Just thirty-one points split the top four teams as the championship moves to the UK over the weekend of May 30/31. The fourth team on that list just happens to be a home hero in the shape of Dan Foden with his brilliant German passenger Noah Weinmann alongside.
The pair were dominant in Germany, with double wins giving them the overall Grand Prix victory. That will be hard to replicate at Canada Heights, but we can all be assured they will be trying to do just that.
The points table is shaping up to be a close-fought affair with a different look at the top behind red plate holders Killian and Evan Prunier.
The French brothers have remained steadfast in the face of a determined challenge from multiple champions Marvin Vanluchene and Ben Van Den Bogaart who trail them by eighteen points. One DNF for either team could make all the difference.
No-one knows that better than Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard, who have failed to finish twice in six races, dropping them to fifth in the standings, some fifty-eight points off the red plate holders.
Tim Prummer and Patrick Schneider have had a dream start to their first effort together, with the synergies improving all the time, along with Grand Prix race endurance. They are a slender four points behind Vanluchene and will be hell-bent on reclaiming the ground they lost in Kleinhau and making inroads on the leaders.
Dan Foden finds himself catapulted to fourth place after his masterclass in Kleinhau, now just thirty-one points adrift of the leaders. With twenty-five up for grabs for each race win and a further five in qualifying, literally anything is possible for any one of these top teams.
Looking further back, it’s very much a chasing game for defending champion Koen Hermans with Dion Rietman alongside, as indeed it is for the Lielbardis twins who started the season with injury and have struggled to make up ground quickly. They sit sixth and seventh respectively just four points apart. You can expect these highly capable teams to gather momentum as the long season unfolds, with eyes firmly on the title.
The leaders are far from out of reach, and we are at a fascinating point in the series, with Canada Heights just one-third into the new season.
The Prunier brothers will have the pressure of knowing what is building behind them, and must remain focussed and reliable, given there are two rounds ahead of them in deep sand - anything but their specialist subject.
Once again, the FIM Quadcross World Championship is on the menu, and that series has provided incredible racing so far. We are witnessing the clash of defending European Champion Harry Walker, and former European Champions Kevin Saar and Patrick Turrini as they cross swords repeatedly in some very entertaining action.
Check out that series on www.fimquadcross.com for the latest info.
We are locked and loaded for another super weekend with Saturday Qualifying and Sunday races as they happen with full commentary both days on FIM-MOTO.TV Live Stream. Better still, all details are here on the website, so put May 30/31 in your diary to make the journey to Swanley in Kent to join us in person.
Keep abreast of latest news as it becomes available on www.fimsidecarcross.com along with all our social media outlets.
From Barry Nutley
