2024 Speedevents Internationals – Coverage from Tierp Arena
FIM-E Dragbike Championship – Round Two
SpeedEvents Internationals
Tierp Arena, Sweden
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Gustafsson, Christiansen, Lencses and Lymant lead after Day One
words and photos Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
The opening day of pro qualifying at the Speedevents Internationals at Tierp Arena was a bit of a tentative affair, cool conditions and the occasional (unscheduled) rain shower drew the day out a bit, but two sessions were completed with some familiar faces on top of the sheets but with contrasting fortunes.
FIM-E Top Fuel Bike
FIM-E Top Fuel Bike has Rikard Gustafsson low with a 6.0244 from the first session, although a screen of oil smoke from about 800 foot onwards suggested something wasn’t quite right, a scuffed piston and bore meant a no show for the second session as the RG Engineering team worked on replacing the engine.
Sverre Dahl is currently second with a 6.4513 followed by Rene van den Berg (6.4875) and Eric Richard (6.7957). Eight riders put in qualifiers, but the field is already down to seven as Jan Sturla Hegre and the Uggerud Bros team are packed up and heading home to Norway after an ailing first session pass.
Rikard Gustafsson is the fastest in the Top Fuel Bike at 6.02!
FIM-E Super Twin
Inevitably, the FIM-E Super Twin sheet is currently headed by Marcus Christiansen with a smooth 6.2346. What is an eye opener is the fact that this is over a second ahead of John Rolfstad in second spot with a 7.3431. We anticipate that the twelve bike field (thirteen including a licence chaser) will bunch up a bit over the course of tomorrow.
Reigning European champion, Marcus Christiansen was the fastest of all in the first qualifying round with his 6.42.
Greger Johansson struggles to stay on his line while racing against Svein Olav Rolfstad.
FIM-E Super Street Bike
The no-bar FIM-E Super Street Bike field (fourteen with timing tickets from today) is gaped by Dániel Donát Lencsés at 6.7314, followed by Mathias Bohlin (6.9294) and an ecstatic Margot Schmidt, who picked up her first six-second ticket with a 6.9724 for third spot.
FIM-E Pro Stock Bike
A bit of attrition in FIM-E Pro Stock Bike could thin the field out from an initially healthy seven bikes for tomorrow, but Joerg Lymant (winner of the opening round at Santa Pod back in May) continues his run of form with his Buell to sit on provisional pole with a 7.1888 ahead of Bertrand Maurice at 7.2782.
Tomorrow (Saturday) will see further qualifying, three round being scheduled, and the pay per view livestream will commence here https://www.svenskbilsporttv.se/livestream/s-em-dragracing-fran-tierp-dag-1-3ifuu
PRE EVENT REPORTS
Team Brothers Regroup Ahead of Tierp
words and photos Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
To the outside it appeared that the four bike Team Brothers ensemble would be downhearted after a DNQ and a trio of first round exits at the Main Event. Far from it as the team reflects and projects.
“Looking back on The Main Event we’re pretty satisfied with the results for a big part of the team: Margot Schmidt in Super Street Bike ran a PB 7.03/208 mph and her bike was very consistent this weekend, Eric Richard in Top Fuel ran a PB 6.43/215 mph, and Krisztian Jasz in Super Street Bike ran a 6.98/ 210 mph.
After eliminations we ended with Margot at the 7th place, Krisztian at the 6th place in the SSB points, and Eric in 5th in the TFB points. Daniel [Donat Lencses, team leader] was much less fortunate, due to technical issue he wasn’t able to qualify for Super Street Bike eliminations.
After a bit of an odd Main Event, we’re now preparing the bikes for Tierp. Krisztian won’t be able to attend, unfortunately, due to family commitments (happy ones); Margot will be for sure chasing more PBs, and that so much wanted 6-second run. Daniel will make things up for sure after the debacle at the Main Event, and Eric will also chasing for much more PBs, there’s so much more in that bike!”
The team trio that will head to Tierp will have the equipment to challenge for honors, provided they leave some cherries at home.
Van Nimmen Ready to Round Two
words and photos Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes and Chris Van Nimmen
After a challenging opening event at the Main Event, Chris van Nimmen reflects on his runner-up spot, and the hard work the American Lifestyle team put in at Santa Pod. And the preparation work required to contest the next round in FIM-E Super Twin action in Sweden.
