Tag: World Championship

The FIM and Motor Presse Stuttgart extend their partnership for 2024

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FROM SVETLANA AT THE FIM

CLICK READ MORE FOR LATEST PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

After a favourable first season of promoting the FIM Sidecar World Championship, Motor Presse Stuttgart and the FIM will continue their partnership for 2024.


The integration of the FIM Sidecar World Championship into the schedule of the German IDM Championship as well as the live streaming service and promotion of the series, saw twenty-eight teams contest the 2023 campaign which proved to be a real success.  


The 2024 calendar will feature six races in five countries. The season-opening round at Le Mans will be organised by the FIM and the other five events by Motor Presse Stuttgart.

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TOM BIRCHALL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

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From the TT Press Office..

Tom Birchall, the most successful Sidecar passenger in TT history, has announced his immediate retirement from racing.

Alongside older brother Ben, the Birchalls have taken 14 TT race victories and been the dominant force on three wheels over the last decade, winning every single race that they finished since 2013 with only 3 DNF’s blotting a near-perfect run of results.

Over that period the pair have repeatedly re-written the record books, recording the first ever 117, 118, 119, and 120mph laps of the TT Course in the Sidecar class.

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Championship joy in Estoril for Ellis/Clement as Schlosser/Fries fight all the way

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Huge thanks to Mark Walters for all images!

Left to Right, Steve Kershaw and Ryan Charlwood (3rd in World Championship)
Todd and Emmanuelle (Winners of 2022 World AND British Championship)
Marcus Schlosser and Marcel Fries (2nd in World Championship, 2021 Champions)

The last weekend in October is often tricky for its weather in Portugal, and we were not disappointed. Track temperature on arrival hovered around twenty-two with an ambient of twenty. Humidity was also high with periodic rain forecast for the weekend. This cliff-hanger finale was poised to give victory to Santander Salt’s Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement with their fifty-one-point advantage. Their goal surely must have been to put the title out of reach of rivals and defending champions Markus Schlosser and Marcel Fries in the opening race. Double points in both races however were a major consideration for both contenders. This factor could also radically change the complexion of the table further down the order.

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World Championship

Estoril hosts gripping title decider 28 October – 1 November

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For the second year in a row, the final round of the 2022 FIM Sidecar World Championship travels to Estoril, Portugal for the closing two races of the season. The event also marks the swansong of Roger Body’s RKB-F1 organisation as promoter of the series. Roger is standing down after a lifetime involved in sidecar racing both as a competitor and as figurehead.
On behalf of the entire international sidecar racing community, we thank Roger for his efforts and commitment over many years, and more recently persevering through a difficult time as promoter of two championships.

Image by David Johnston (although the watermark makes that obvious)
Todd and the hiding Emmanuelle
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RKB-FIM-Superside

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.

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Santander Salt to bow out of FIM Sidecar World Championship

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Following last week’s news that RKB-F1 is to withdraw from sidecar championship activities at the end of the 2022 season, agreement has now been reached with the FIM to formally cease involvement as promoter of that series too.


Roger Body of RKB-F1 Motorsport and CEO of Santander Salt the series sponsor, had this to say – “After much deliberation and with regret I have decided that the time has come for me retire from the front line in organising the world and British Sidecar championships. I have enjoyed immensely the involvement with the series and the people and friendships formed along the way. I would have liked to achieve more but I think it is time for young blood and maybe some fresh thinking. I wish all those involved in the future of the sport the best of luck. My personal thanks go to the FIM and all those who played a part in helping me realise my ambitions.”



The FIM were fully supportive and appreciative of Roger’s decision, and completely understanding of the circumstances which contributed to it.
The FIM President Jorge Viegas said – “On behalf of the FIM, I would like to thank Roger Body and the entire Santander Salt team for having deployed their best efforts and contributed with strong passion to the growth of this spectacular championship in an extremely difficult context. The FIM will try to find a new promoter for the FIM Sidecar World Championship from 2023 onwards.”



