The traditional season closer for the three and four-wheel gladiators takes place in the deep sand of Heerde in the Netherlands over the final weekend of September. Immediately off the back of a fantastically exciting Sidecar Cross World Championship last weekend, and the EMX Quadcross finale just two weeks prior, the team event brings a different dimension, with teams of three exponents from many European countries, as well as Quad teams from the USA and Argentina.
Sidecar favourites must be defending champions team Netherlands, even without the injured Justin Keuben, whilst runners-up Team Great Britain, fielding Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard, Mike Hodges/Ryan Henderson and Dan Foden/Noah Weinmann, are determined to go one better this time around. In place of Keuben, Holland has Stephan Wijers/Han van Hal, both experienced sand racers. Joining them will be Tim Leferink and Jens Vincent and newly crowned world champions Koen Hermans and Ben van den Bogaart, so the team will indeed be formidable.
France too is strong, with national champions and runners-up in the world Killian and Evan Prunier leading from the front. Backing them up are fast-starters Gwendal Carcreff/Mathis Hupon and Guennady Auvray partnered by hot-shot passenger Rodolphe Lebreton. There are strong teams from seven other countries, including Germany and Switzerland.
The special conditions in Heerde have been mastered by some, but not all, and that also applies to the Quad brigade. Fifteen nations are represented in total from the four-wheeled discipline, with outright favourites being multiple winners team USA featuring veteran Chad Wienen, now in his last year of full-time professional competition, Bryce Fordmultiple AMA ATV champion, and the now six-times AMA National Champion Joel Hetrick.
From the host nation come former sidecar ace Julian Veldman, Mike van Grinsven and Mike Verboven. All three are sand specialists, determined to break the USA domination here on home ground.
Team UK is without double European champion Harry Walker, but nonetheless have strength in depth with Daffyd Davies, Murray Graham and Carl Bunce waving the flag. Expect Estonia to be in the mix too with multiple European Champion Kevin Saar backing up Karl Robin Rillo and Sona Rasmus.
Two full days of action will see all qualifying on Saturday, setting things up nicely for the team races on Sunday. Both days will enjoy LIVE STREAM coverage on FIM-MOTO.TV as well as podiums and presentation ceremonies from both disciplines. Join us on the live steam and keep up with all up-to-date news and views on www.fimsidecarcross.com. and www.emxquad.com.
From Barry Nutley