“We tested new spark plugs but they burned away after 990ft so we changed some things in the set up, but still burnt spark plugs. We took the heads off to check for any damage, checked the valves, and also changed the rear tire to a Mickey Thompson.
Thanks to Marko Lantto for the parts and the tire. On Sunday, rain, so no qualifiers. The first elimination on Monday worked out much better off the start line with the Mickey Thompson tire, but we still had a problem after 990ft when the engine cut out on high rpm. We found the problem in the gearbox where the clutch had slipped when changing to second gear. So more work!
We changed the gearbox with our spare but couldn’t be ready on time for the finals. However, we had a great weekend at Santa Pod. We’ve now repaired the gearbox with new clutch plates (thanks to Bentec’s Per Bengtsson for the fast service), and we’re ready for Tierp.”
The Super Twin field at the SpeedEvents Internationals will be a big one, so qualifying will require van Nimmen to be on PB form just to make race day, but the Belgian team will be working hard with a smile no matter what.
Team Rolfstad’s Plan for the Season
words and photos Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes and Rolfstad Pro Drag Racing
Norway’s Rolfstad Pro Drag Racing will head into FIM-E Super Twin competition at the Speedevents Internationals at Tierp buoyed by off season progress and promising early testing at their local Gardermoen track over the past couple of weeks. Second generation team rider and a sign of the future in European nitro bike ranks, John Rolfstad gave us the overview.
“Over this past winter we’ve upgraded my bike quite massively, with a new engine and rebuilt frame. All the bikes have been completely overhauled so we think we have removed the issues we had last season. This year we are competing with three Second generation supercharged bikes [for John, his father Svein Olaf, and Erling Opheim], and one naturally aspirated entry [ridden by Frank Aaslund].
All four bikes will be ready for the first race at Gardermoen this weekend [at the time of writing John had picked up his first six second ticket]. This will be a great opportunity to test the bikes before we go to our first FIM race of the season, which we hope will be the first of many. We were also at Gardermoen last weekend for some 1/8 mile testing and we are excited about the results
Our goals are to get the bikes going straight and hopefully go full 1/4 mile with a nice and easy setup. If we stay somewhat on budget and the bikes are still running, we are aiming for Hockenheim [for the Nitrolympx at the end of August] and Santa Pod [for the Euro Finals at the start of September] as well as the two rounds in Sweden in June and August.”
The mixture of youth (John is 19 and Erling 27) and experience (team patriarch Svein Olaf is a former European champion and record holder) in the Toten team are on target to shake up the European nitro bike ranks this season.
The Speedevents Internationals takes place at Tierp Arena, Sweden over the weekend of the 13th-16th June, get more information at www.speedevents.se
Speedevents Internationals at Tierp Arena, 13-16 June, the epicenter of the world’s fastest motorsport, where adrenaline flows freely and the pulse accelerates to the ceiling. Now, the arena is ready to welcome competitors and spectators to a weekend fully charged with speed, sound, and an atmosphere that will make your heart beat to the beat of the engine.
With Speed Events as the brains behind the event, it is guaranteed that the races will reach new heights of excitement and drama. You can expect to see the most advanced drag racing cars, from monster machines fueled by nitromethane to Pro Modified vehicles, fine-tuned to perfection, battle to cross the finish line first and take victory.
With 228 teams entering the event over these classes: Top Fuel Dragster, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny Car, Pro Stock Car, Pro Modified Car, Top Fuel Bike, Super Twin Bike, Pro Stock Bike, Super Street Bike, Pro Comp Bike, Top Doorslammer, Competition Eliminator, Stock/Super Stock, Pro Street, Super Comp, Super Street, Super Gas, Super Pro ET, Pro ET, Super Comp Bike, Super Gas Bike, Street, Junior Dragster and Junior Dragbike.
In addition to the thrilling competition on the track, you will be able to eat good food in Tierp Arena’s restaurants, listen to live music and entertainment that makes the roof lift in the barn, or have a cooling drink in Tierp Arena’s Beer Garden.
For the children, a huge Fun Zone awaits with everything from jumping castles to trampolines and other exciting activities. Market Street is open throughout the event. Plan a full-speed family outing!
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