The 2026 FIM Quadcross World Championship recieved a warm welcome to the Kramolin circuit, in the Czech Republic for Round 2 at the weekend with the track in prime condition.
Report by Bradley Hix – Images courtesy of FIM QuadX
Warm-up
Fresh from victory in the qualifying race, Kevin Saar would top the opening session of the day over Harry Walker, who was showing promising pace prior to the first race of the weekend. A crash would put a premature end to the session for Patrick Turrini, who claimed third, but he was unscathed and ready for the race later today.
Race 1
The start would be vital here, and it was Kevin Saar who took the holeshot ahead of Sylvain Petit, who had 14th gate-pick – a truly incredible start for the Frenchman. Patrick Turrini, Manfred Zienecker, and Mike van Grinsven would play chase in the opening laps, but it would not be too long before Turrini made the move on Petit and clawed back the gap that had opened up between themselves, and Saar.
Kristof Karai, who was 21st to the gate, had also made a lightning start and was running very strongly inside the top-10 positions but, frustratingly, it would not last until the end of the race as he dropped out of the race after completing 10 laps.
Back at the front, Turrini was back with Saar and then went slightly better by taking the race lead, and stretching the gap to over two seconds as the countdown approached the five-minute remaining mark.
Petit put up a great defence against Manfred Zienecker and Mike van Grinsven, but the German rider would sneak through to claim third position, with van Grinsven following suit only a couple of laps later. Van Grinsven and Zienecker would battle hard for 3rd position and the Dutchman had made it through, only for Zienecker to become victim to a flat tyre on his Yamaha! He got it changed in the pit lane and would rejoin the race to eventually take the chequered flag in 13th position, claiming eight points.
Into the final laps and Saar had recovered and was now on the rear axle of Turrini. One swift move later, and he retook the lead from the Italian, which he would not relinquish. Walker looked to be posing a threat to van Grinsven, but it would not come to fruition as van Grinsven picked up his pace to hold onto the final podium position.
Results
Race 2
Saar was the man who got the best launch from the gate, but Turrini and Petit were there with him. Walker made a much better start and that is exactly what he needed to take the fight to the leading duo.
Walker would find his way through on the Frenchman, and then set about closing the gap to Turrini and Saar in front. Turrini, in the meantime, was hounding Saar for the race lead when, surprisingly, Saar slowed down! Turrini took full advantage and went by to claim the lead of the race, but something was clearly wrong with the #311 Yamaha. One lap later, and Walker was hot on the heels of Saar, who dived into the pit area to rectify the issue with the machine. After about a minute, Saar was back out on the circuit, but had dropped to 14th position.
Mike van Grinsven had caught up with Petit, but Petit was a master of defence to keep van Grinsven at bay. His efforts, whilst strong, proved to not be enough as van Grinsven came by to take third position – a position, it turned out, he would not relinquish.
Back at the front, Turrini was managing the gap brilliantly, and would up the pace everytime it looked as though Walker was closing. Into the final laps, and the mountain to climb was every-increasing for Walker, in his attempt to take the fight to Turrini.
Whilst this was happening, Saar was storming through the field, and was into 10th position as the 2-lap board was shown. There was only one more position that he would be able to have chance of claiming, and that would be the ninth position of Karlis Neija. Saar picked off Neija and would come home in ninth place to take 12 world championship points.
The cheqeuered flag beckoned Patrick Turrini as he repeated his success of 12 months ago, to claim victory in Kramolin, and the overall win, too, with a 2-1 finish. After a rocky start to the season, Harry Walker came across the line only +3.357 seconds behind the Italian, to take his first podium of the season and put himself into third position in the standings.
Result
Overall
Standings
The riders cannot rest for too long after Kramolin because next weekend the paddock heads to Kleinhau, Germany, for round 3 of the championship, with all four riders at the top of the standings having reasons to look forward to the event. Turrini has the red-plate, Saar wants it back, Walker is back on form and Zienecker will be in front of his home fans.
