Flat Track Champions

[britmet]

A new page, “Flat Track Champions” has been added to the Speedway Champions website,
Detailing all British Short Track and Flat Track championship winners and place-getters since inception in 2005, it completes the race disciplines covered under the 'Track Racing' department of FIM and ACU.

Also included are ;
- other European national champions, - e.g. Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Czech Republic, etc;
- USA AMA dirt track Grand Nationals, and Canadian CMA winners from 1946;
- FIM World Cup and European Championship results;
- 'Flat Track of Nations' (= unofficial WTC);
- Winter Open Invitationals, - in UK and the big Spanish 'Superprestigio',
and background definitions/classifications on formats and machinery.
.
www.speedwaychampions.com
www.speedway-sa.com
.
.

Edited June 4, 2018 by britmet

[tapesuptv]

A fantastic resource.  Thank you for these updates.

[Bavarian]

There will be no Superprestigio in 2018. After five years in Barcelona this event was set to go to Paris in France on December 15, 2018, but this has now been postponed until 2019

http://superprestigio.fr/  

[iris123]

9 hours ago, Bavarian said:

There will be no Superprestigio in 2018. After five years in Barcelona this event was set to go to Paris in France on December 15, 2018, but this has now been postponed until 2019

http://superprestigio.fr/  

Oh no!I thought this was a success.Tv coverage and a packed arena.What happened?Tbh the annual indoor speedway meeting in Neustadt/Dosse looked on the face of it to be a success,but the line-up seemed to get poirer every year,so there was probably problems behind the scenes.Maybe the same here

[f-s-p]

Apparently the new flat track world champion is from Finland, Lasse Kurvinen.

[Bavarian]

1 hour ago, f-s-p said:

Apparently the new flat track world champion is from Finland, Lasse Kurvinen.

... but no one knows about it ! Was it on tv ?

[iris123]

Sad to see that the starter of this thread seems to have disappeared as has his very informative website

Edited October 25, 2020 by iris123

[f-s-p]

I have no idea

Edited October 25, 2020 by f-s-p

[Bavarian]

The following text was published on the F.I.M. Website before the start of the Flat Track World Championship campaign on the first weekend of October at Pardubice:

 

The inaugural FIM Flat Track World Championship gets underway this Saturday (3rd October 2020) with the opening Final of the 2020 campaign from the Czech Republic.  The town of Pardubice was initially scheduled to stage the season finale, but in a much-changed calendar it retains its original date and hosts the curtain raiser at the Svítkov Speedway Stadium.

The first Final of Flat Track’s new era, following on from seven seasons as an FIM World Cup, is a part of the 72nd Czech Golden Helmet weekend that sees the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Final taking place on the same 391 metre oval less than 24 hours earlier.  Traditionally crowds of over 20,000 spectators pack the grandstands during Pardubice’s biggest annual race weekend, and although on this occasion government health measures limit spectator numbers to just 2,000, the 26 riders on show will be keen to show those fortunate enough to get hold of tickets just what international Flat Track is all about.

Among the field will be representatives of ten different nations, including the top eight from the 2019 World Cup.  As ever Francesco Cecchini will start as the favourite, having finished number one for the last six consecutive FIM Flat Track seasons.  The Zaeta-mounted Italian has been unbeaten in a single Final since 2016, although he was not yet a part of the FIM Flat Track scene when the series last visited Pardubice in 2013, so this will be a new venue for him to tackle.

Among Cecchini’s most prominent rivals the Spanish cohort looks most likely to halt his progress towards a first world title.  Adrián Garín finished second to the Italian last year, with fellow countryman Guillermo Cano taking fourth just two points behind.  And with Ferran Cardús returning to Europe from the AFT Singles to take part in his first FIM campaign there should be regular contenders from the Iberian nation.

From further afield, Japanese riders Hideyuki Okada and Masatoshi Ohmori join Spaniard Cano in the Honda Artbox team for 2020.  Meanwhile closer to home, the Czech Republic line up with four national representatives including Wild Card Václav Gehart.

