The winter has been a long, tedious one, and we are all “champing at the bit” to get back in action. That will happen shortly with a return to the Torres Novas area and the Alquiedao track in Portugal on the weekend of 20/21 April.
Firm entries well ahead of the event will give us a full grid on this thrilling track where Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset took double victory last year.
There have been many changes over the closed season, not least of all the retirement of reigning champion passenger Musset, and the exit of five-times champion Etienne Bax.
Fear not, because the door has been left firmly open for others, and Koen Hermans and Ben Van Den Bogaart, to name but one team, must surely feel their chance has come. Plagued by mechanical woes in previous years, and often the bridesmaid but never the bride, Hermans has a wealth of experience at this level and is a proven Grand Prix race winner on many occasions.
He and his multiple world champion passenger must surely be the team Marvin Vanluchene will consider his biggest threat going into this new season.
Glenn Janssens, now alongside the defending champion will be eager to lift a debut title whilst aiming to help Marvin to his third.
There will be huge optimism from the British fans, as Brett Wilkinson renews his partnership with Joe Millard to challenge for a top three spot in the standings. They enjoyed their best season together in 2023 and are now searching for their debut GP Race win. On current form, they have every chance.
Storming into the picture also, come the Latvian Lielbardis twins, already podium finishers in 2023, as were Wilkinson and Millard. The Baltic youngsters have sidecar Motocross in their blood and are hotly tipped to follow in the footsteps of five-times champions Kristers Sergis and Artis Rasmanis.
They certainly have time on their side, as do the French Prunier brothers. Already double French Champions, Killian and Evan Prunier perform very well on home soil as we saw last season, so now need to piece a consistent season together to move deeper into the top ten.
We will look more closely at the riders and runners closer to the first GP, but with four weeks to go, the picture is building well, with some big names still to confirm formal participation.
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From Barry Nutley
