Powering into to Poland! FIM World Sidecarcross Championship Round 7 – Preview
Hot on the heels of a fabulous Estonian Sidecarcross GP in Lange, comes another northern European destination, and one which will be new to most of the teams.
Words by Barry Nutley – Images by WSC
Etienne Bax and Gert Gordejev are two drivers with Gdansk history, but at least four of our top passengers also have experience of the track in Poland. So much water has gone under the bridge since 2009 that it casts doubt as to whether the memories of Ben Van Den Bogaart, Ondrej Cermak, Joe Millard and Martin Betschart will remotely resemble the track as they find it next weekend.
It will be exciting and fascinating to see how this all plays out as the season hits the half-way stage.
Koen Hermans and Ben Van Den Bogaart fired a broadside into the opposition last weekend and closed the gap on Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset.
But for crossing swords with the noise regulations, Etienne Bax and Ondrej Cermak would probably have held second in the title chase, but Hermans is now firmly there. The sole aim at this point in the season for the defending champions will be to reclaim that lost ground at all cost. They recovered well in both Lange races from a lowly grid slot and could have done no more under those circumstances. They know what needs to be done now and will be giving it their best shot.
A first visit to the podium in Lange gave Justin Keuben and Dion Rietman all the impetus they need to go to Poland inspired. They are starting well and riding well, to the point where they have overhauled Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard, who had mechanical misfortune in Estonia. Let’s hope their bad luck is now behind them and they can redress the balance.
Just six points separate the Lielbardis twins, Gert van Werven/Robbe de Veene and Davy Sanders/Luc Rostingt.
There is so much to play for, and the tension is already growing as we all prepare for the seventh Grand Prix of fourteen.
We will be there on Thursday to bring you the flavour of Polska and its lovely people, details of the track and all the other bits which go towards building the event.
