FIM-E Pro Stock Bike

Gert Jan Laseur

The presence of fifteen riders nudged the FIM-E Pro Stock Bike elimination day field into an all-run sixteen bike ladder. Despite the expanded field there were a trio of familiar names at the top of the heap after qualifying with Gert Jan Laseur picking up low with a 7.152, closely followed by reigning champion and points leader Fredrik Fredlund (7.173) and Robert Karlsson in at three with a 7.186. During eliminations these three would be joined at the semifinal stage by Karl Heinz Weikum who nearly caused an upset by pulling a huge holeshot on Laseur but the Zodiac/Eurol/Star backed Buell managed to ride around the German with a 7.141 to a losing 7.266.

The race between Fredlund and Karlsson was over before it started as the Swede’s bike was shut off before the burnout enabling Fredlund to progress to the final. Once again Laseur had to power around a holeshot (the Dutch rider greatly benefiting from a strict weight-loss regime this season, together with some new parts from Star Racing’s George Bryce just prior to the event) and a 7.148 to a 7.198 put him in the winner’s circle for the first time in FIM-Europe competition. The runner-up spot coupled with the opening round win at Santa Pod puts Fredlund in with a very strong shot of taking the championship title back to Åland for the fourth year in a row.

FIM-E Super Street Bike Cup

Rick Stubbins

In FIM-E Super Street Bike Cup competition the UK’s Garry Bowe was setting the performance marks, leading the nineteen qualifiers with a 7.210, then lowering the track record in the first round of eliminations to a 7.164 and subsequently picking up class top speed honours with a 202.76 terminal speed on a 7.219 at the quarter final stage. Although he appeared to be odds on favourite in the final it was points leader Rick Stubbins that prevailed after improving numbers all the way through eliminations and matching Bowe’s ET track record in the trophy round whilst his opponent slowed to a 7.409.