Sidecar Festival to provide classic backdrop for round seven

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The Motorsport Arena of Oschersleben, mid-way between Hanover and Berlin is the scene of the penultimate round in the FIM Championship 2022.

The popular and demanding 2.3-mile-long circuit will welcome Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement (Santander Salt Yamaha) as series leaders on September 30-October 2 after a six week break in World Championship activities.

They enjoy a forty-one-point margin over reigning and defending champions Markus Schlosser and Marcel Fries (Gustoil Yamaha) with Steve Kershaw/Ryan Charlwood (Quattro Yamaha) a further twenty-three points behind in third.

This event is very much a sidecar festival, with rounds of the IDM German Championship also on the race card, along with Camathias Cup Championship runners and demonstration parades for pre-85 and pre-91 sidecar racing machines.

The FIM races are the highlight of the weekend having attracted a significant entry list including a strong French contingent headed by Ted and Vincent Peugeot, currently placed seventh in the series.

But for a pedantic UK border control situation ahead of the Donington Park round, they would be in an even stronger position.

Harry Payne and Mark Wilkes will not be competing due to a change of personal circumstances, so fifth place in the standings is very much up for grabs. Lukas Wyssen and Thomas Hofer sit fourth, having had their best season yet.

Pekka Pavairinta and Ilse de Haas re-join the action, with the five-times champion Finn now suitable recovered from shoulder surgery.

Ellis/Clement must maximise their chances, because at the season finale in Estoril, there will be double points on the table. That is something all the teams will be starkly aware of. One slip, and it could all be for nothing.

Media Matters – Barry Nutley barry.nutley@btinternet.com