The defending European champion of the FIM Europe Individual Grass Track Championship will be trying to make it three titles in a row this weekend.
Dutchman Jannick de Jong will be hoping he can fully harness a home advantage in front of his supporters and fans at the European finals, which will be held on Saturday 18th July at Staphorst, in the Netherlands. However he will be facing stiff competition, among the 18 riders, representing six different Nations, and three former Champions.
The German challenge is led by three times former European Champion, Stephan Katt and 1999 winner, Bernd Diener. The other German riders are Jorg Tebbe, Christian Hurlshort, the hard riding Enrico Janoschka and ‘new kid on the block’ Tom Lamek.
A strong contingent of three fast French riders will be also be trying to spoil the party, with Theo Di Palma, Gabriel Dubernard and Jerome Lespinasse making the long trip up from the South of France, where these riders are based.
Four riders from Britain – featuring 2010 European champion – Andrew Appleton plus Paul Cooper, Mitch Godden and the 17 year old James Shanes (who will be at his European Final debut) will arrive across the English Channel, with Josef Franc and Richard Wolff from the Czech Republic, plus Alessandro Milanese from Italy, facing an equally long trip across to Holland.
With this line up of sporting heroes the final of the European Individual Grass Track Championship is going to be an exciting and nail biting racing evening.
In the photos: reigning European Champion Jannick De Jong, in action at the FIM Europe Semi Final in June at Bielefeld in Germany. Photos courtesy of Jesper Veldhuizen (www.baansportfansite.nl)
