Race day of Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Sidecarcross World Championships in Brou, France, was going to be a big one! Qualifying showed what the locals could expect from their French Champions, and they would do everything within their power to make that happen.
Race Report by Barry Nutley – Images by WSC
It has been a topsy-turvy season for several teams so far, not least of al Daniel and Bruno Lielbardis and the German/Belgian pairing of Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans. The young Latvians have had early bad luck, which seems to have shaken their confidence and rhythm, whilst Prummer’s young passenger collected a broken foot at Foxhill. Efforts to find a replacement passenger have not been successful, and Tim has slid further down the standings through being a non-starter at Brou.
On the other hand, we are witnessing a revitalised Koen Hermans and a determined Brett Wilkinson to name just two teams making their mark on the 2025 season.
Warm Up – The track was in perfect condition for the early session. Even though it had been subjected to twenty minutes of solo activity from the support class. The Lielbardis boys were quick from the off, their steering damper problem from qualifying now resolved. Thirty-one teams took part in warm-up, one of those being first reserve. Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset did their usual steady warm-up, then banged in a quick one on the final lap. French favourites Killian and Evan Prunier circulated around fifth fastest, but we saw what they could do yesterday in qualifying.
Having set sixth fastest time, Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard were left stranded at the bottom of the circuit with a broken gearbox. It was now a race against time to recover the bike and fit a replacement before race one.
The stage was set, the performers ready, and it was time for the talking to stop.
Race One – A huge crowd was on the hill overlooking the track in time for the opener. The gate dropped and the charge was on. Unbelievably, the red shirts of Stuart Brown and Scott Grahame hit the turn first, but up the inside went the Prunier brothers and into the lead. The noise of the crowd was deafening as the French champions headed the opening lap. Behind them came Marvin Vanluchene, Stuart Brown and the Lielbardis twins. The young Latvians had a better start this time but were under pressure the entire race. Having passed Brown/Grahame, they did not get away. There was no sign in the front bunch of Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard, but later it became clear why that was. They had been rammed sideways half-way up the start straight. Hermans also did not get the best of starts, but relentlessly carved his way to the front, following Stuart Brown wheel for wheel.
The veteran British rider used every tool in his armoury to keep the red plate behind, doing so very successfully. Hermans almost dropped behind Wilkinson in the closing stages but managed to hang on. Fourth was where he and Ben van den Bogaart finished.
There had been a tangle off the line between Jason van Daele and another outfit, also impacting Brett Wilkinson’s start efforts. The British crew were lucky not to be upended and then had to fight up from mid-pack before they had sight of the leaders. This involved battles with Davy Sanders, Justin Keuben, Mike Hodges and eventually the Lielbardis twins. This whole scrap went on lap after lap and was utterly enthralling. Stuart Brown seemed to get faster as the race wore on, earning the respect of the crowd and paddock. The race was Prunier’s though, and a magnificent victory it was.
Result
Race Two – The crowd were very much up for this one, sensing a French victory. They were treated to a false start, and a parade lap as a result, involving the entire field. A gate error meant it all had to happen again. This time the start was clean with Stuart Brown/Scott Grahame again hitting the front. Koen Hermans/Ben van den Bogaart wasted no time in bounding by and stealing the lead. Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard were right there in third, with the Prunier brothers fighting through the dust in fourth. Marvin Vanluchene/Nicolas Musset did not get the best of starts, so their race was spent fighting through. Once again, Stuart Brown was dogged in his riding, resisting all moves to get by him. Scott Grahame his passenger was celebrating his thirty-sixth birthday this very day, so they had much to enjoy.
Meanwhile, the Prunier brothers were battling, first with Benny Weiss/Patrick Schneider and then Brown, eventually making it through to the sharp end. Weiss made inroads on Brown, and with Wilkinson now in a fantastic second spot, the Prunier brothers. They had slowed when Killian landed heavily, knocking all the breath from his chest. It was obvious he was wounded, as Weiss went past, and Vanluchene closed him down.
With two laps left, the Prunier outfit picked up the pace again, reclaiming third and leaving Vanluchene behind. This was enough to give the French champions overall victory. Hermans was second on the box and retains the red plate solidly.
Wilkinson and Millard claimed third overall after one or two nervous moments not of their own making. The pair now sit fourth, just behind Vanluchene.
Result
Overall Result
Championship Standings
