Report: Sidecarcross GP 9 Strassbessenbach – Germany
By Tracy Thacker on 15th Jul 19
The Strassbessenbach track is a firm favourite with the sidecar family and always a great weekend. Bax/ Stupelis retained the red plate in Markelo and on current form would take some shifting in Germany.
Teams missing for GP 9 are #32 Moulds/ Kirwin passenger Steve has a damaged back and needs to rest, #36 Hodges/ Grahame as passenger Scott has broken his leg. Returning this week was #111 Daniel Willemsen with new passenger Johnny Badaire.
Qualifying races were full of action, with four British teams and one reserve qualified for the GP races.
In race one, Willemsen/ Badaire and Dierckens/ Bax battled for the lead in the first few bends but it was Dierckens/ Bax who held the advantage. From behind Bax/ Stupelis were on a charge and within the first few laps they had blasted into the lead. Dierckens/ Bax held second but the pair were under pressure from Vanluchene/ Van Den Bogaart who managed to fight past to take second place.
Behind the leading teams, Brown/ Chamberlain had a great battle with Willemsen/ Badaire with the British pair battling their way past to finish fourth. Unfortunately for Willemsen/ Badaire they would be left trackside after suffering mechanical problems that dumped them out of the race. Veldman/ Janssens took a great fifth just ahead of Heinzer/ Betschart.
Wilkinson/ Humphrey fought hard after a slow start to take 12th place with Kinge/ Gray a few places behind in 15th. J Brown/ Millard battled hard the whole race but problems dropped them back out of the points.
In race two, #10 Dierckens/ Bax bagged the holey for the second time in Germany after setting an amazing pace up the long start straight but it wasn't enough to gap Bax/ Stupelis who would battle with their rivals to blast into the lead securing the pair a brilliant double win.
Dierckens/ Bax held took the chequers in a comfortable second place with Brown/ Chamberlain tucked into third, safely ahead of Varik/ Daiders who had a steady race to finish fourth.
Vanluchene/ Van Den Bogaart were just behind but didnt make it easy for themselves dropping back at the halfway point with problems, but the pair would fight back to take a brilliant fifth. Despite the impressive finish to the flag, it wasn't enough for the overall podium with Brown/ Chamberlain on the same points the Brits took the bottom step on the podium.
J Brown/ Millard had a great race battling from a second row start to fight through the field and take a brilliant top-10 place. Wilkinson/ Humphrey hit another team on the start straight and didnt get a great starting position but soon fought back to take 11th.
Kinge/ Gray and #17 Keuben/ Roes had start line issues and didnt go forward when the gate dropped, leaving them to fight from the back.
There are now three British teams in the top 20 with Stuart Brown/ Chamberlain moving back up to a brilliant fifth, Jake Brown/ Millard are 13th and Kinge/ Gray 15th. Brett Wilkinson/ Ryan Humphrey are just outside the top 20.
In two weeks the championship moves to the fabulous man-made Stelpe track in Latvia, where the facilities are out of this world.
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