FIM Flat Track began with a one-off event back in 2011 but enters a new era in 2020.  And despite the global pandemic, international followers of the discipline can look forward to an intensive schedule of three Rounds in four weeks to settle the sport’s first World Championship title.  Opening Round venue Pardubice makes its return to the calendar for the first time since 2013; Prague’s Marketa Stadium the Czech Republic’s only other past international Flat Track venue.  And the 2020 calendar will be completed by events in Diedenbergen, Germany in a fortnight’s time and the season finale at Boves in Cuneo, Italy a week later.

FIM Communications

http://www.fim-live.com/en/article/inaugural-fim-flat-track-world-championship-opens/

 

[Bavarian]

And this text after the second and final round of the FT World Championship at Boves in Italy

 

Ferran Cardús (Grau Racing Suzuki) claimed his first FIM Flat Track victory with a determined fifth-to-first ride in Boves, but two dramatic final laps saw Lasse Kurvinen (LK-Racing Polaria KTM) proclaimed World Champion.  The Finn, with two runner-up positions from the two 2020 Finals, unseats Francesco Cecchini (Cecchini Racing Zaeta) from the top of the FIM Flat Track pecking order for the first time since 2013.

Cecchini, Final winner three weeks ago in Pardubice, held the points lead heading to the Bisalta Motor Park for the FIM’s first Flat Track TT.  And the Italian was again among the men to beat, lining up from the front row and twice hitting the front in the Grand Final.

The initial running of a tense title-deciding race was brought back with Cecchini well clear, after Ferran Cardús collected Gianni Borgiottti at the start of the third lap in the battle for fourth.  Cardús was fortunate not to be penalised for his ambitious passing effort, but he showed his class by capitalising to maximum extent in the re-staging.

From fifth on the line-out, a more confident Cardús was already in the podium places by the end of lap two in the re-start, first Gianni Borgiotti and then Wild Card Elia Bartolini falling behind the Suzuki man.  But it took more determination to break past the Championship’s top two.  

Cardús repeatedly made an overtaking masterclass of the top bend, an aggressive move on the inside of Kurvinen for second foreshadowing his later pass on Cecchini.  It was just 500 metres from the finish that Cardús made his bid for victory, an aggressive move from four bike lengths back and down the inside to lead.  Cecchini slipped off the line and his front wheel dropped from under him, Cardús moving through to win on the afternoon and Kurvinen scoring the points he needed to secure the world crown.  Cecchini re-mounted for fifth on the day and the silver medal; scant consolation after seeing his run six consecutive seasons on top brought to an end.

Two tight chicanes made overtaking a challenge in Boves, but Cardús was the star of the show throughout the day, dropping just a single point to fellow countryman Guillermo Cano in Heat Two before going on a four ride unbeaten streak to the 2020 bronze.  His from-the-back efforts in Heat Nine were particularly well received by the Italian spectators, who would later see their man overhauled by a similarly determined effort.

Although Francesco Cecchini’s lightning get-away made him the Champion elect for the majority of the Final, he had tied on points during the Heats with direct rival Kurvinen.  Cecchini came home just fourth in Heat Six from the outside of the second row, and second in Heat Ten behind lively Wild Card Elia Bartolini.  Kurvinen, meanwhile, struggled to cut through traffic but made no mistake from his front row starts and ultimately scored the points he needed from the Final.  

Bartolini completed the front row for the Final after matching Cecchini and Kurvinen on 24 heat points, and it was the Wild Card who inherited the third step on the podium after Cecchini went down.  But the day belonged to Kurvinen, the top three separated by just four points in the Classification with the Finn most consistent through the short season to become the first FIM Flat Track World Champion.

