FIM Europe News

Things are getting serious at the European Enduro Championship: on the 28th and 29th of July 2012 the penultimate round will be held in Ogre in the region of Ikskile (Latvia). The track is going more than 65 km through the forests and of course through the three special-tests, each with its own characteristic. In the cross-test we will have deep sand, in one of the enduro-tests with gravel and stones and the last enduro-test with grasstrack. More than 150 riders from 18 different countries will compete to this challenge, going three times over the whole course. Mainly the northern Europeans, which have the chance to take the lead in two more classes: The Estonian Martin Leok is only two points back to Gianluca Martini in the Junior-E2/E3-Class and the Swede Jonas Karlsson is close behind the Italian Maurizio Micheluz. And it is the question whether the current European-Champion Heike

The second half of the Superstock 600cc European Championship season began today at the Brno Circuit (Czech Republic). Also this year the track, celebrating its 25th birthday, offered perfect racing conditions. On Saturday, already in the first lap it was Dutchman Michael van der Mark who conquered the first position of the Superstock 600cc EC. But pole setter Riccardo Russo (Italy) and Gauthier Duwelz (Belgium) followed him closely. They were joined by Danish Alex Schacht on fourth position. The thrilling last two laps showed a couple of overtaking manoeuvres and finally Honda rider Michael van der Mark crossed the finish line at first. Duwelz had a gap of only one tenth and the former championship leader Russo finished on third position (both Yamaha). In winning the race van der Mark moved to the top of the championship, leading with only two points ahead of Russo. Each of these riders has

The second round of the Enduro European Championship was held this weekend in the sandy and muddy track of Paikuse (Estonia). The winners of the different classes in the two days are the following:   Day 1   Day 2 E1 Junior Martin Larsson (SWE, Husaberg) Martin Larsson (SWE, Husaberg) E2/3 Junior Martin Leok (EST, KTM) Martin Leok (EST, KTM) Junior U20 Oliver Nelson (SWE, KTM) Oliver Nelson (SWE, KTM) E1 Roni Nikander (FIN, KTM) Roni Nikander (FIN, KTM) E2 Mark Wassink (NED, KTM) Cedric Cremer (BEL, KTM) E3 Aigar Leok (EST, TM) Aigar Leok (EST, TM) Veteran Werner Muller (AUT, KTM) Werner Muller (AUT, KTM) Women Marita Nyqvist (FIN, Yamaha) Marita Nyqvist (FIN, Yamaha)   Normal 0 14 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4   Day 1 Day 2 Overall Mirco Gritti (ITA, KTM) Mirco Gritti (ITA, KTM) E1 Junior Davide Roggeri (ITA, Suzuki) Jacopo Cerutti (ITA, TM) E2/3 Junior Gianluca

The third round of the EMX 250 Motocross European Championship was held yesterday and today in the Russian track of Semigorje during the world MX series event, characterised by rainy weather. The Championship leader the British Mel Pocock (Yamaha) obtained a dramatic victory in the first heat, overtaking Danish Stefan Olsen (Yamaha) in the last corners of the race. The Danish rider started dominating the heat, but he crashed in the last lap with Pocock. The Brit was faster in starting the bike again and crossed the finish line first in a dramatic ending. Third was Dutch Mike Kras (Suzuki) who rode a consistent moto from beginning to end. In the second heat same podium with victory by Mel Pocock in front of Sefan Kjer Olsen and Mike Kras. In the provisional rankings dominance of Mel Pocock with 150 points, followed by Olsen with 124 points. Next round is scheduled

This season’s Honda NSF100 Cup will be held over two race weekend’s with the first taking place at Zuera in Spain next weekend on 28-29 July. The young riders taking part in this year’s double-header Honda NSF100 Cup are aged between 10 and 13 and come from all over Europe, with one coming from Argentina, to compete at the Spanish circuit, which is located just 30km north of Zaragoza. The series is named after the Honda NSF100, a small four-stroke racing machine manufactured by HRC (Honda Racing Corporation), which has been designed as the perfect tool to introduce younger riders to road racing. Each competing rider in the 2012 Honda NSF100 Cup will receive a special ‘surprise’ commemorative gift package from HRC in Japan. Next weekend’s racing at Zuera is intended to introduce riders from each country to an international level of motorcycle racing, with a view to finding the

The second round of the Enduro European Championship will be held on the 21st and 22nd July in Paikuse in Estonia, country that for the first time is hosting an international Enduro event. For those who haven't done their homework the ground in the Paikuse area consists of mostly moor and sand, making this the biggest challenge on the trail and specials. This is nothing new for Estonian Toivo Nikopensius, who is not only reigning National Champion, but was also European Champion in the veteran-class two years ago. Supporting him and his fellow-countrymen will be Aigar Leok, the former Motocross star, who is making a guest appearance in the EEC. Leok currently competing in the WEC holding 3rd place in the E3-class with his TM 300 2-Stroke. The big question is who has the ability to stop or challenge the dominating Italians who are leading the provisional rankings of 4

The last round of the EMX65/EMX85 in South-Eastern zone was held in Globare (Serbia). The last round of the EMX65 / EMX85 in South-Eastern zone was held in Globare (Serbia). The Bulgarian Hakan HALMI won both races of the last qualification round of the EMX 65 class. On the second and the third place were riders Nikola HRANIC from Croatia and Momchil IVANOV from Bulgaria, also in both races. The riders in EMX 85 class made another great show for the spectators. The winner of both races was Bulgarian Michael IVANOV with Croatian Martin KELAVA finishing two times on the second place. Third place went to Croatian Luka Crnkovic in the first race, while in the second race third place was won by Bulgarian Ivan PETROV. The winners of the qualifying rounds are two Bulgarians: Hakan Halmi in the EMX65 class and Michael Ivanov in the EMX85 class. Final event

The fifth round of the MAXXIS EMX Quad European Championship was run this weekend in La Capelle Marival (France). The weather was rainy on Sunday morning, but later in the morning and afternoon it got better and the sun came partly back. In race 1, hole shot and Pole Position went to British Paul Holmes (Yamaha), just in front of the German Stefan Schreiber (KTM) and than the leader of this years Championship, Jeremie Warnia (CAN-AM). Netherlands top rider, Mike Van Grinsven (W.TEC), was only seventh after the first lap. In lap 5 Warnia could pass Schreiber and started his attacks on Holmes. But Holmes made a clever and very fast race with his best lap time in 1:49,577, which is an average speed of 52.6 km/h, and won heat 1 in front of the French Jeremie Warnia, 7.4 sec behind Holmes. In lap 13 from 19 Van Grinsven overtook

The second round of the EMX 250 Motocross European Championship was held in Kegums (Latvia) during the world MX series event. The British rider Mel Pocock (Yamaha), after the successful start of St Jean d’Angely, won also both heats in Kegums. Same podium for both heats, with second position to Danish Stefan Kjer Olsen (Yamaha) and third position to Dutch Mike Kras (Suzuki). Next round is scheduled on the 22nd of July in Semigorje (Russia). (UEM Press Release 90/2012)

The Semi-Final of the Sidecar Grass Track European Championship was held yesterday in Loppersum (The Netherlands). Victory went to the German couple of Tommy Kunert (rider) and Markus Eibl (passenger). Second position went also to a German duo Markus Brandhofer (rider) and Corine Gunthor (passenger). The Final of the Sidecar Grass Track European Championship is scheduled on the 28th of July in Werlte (Germany). (UEM Press Release 89/2012)