FIM Europe News

Spanish Jaime Busto (Beta) and British Becky Cook (Beta) are the 2012 champion in the Youth and Women classes of the UEM Trials Championship. This third and final round was held at Zelhem (Holland) in a very well fitted artificial area under the sun and temperatures quite unusual at this latitude in September. Despite the dry terrain always favourable to Southern Europe riders, it was not Busto who made his third win in a row. He finished second, heavily beaten by German Franz Xaver Kadlec (Gas Gas), who scored in two laps only 7 points: less than half what all the other riders did in just one lap! Quite astonished for the German rider’s ability shown today, all his rivals competed only for the runner-up position. Busto after a first lap “so and so”, recovered very well and overtook Italian Gabriele Giarba (Beta), who finished even third in the championship,

The final of the UEM Under 21 Team Speedway Junior European Championship was held yesterday the 8th of September 2012 in the wonderful setting of Landshut in Bavaria (Germany) on a warm sunny evening. The race meeting which consisted of four teams from Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Denmark was very competitive and the young riders put up a great show of strength throughout the event. The 2500 spectators witnessed some very exciting racing with some of the heats being too close to call, with riders overtaking and re overtaking before the reaching the final flag. Once the scores were finalised and agreed, the new 2012 European Under 21 Team Speedway Champions were Poland, with 48 points, 2nd was Denmark with 41 points and Ukraine in third place. Everyone who attended the event agreed that it was a very good championship final with the young riders showing great determination and good

The second semi-final of the Pairs Speedway European Championship was held yesterday the 8th of September 2012 on the Hungarian track of Miskolc. The winners of the semi-final was the pair from Latvia: Anzejs Lebedevs and Kasts Puodzuks. The final is scheduled on the 22nd of September in Rivne (Ukraine). (UEM Press Release 138/2012)

The 2012 UEM Trials Championship is going to close down in the next weekend in the Dutch town of Zelhem, close to German borders, with two days rich of competitions. On a full artificial terrain, closed circuit, the organisers brought many rocks, even buying them abroad, from another famous venue in Germany. All the sections were fitted in a restricted area, easily reachable by the public. On Saturday on the scene, the very young riders and the women. For them it is the third round. Spanish Jaime Busto (Beta) is a hair's breadth away the title, having in his pocket two wins in the previous two rounds. More difficult to image the other podium positions. Equal chances go to Italian Gabriele Giarba (Beta), German Franz Xavier Kadlec, and British Iwan Roberts (Beta), all of them quite brilliant until now. Among the Women, if the world queen, Spanish Laia Sanz, won't

The 2nd round of the new competition in the UEM, called the “Hill Climb Road Racing”, was held on the beautiful Passo Zambla in the area of Gorno near Bergamo in Italy. In total 97 riders were present to race “up to the hill” for over 2290 meters of racing track and making an altitude of 181 meter. The track has 7 square corners to the right and 8 to the left. Also 3 over 180 degrees hairpins. The average speed is not over 80 km/h. The weather conditions were perfect so high in the mountains. All was very well organised run without any problems. (UEM Press Release 135/2012)

Italian Matteo Grattarola (Gas Gas) became European champion today at Isola 2000, Southern of France, very close to Italian border, in the coldest European round never held before! The two riders clinched the title in the Europe and Over 40 classes, respectively. The next and last round, expected in a week in Holland, will be decisive to assign the title in the Junior class. The weather in this wonderful mountain landscape, chosen for this fifth round played a bad joke to all the UEM Trials circus. It snowed the day before and the temperature was just few degrees above zero. Moreover it rained during part of the competition. Fortunately all the sections were fitted knowing in advance these very adverse weather conditions. Grattarola achieved his goal to be European champion, after having lost the title at the last round in the past two years. This season was fully dominated by

The All-Terrain Rally UEM Cup was held in 5 days from the 28th of August to the 2nd of September in Serres (Greece). The overall winners of this round were: Overall: Christian Pastori (ITA, Sherco) Class A: Vasillis Siafarikas (GRE, Honda) Class B: Christian Pastori (ITA, Sherco) Class C: Sandro Calesini (ITA, KTM) Class D: Takis Ionas (GRE, Kawa) (UEM Press Release 134/2012)

The penultimate round of the EMX250cc Motocross European Championship was held today in Lierop (The Netherlands). In the first heat, best start for the leader of the championship Mel Pocock (Yamaha) in front of Danish rider Stefan Kjer Olsen (Yamaha) and local rider Mike Kras (Suzuki). After 15 min. Kras passed Olsen and finished 2nd in front of Olsen and Belgian rider Brent Van Donink (KTM). In race 2, again best start for Pocock in front of Olsen and Kras. In the last round Kras had technical problems and must let pass Van Donink who finished 3rd. In the provisional rankings Mel Pocock is very close to the 2012 European Champion title with 280 points in front of Olsen with 238 points. Next and last round of the EMX250 European Championship will be in Faenza (Italy) on the 9th of September. (UEM Press Release 133/2012)

The second final of the Individual Speedway European Championship was held yesterday the first of September 2012 on the Latvian track of Dougavpils. The victory went to the Russian rider Grigory Laguta in front of Czech rider Ales Dryml and Latvian Andrejs Lebedevs. In the provisional rankings is leading the Czech rider Ales Dryml with 28 points. Next final round is scheduled on the 15th of September in Krsko (Slovenia) and the last one on the 30th of September in Mureck (Austria). (UEM Press Release 132/2012)

Next Sunday at Isola 2000, Southern of France, very close to the Italian border everything is ready for hosting the fifth round of the UEM Trial Championship. The organizers are expecting a lot of Italian fans as public to sustain their favourite riders, who like never before are really protagonists in this season. Being this round the penultimate one it might be possible the assignation of the titles according to some circumstances. For instance Matteo Grattarola (Gas Gas) reaching the podium is mathematically European champion. But not only, even in case of a worse place, depending on what will be able to do his two country mates rivals: Daniele Maurino and Matteo Poli , both Ossa mounting. Grattarola said : “ I do not do these sums, I am riding to win!”. And after 4 wins in 4 events who can contrast him? In the Junior class, Francesco Cabrini (Beta)