As stated in our previous announcement, our best efforts will be applied to the finalisation of the 2022 season for both the British and the World series, with lots of racing still to do.
Both championships are wide open, with double points applicable in the final rounds at Brands Hatch and Estoril respectively.


I know I speak for all the sidecar teams, fans, spectators, TV audiences and Santander Salt support staff when I thank Roger Body for his vision, hard work and enthusiasm over many years in keeping the sport of sidecar racing alive at the highest level. No-one could possibly have done more.
Thank you, Roger.

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

RKB-FIM-Superside

Ellis and Kershaw take one each in Donington showcase event

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The huge crowd at the Donington Park World SBK round witnessed stunning action from the Superside teams on one of the hottest weekends of the year.

Twelve crews had firm entries for this crucial Donington event, but UK Border Control officials eliminated French father and son team Ted and Vincent Peugeot before they even left France. Young Ted was prohibited from travelling due to his passport not having enough “safety margin”, in that it expired a matter of weeks from his due travel date. Once again, post Brexit legislation dealt a blow to sport, and to a particularly talented but cash-strapped crew.

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Sidecars raring to go at Donington

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FIM Sidecar World Championship. Donington Park preview.

From Mark Walters – The FIM Preview for the Donington Park World Championship round

The 4.02km Donington Park circuit in the heart of England will host the sixth round of the FIM Sidecar World Championship, again as with Assen earlier in the year supporting the World Super Bike championship for solo motorcycles.

Championship leaders, with 210 points, Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement will want to forget about their last race in Croatia. They encountered problems with the front of their machine and scored a DNF.  A far cry from their race one victory, which was taken with them well in control.  But they will want to come back here to Donington Park to try and replicate their first GP win, which was here last year.  They have stood on the top spot of the podium regularly since then but the first win is always special.

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Ellis and Clement do the double in the Ardennes

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Photos from the great Mark Walters

No fewer than seventeen crews took to the grid for this, the third round of the 2022 FIM Sidecar World Championship.

Absent on Isle of Man TT duty were Tim Reeves/Kevin Rousseau and Harry Payne/Mark Wilkes. Ordinarily, it might easily have been a case of “when the cat’s away”, but the two crews at the top of the standings maintained the pace which got them there and starred once more in Belgium.

Free practice saw Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement (Santander Salt Yamaha) edge out Markus Schlosser/Marcel Fries (Gustoil Yamaha) and Benny Streuer/Kevin Kolsch (Bonovo Action Yamaha) to the tune of half a second.

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Legendary Spa circuit hosts World Championship round three, June 2-5th

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From Barry Nutley

The sight of grand prix sidecars streaming through Eau Rouge and away along the Keppel Straight is a sight to stir even the most passive of motorsport fans. That is what to expect the weekend of June 2-5th when the third round of the FIM Sidecar World Championship again joins the FIM Endurance World Championship, this time at the famous 4.352 miles Ardennes circuit of Spa Francorchamps in Belgium.

Four races are already done with fierce battles up front. Young British star Todd Ellis (Santander Salt Yamaha) and French lady passenger Emmanuelle Clement, hold a slender four-point lead over reigning champions Markus Schlosser and Marcel Fries. The Swiss Gustoil Yamaha team have been as strong as last season, earning universal respect for their skill and determination.

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Ellis/Clement leave Le Mans as championship leaders

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photos by Mark Walters

The long wait for race action did not disappoint in France. The weather was perfect for the two races, and all the top teams completed qualifying successfully with one exception. The first session times were very close, with just eight tenths of one second splitting the top five. Previous new lap record holders Ted and Vincent Peugeot had their eyes opened with the pace, as they ended up sixth fastest behind Tim Reeves/Kevin Rousseau. A brilliant effort by Harry Payne/Mark Wilkes found them top of the pile just over one tenth quicker than Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement. Reigning Champions Schlosser/Fries came next ahead of Steve Kershaw/Ryan Charlwood.

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