RESULT, FINAL TWO BOVES: 1st Ferran Cardús, 2nd Lasse Kurvinen, 3rd Elia Bartolini, 4th Guillermo Cano, 5th Francesco Cecchini, 6th Gianni Borgiotti, 7th Mikko Koskinen, 8th Kevin Corradetti

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATION: 1st Lasse Kurvinen 44, 2nd Francesco Cecchini 41, 3rd Ferran Cardús 40, 4th Guillermo Cano 34, 5th Kevin Corradetti 31, 6th Daniele Moschini 29, 7th Mikko Koskinen 27, 8th Gianni Borgiotti 26 

Lasse Kurvinen (LK-Racing Polaria KTM): “It’s an unbelievable feeling, a dream come true.  I got on a motocross bike at the age of three and by the age of seven I was thinking about becoming World Champion, but it never happened.  I’ve since raced Supermoto, Ice Road Racing, Enduro, and now in my fifth different discipline I am finally World Champion.  The Supermoto certainly helped me with the TT, although it’s a new thing for me and I felt very nervous at the start of the day.  In my last heat I said to myself ‘you have to find your speed now before the Final’.  I wasn’t the fastest guy in the Final but that’s racing.  When Ferran came past me I started to think about the silver medal, but then I saw Cecchini’s front tyre slip away and I started to believe again.  I was able to concentrate and ride that last lap well, but when I came over the line I was a real mess.  I still can’t describe this feeling, particularly when it looked for a long time in that race as though I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

Francesco Cecchini (Cecchini Racing Zaeta): “It’s a tough defeat for me because I was looking to win the Championship and I was riding very well.  The collision I had with Ferran has ultimately been decisive.  I thought I had Kurvinen behind me; if I had known it was Cardús I would have let him go because I didn’t need to beat him for the title.  I realised too late and by then he had hit my arm and I lost control of the bike.  I didn’t agree with the referee but that’s racing.  Really that was my only mistake of the season, but because there are just two Rounds it has been costly.  I would like to congratulate Lasse who was the first to commiserate with me; I respect him a lot as a person and as a rider.”

Ferrán Cardús (Grau Racing Suzuki): “We’re really happy.  It’s my first season of FIM Flat Track and I was caught out in Pardubice where the track was very different to what we usually see in Spain.  The track and surface was more similar here in Italy and we were able to fight for the win.  I was a bit nervous at the start of the Final, the track was very damp; I had a collision at the first bend and the race was re-started.  I calmed down for the second start and I was able to gradually find my way to the front.  Once I got onto Francesco’s tail it was the penultimate lap and I thought it was now or never, knowing that on the last lap he would defend.  I felt confident so I made the move; my intention definitely wasn’t to touch him and I’m very sorry he went down but I don’t think I was to blame.  This season has forced me and the team to make a step forward; it was a shame we couldn’t fight for gold but I’m pleased with this podium.”

FIM Communications

http://www.fim-live.com/en/article/cardus-victorious-kurvinen-world-champion/

 

 

[Bavarian]

 

[Bavarian]

The complete Boves Flat Track TT meeting covered by FIM TV

 

[Bavarian]

Flat Track practise at John Singh Speedway, Jaipur, India

 

[Bavarian]

and at another track somewhere in India

 

[Bavarian]

and in Australia

 

[Bavarian]

Flat Track Canada at Welland, Ontario

  

 

[Bavarian]

The American Flat Track motorcycle racing season of 2021 has already begun with a double header of events on March 12 & 13 at the Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida. 

Full 2021 season schedule https://www.americanflattrack.com/events

 

[Bavarian]

20 hours ago, JohnHyam said:

Have you an update please Bavarian and, if possible, any other Flat Track news?

NBC Video of round two at Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Florida, of March 13, 2021

 

The 2022 season of American Flat Track motorcycle racing starts on March 10, again at Barberville, Florida.

Schedule of AMA Flat Track meetings can be found here https://www.americanflattrack.com/events  

[Bavarian]

 

[iris123]

See Celina Liebman has been given a wild card for the Flat Track world championship meeting in Diedenbergen. Also another female rider Yasmin Poppenreiter from Austria in the meeting