With this weekend’s round at Strassbessenbach in Germany there are only a few days left until the Sidecarcross Grand Prix of Northern Ireland at Redbrae Temple on 21st & 22nd July kicks off.
The Championship is led by Belgian French crew of Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset on 312 points with multi World Champion Etienne Bax and Ondrej Cermak on 287, not only a battle of youth and experience, but also between two stroke and four stroke machines, with the young Belgian on a 700cc Zabel two stroke, and Bax powered by a 670cc factory Husqvarna, each machine needing their own riding style.
Third is another Dutch driver in youngster Koen Hermans with the experienced Ben van den Bogart on board, his fellow countryman a spectacular yet reliable passenger while fourth is evergreen British crew, Brett Wilkinson with Joe Millard aboard looking for a successful double header with his own home GP the following weekend, while home interest has been boosted by Dromore based crew Jonny Wilson and Andrew Rowan entering their first GP after a successful debut with Team Ireland at Kramolin Czechia last year, he will joining Saintfield crew Andy & Adam McKibben and multi Irish & Ulster Champs Lisburn’s Neil Campbell & Ross Graham on the start gate.
Quad Championship is led by Estonian Karl Robin Rillo and Italian Patrick Turrini on 87 points apiece, Rasmus Sona, also from Estonia is third on 59, and Czech Jan Brhel is fourth on 56, local interest here has also been boosted with Mitchell Adams, and the Young Brothers Dean & Jack entering alongside Moira man Dean Dillon who should be favourite for a podium at least on current form, and with Kyle Murphy from Cork running third in the Ulster Championship, he could be a dark horse for a good result too.
The meeting kicks off at 0930 on Friday 21st with free practices and qualifying races, with the main Grand Prix held on Saturday 22nd with two races each for the Quads and Sidecars, online ticketing will be available until Wednesday 19th July, pay at the gate will be available, as are event t shirts etc.
Come along for a unique motorsport spectacle, the only World Championship event on the island of Ireland in 2023 and give the locals a bit of support.