The 2026 European Sidecar Grasstrack Championship reached its thrilling conclusion in Berghaupten, Germany, where Europe’s leading sidecar crews battled for the continental title in a spectacular Final that brought the season to a close.
Words and Images by FIM Europe
Following the Challenge held at Werlte in July, the championship moved to southern Germany for its decisive event. The field brought together the qualified crews and some of the strongest European sidecar combinations, setting the stage for a highly competitive meeting in which every race counted towards the battle for the European crown.
The weekend began under difficult weather conditions. Rain affected the opening part of the programme and forced the organisers to shorten practice for safety reasons. Conditions then changed completely, with the clouds giving way to warm summer sunshine and allowing the traditional riders’ parade to begin at 14:00.
By the time racing got underway, the track had dried and the crews were able to compete in good conditions. The spectators were treated to a fair and safe meeting filled with close battles and spectacular overtaking, while the fight for the leading positions remained open deep into both Final B and Final A. A rich programme of supporting activities further contributed to the atmosphere surrounding the European Championship decider.
Among the main contenders were Markus Brandhofer and Bridget Meijerink, who arrived in Berghaupten carrying considerable momentum after dominating the Werlte Challenge. The German-Dutch pairing had won all four of their qualifying races at the opening event before also taking Final A, immediately establishing themselves among the favourites for the European crown.
In Berghaupten, however, they faced an extremely competitive field. Mitchel Godden and Paul Smith emerged as one of the strongest combinations of the meeting, collecting an impressive 18 points, while Brandhofer and Meijerink scored 16. Rémi Valladon and Jonathan Bertrand also reached 16 points, with Manuel Meier and Lena Siebert on 15 and Raphael San Millan and Benedikt Zapf on 14, underlining just how close the battle was before the decisive stages.
With the title still completely open, the Finals delivered the expected drama. Positions remained contested for much of the races, with the crews pushing hard on the dry Berghaupten track and providing the crowd with an exciting conclusion to the European season.
When it mattered most, Brandhofer and Meijerink produced the decisive performance. Building on the speed and consistency they had already demonstrated at Werlte, the pair emerged victorious from the Final to secure the 2026 European Sidecar Championship title and complete an outstanding European campaign.
Godden and Smith finished the championship in second place, earning the silver medal after an impressive meeting in which their 18-point tally demonstrated their competitiveness throughout the programme.
The battle for bronze went to Raphael San Millan and Benedikt Zapf, who secured third place and completed an excellent all-German federation podium presence. Their result also continued the strong form shown at the Werlte Challenge, where they had already finished third behind Brandhofer/Meijerink and Lespinasse/Faget.
Behind the medal winners, Meier and Siebert finished fourth, ahead of Valladon and Bertrand in fifth and Jérôme Lespinasse and Lauryna Faget in sixth. Guillaume Comblon and Dylan Fourcade, Achim Neuendorf and Johannes Schnaitter, Joshua Goodwin and Scott Goodwin, and Barrie Bennett and Rowan Lucas completed the top ten.
From the rain that complicated the beginning of the programme to the warm sunshine and intense racing that followed, the Berghaupten Final provided a fitting conclusion to the 2026 European Sidecar Championship.
For Markus Brandhofer and Bridget Meijerink, victory crowned a remarkable European campaign. After establishing themselves as the benchmark at the Werlte Challenge, they delivered once again when the continental title was at stake, leaving Berghaupten as the 2026 European Sidecar Champions.
Results
