The world’s best riders at Saint Macaire

The four best riders from six countries for will be taking part in the 2012 FIM Team Long Track World Championship in South West France next week-end. Saint Macaire is hosting the FIM Team Long Track World Championship for the first time in its history - another challenge for this club which has had its share of bad luck.

Saint Macaire is a very difficult and technical track surrounded by a beautiful wooded park close to the river Garonne. Starts will be crucial for all the riders as overtaking on this track is very tough.

The 2012 FIM Team Long Track World Championship riders list has already been unveiled by the participating nations:

Great Britain:
N*1 Paul Cooper
N*2 Glen Philipps
N*3 Richard Hall
N* 19 David Howe (reserve)

The Netherlands:
N*4 Theo Pijper
N*5 Jannick de Jong
N*6 Mark Stiekema
N*20 Jeffrey Woortman (reserve)

Czech Republic:
N*7 Josef Franc
N*8 Ales Dryml
N*9 Richard Wolff
N*21 Michael Hadek (reserve)

Germany:
N*10 Matthias Kröger
N*11 Stéphan Katt
N*12 Jörg Tebbe
N* 22 Bernd Diener (reserve)

France:
N*13 Stéphane Tresarrieu
N*14 Mathieu Tresarrieu
N*15 David Bellego
N*23 Gabriel Dubernard (reserve)

Finland:
N*16 Aki Pekka Mustonen
N*17 René Lehtinen
N*18 Aami Heikkilä
N* 24 Simo Pulli  (reserve)

Six nations, six teams, 24 riders and six reserves for one World title.

Great Britain had to contend with the withdrawal of Andrew Appleton this Sunday following the FIM Long Track World Championship Final 2.  The British rider had a nasty crash during a European Grass-Track Championship semi-final in Artigues de Lussac on 26 May. Getting into Finals 1 and 2 of the FIM Long Track World Championship was very physically taxing for him as his knee and ankle are getting more and more painful. He therefore prefers to give another rider a chance and try to get fit for FIM Long Track World Championship Finale 3 in Groningen. David Howe will be taking his place in the Team Championship in Saint Macaire.

The pundits’ forecasts are open to challenge as the standard in this 2012 FIM Team Long Track World Championship will be very high. All the participating nations have great teams and serious chances of clinching the title.

Each team will field three riders in each heat.

The 64 billion dollar question is who can dethrone the German team who have held the title since the FIM Team Long Track World Championship was launched in 2006?

Texte : Lydia Robin