with only one race in June and one in July there hasn't been much to write about except for training sessions every week. The last 2 weeks I've been training with Arto Mantila because Mikael wasn't available for this race. This would be my first race with a different passenger and we prepared for this with several training sessions during the weeks before Vilaka.
As usual we started our trip to Latvia with the afternoon ferry to Tallinn. We took a small detour to have dinner in Smiltene at the Park Hotel Bruzis's restaurant, good food and nice surroundings. It's not only motocross that counts ;-). With a full belly we continued to Balvi where we met the team of Lauri Lehtinen and Mika Hietala. We stayed all at the same hotel and had a nice evening together with a beer on the terrace.
The next morning we drove the last part to the Vilaka track. This track is a classical in the Latvian motocross history and one of the best. Very wide and many steep climbs and descents combined with a very good track design makes it a pleasure to ride there.
23 sidecar teams had arrived including a third team from Finland, Topi Tala and Jussi Veräväinen. We had the 19th time during practice and it took me 5 laps to get there. I need always too much time to get used to a new track.
The start of the 1st heat wasn't my best and maybe good so because Lehtinen/Hietala who started next to us, crashed heavily at the end of the straight and we could avoid them and their tumbling sidecar. Heavily bruised the race was unfortunately over for them that weekend. We gambled at a jam in a tight corner just between a descent and a climb and took the longer softer outside line. This time everyone went trough smoothly and we did loose a few places instead of gaining a few. We started the first laps with passing 2 teams but then weren't able to pass the next team. The efforts of all this probing and hammering combined with the hot weather took it's toll and we did loose a position. Almost two actually but this team was also not too fresh any more and made a small error that saved our position. 18th at the finish and a 3rd for the veteran's standings.
During the exploration round for the second heat it started to rain and halfway we were already completely soaked. Water was running down from the hill and the lower parts of the track filled up with large pools. Our start wasn't good again and with a dogged approach we made our laps. Only 12 teams reached the finish line and a 10th spot was our reward for all the mud and trouble. In the veteran's standings it was even good for a second overall. Tala/Veräväinen didn't see the finish due to technical problems.
Back at the van I had my boots full with water and the riding gear and the sidecar were just lumps of red Latvian clay. It took me 2 hours to wash the bike later this week. With Lehtinen/Hietala we drove via Aluksne, were we had dinner, to Tartu in Estonia were we stayed for the night. Monday afternoon the ferry back to Helsinki again.
Best regards,
Stephan
Results Mylaps (BV = sidecars)
Trip Google Maps
