Lasse Kurvinen got his bid for back-to-back titles in the FIM Flat Track World Championship off to a perfect start with victory in the 2021 season opener in Diedenbergen. And the Finn, who claimed the 2020 crown with two second places, also secured his first Final victory with a fine performance in the series’ inaugural visit to Germany.
Six-times World Cup winner Francesco Cecchini, meanwhile, was ruled out of the Final after a pair of falls that both brought out red flags and forced two full race re-starts. In the initial running it was Kevin Corradetti who took the holeshot, Lasse Kurvinen also swift away and passing the Italian youngster on the inside coming off turn two of the opening Lap. Cecchini, second seed after two race wins in qualifying, missed the start in the Final but moved swiftly through to third, only to then fall at the start of Lap Four and force the stoppage of the race for the first time.
Now relegated to the penalty line, Cecchini put in a starting masterclass before committing to the outside in a three-abreast battle for fifth. But there was too little room for the Zaeta man and he collected the end of the airfence heavily, ending his day prematurely after suffering a broken shoulder blade.
That left Lasse Kurvinen to hit the front for the third and final time on his way to the 25 Championship points. Impressively, Markus Jell was sharpest away, the home man only fifth in the initial running but making a jet-propelled start from the outside for the early lead. Kurvinen, though, was not to be denied, and he built up his speed nicely on Turn Three before switching to the inside and catching Jell unawares at the start of lap two. Jell, though, held on for a superb second, a significant improvement from the tenth place he managed on his FIM Flat Track debut at the Boves TT in October.
Daniele Moschini had been the form man during qualifying, recording a maximum score with four wins, but his day ended in disappointment when he fell fighting for third. Moschini occupied the position away from the line but Kevin Corradetti made a successful outside sweep on the backstraight before closing down the inside into Turn Three. Moschini was forced to bail out to avoid contact, although he remounted and recovered well to eighth.
Runner-up in the 2018 FIM Flat Track Cup, Gerard Bailo who has rode in the UK with Greenfield Dirt Track on the Indian Motorcycles Flat Track Nationals made an impressive World Championship debut, qualifying fourth to the Final with a victory in his second ride, and progressing nicely through the field to eventually claim third from Corradetti on the final lap. Sébastien Jeanpierre rounded out the top five, his best result in FIM Flat Track competition, with his first race win recorded over Kurvinen and Cecchini in Heat Twelve before his strong Final ride.
Britain’s Tim Greig finished 4th, 5th, 5th and 6th in the heats saying of his day, “I was happy with a couple of the results but struggled in the other 2 after they watered the track (also hampered a little by my gearing options after limiting the sprockets I took due to the ATA Carnet ?♂️). I just missed out on the Finals by 1 point and 1 place but tbh given I’m in my mid-50s I’m pretty happy with how it went at this level. All in a all a good trip and collected a few memories and mementos for the man-cave. Spent some good time with the nice guys from Finland and enjoyed meeting Kevin Teager and his wife Nikki. Looking forward to Hungary ?? in 3 weeks and have a few different options (and sprockets! ?♂️) to try.”
Attentions now turn to the second Final of the 2021 campaign, the Hungarian Round in four weeks´ time.
FINAL ONE RESULT AND CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD: 1st Lasse Kurvinen 25, 2nd Markus Jell 22, 3rd Gerard Bailo 20, 4th Kevin Corradetti 18, 5th Sébastien Jeanpierre 16, 6th Adrián Garín 15, 7th Hanson Schruf 14, 8th Daniele Moschini 13, 9th Nikolas Klaus Mayr 12, 10th Daniele Tonelli 11, 11th Ervin Krajcovic 10, 12th Francesco Cecchini 9