Willemsen's Bau wow
By TMX Archives on 18th May 07
RAIN greeted riders and spectators on Saturday morning at the fast and spectacular track of Bauge, in France, but by the time Qualification began it was, thankfully, dry and sunny.
Group A, led by Willemsen from Sergis, was a very strong group in which the British did not fare too well. Brown took 12th place, Wilkinson 15th but Lyne, Keane and Pelling missed the cut. Surprise of the day was Rozehnal heading Group B from Soderqvist, with Watson third.
Sunday started fine and sunny, but it was not forecast to hold and rain was not far away as the crews lined up for the first race. Willemsen blasted into the first corner with Jan Hendrickx and Sergis in close attendance. Watson got away fourth, ahead of Happich and Rupeiks but a multi-outfit pile-up brought chaos to the rest of the field. Eventually everyone did get away, but there were some big names at the back.
Willemsen was away and Sergis was having to work to get on terms with Hendrickx. Next came Watson, protected from the rest of the field by Santermans, behind whom a queue formed. Brown was 15th and Wilkinson 25th, ahead of Pulinx. Unfortunately, the Belgian hit Burt's arm as he forced his way through, causing the Brits to retire shortly afterwards.
WORLD SIDECAR-CROSS CHAMPS
Rd 4 Bauge, FRANCE
1 D Willemsen/ Grutter (NL/CH - Zabel Mefo) 25 + 25 = 50
2 Sergis/ Stupelis (LV - KTM Mefo) 22 + 22 = 44
3 Ja Hendrickx/ Smeunincx (B - Zabel VMC) 20 + 20 = 40
4 Soderqvist/ Sylwan (S - Husaberg AYR) 12 + 18 = 30
5 Jo Hendrickx/ Piccart (B - KTM AYR) 10 + 16 = 26
6 Rozehnal/ Rozehnal (CZ - Zabel VMC) 7 + 14 = 21
SERIES STANDINGS after 4 (of 8) rounds: 1 D Willemsen 200 points, 2 Ja Hendrickx 152, 3 Sergis 141, 4 Burgler 105, 5 Pulinx 95, 6 Soderqvist 95.
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, May 18, 2007.