paljakka is brewing, with the pair swapping the title of ‘Quickest Finn on a fuel bike’ over the past couple of meetings. Veteran Salakari had briefly deposed Paljakka from the top spot with his 6.594, but the rookie struck back with a 6.568/204mph in his first round win over Sverre Dahl “I was flying and then hit a bump after the finish line and was really flying” came the comment from the adrenalin flushed rider. Unfortunately, a snapped blower belt just off the startline handed a semi final victory to van den Berg.

UEM Super Twin Bike

For much of this season the Super Twin points have had the look of a two horse race between Job Heezen and Hans Olav Olstad, but Lorenz Stäuble vaulted himself right into the reckoning with his second event win of the season, defeating Heezen in the semis with a 6.813 and Olstad in the final with a 7.001 after qualifying second with a 6.604/215. With one event left this season a mere 6 points separate the now leader Stäuble from third place Olstad; it’s going to be a tense finale at Santa Pod.