Canada Heights ready for epic FIM Sidecarcross scrap
By Team TMX on 28th May 26
It’s tight at the top with just 31 points covering the top four teams as the FIM World Championship Sidecarcross series arrives in the UK this weekend, with Canada Heights hosting round four on May 30/31. With the championship already taking shape but far from settled, the Kent circuit could prove a pivotal stop in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested season.
Out front, French brothers Killian and Evan Prunier continue to hold the red plates, but their advantage is far from comfortable. Just 18 points behind are multiple champions Marvin Vanluchene and Ben Van Den Bogaart, applying steady pressure at the head of the standings. With margins this fine, a single DNF could dramatically reshape the order.
Tim Prummer and Patrick Schneider are another pairing very much in the mix. In their first season together, the duo have shown impressive progression, with improving synergy and race endurance translating into consistent results. They sit just four points behind Vanluchene and Van Den Bogaart and will be keen to claw back ground lost in Germany while closing further on the leaders.
Sitting fourth in the leading group is Britain’s Dan Foden, partnered by Germany’s Noah Weinmann. The pair arrive on a high after a dominant performance in Kleinhau, where double race wins secured them the overall Grand Prix victory in emphatic style.
Replicating that level of dominance at Canada Heights will be no easy task, but momentum is firmly on their side. Catapulted into fourth in the standings, Foden now sits just 31 points adrift of the championship lead, with a maximum of 55 points available across a Grand Prix weekend. In a championship this close, that margin is anything but insurmountable.
Foden’s not the only Brit who’ll be challenging for the win, though.
For Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard, the story has been one of frustration as much as potential. Two DNFs in six races have cost them dearly, leaving them fifth overall and 58 points off the lead. While that gap is significant, their pace suggests they remain capable of influencing the outcome at the front - if they can string together a clean weekend.
Further down the order, reigning champion Koen Hermans, now partnered by Dion Rietman, finds himself in catch-up mode, while the Lielbardis twins continue their recovery from an injury-hit start to the season. Separated by just four points in sixth and seventh, respectively, both teams are expected to build momentum as the series progresses.
In total, 11 British pairings have entered, and as well as Doden/ Weinmann and Wilkinson/Millard, the entry list includes tenacious fast starters Mike Hodges/ Ryan Henderson, Jake Brown/ Christopher Booth, big British Championship surprise package Anthony Milliar/ Jon Hunt, George Kinge/ Liam Hodges, Luke Banks/ Chris Pannell, Liam and Harley Mudie, Sam Osbaldiston/ Homas MacKay, Tony Grahame/ Jak Watson and Jack Rogers/ Ryan Beavis.
With the championship still in its early stages, the current standings are far from definitive. The Prunier brothers may lead, but the pressure from behind is mounting, and with upcoming rounds set to take place in deep sand conditions, consistency will be just as important as outright speed.
The return of the championship to British soil adds another layer of intrigue. Canada Heights, located just off the M25/A20 near Swanley, offers excellent facilities and viewing, making it a favourite among fans and a fitting stage for such a closely fought championship.
Event organiser Bradley Skeates and his team have pulled out all the stops to deliver a standout weekend, with a packed programme that includes World Championship Sidecarcross and Quads, as well as a Past Masters support race that promises plenty of nostalgia.
“It’s going to be amazing,” reckons Dan Foden. “We’ve got potentially four British teams that could be inside the top ten and realistically even fighting for the podium. The atmosphere is going to be crazy, with the track literally lined with people. People talk about home advantage - and it really is an advantage. I’m looking forward to that.”
Despite the boost from local support, any technical advantage is minimal. Canada Heights rarely hosts sidecar racing, and with layout changes a regular feature, the British teams will be learning the track in its current form just like their international rivals.
“It’s not an easy track,” Foden adds. “They change the layout every year, and although the sections are the same, they’re in different configurations. Sometimes it flows well and sometimes it doesn’t, but I’ve always got on quite well there and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Adjustments have been made to ensure the circuit is suitable for sidecars, with certain jumps expected to be modified for safety and improved racing. Even so, the fundamental challenge remains unchanged.
“It’s generally quite equal at Canada Heights,” says Foden. “Just like everywhere else, the fastest team on the day will win.”
With the championship finely balanced, a home favourite in form, and a circuit capable of producing dramatic racing, all the ingredients are in place for a memorable weekend in Kent. If the opening rounds are anything to go by, Canada Heights could yet deliver another twist in a title race that is only just getting started.
Canada Heights is easily found at BR8 8DX, and tickets and camping packages are available at the gate. Check out British Sidecar Motocross Grand Prix for more info…
