2009 Sidecarcross World Championship

The 2009 FIM Sidecarcross world championship, the 30th edition of the competition, started on 29 March and finished after thirteen race weekends on 13 September 2009.

2009 Sidecarcross World Championship
Season
Grands Prix13
Duration29 March–13 September
Drivers
ChampionsBelgium Joris Hendrickx
Latvia Kaspars Liepiņš
Sidecarcross des NationsBelgium Belgium
← 2008
2010 →

After six championships in a row for Daniël Willemsen, the 2009 edition was won by Joris Hendrickx from Belgium. His passenger, Kaspars Liepiņš, is from Latvia.[1]

Parallel to the riders competition, a manufacturers championship was also held[2] and won by Vruwink MotorCycles - VMC.[3]

Overview

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The 2009 season was the 30th edition of the sidecarcross world championship. The defending champion was Daniël Willemsen from the Netherlands. He started the season with a new passenger, having parted with the Swiss Reto Grütter, whom he won the 2007 and 2008 title with. After 17 seasons in the sidecarcross world championship, former five-time world champion Kristers Sergis had announced his retirement from the competition, having finished his career with a second place in the 2008 edition.[4] Another former world champion to retire from the competition was Marcel Willemsen, but he did still take part in one more Grand Prix during the season. With Kaspars Stupelis and Sven Verbrugge, two riders who had won world championships as passengers with Daniël Willemsen also took part in the competition, the later reunited with Willemsen in a team.

The thirteen races of the season were held in eleven countries, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Ukraine, Netherlands, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, Poland and Germany. It was the first time since 2001, that the championship had returned to the traditional sidecarcross nation of Switzerland. Russia was on the calendar only for the second time, the previous race having been scheduled to be held in Moscow in 2004 but being cancelled because of heavy rain. Poland hosted a race for the first time. The competition however did not return to Great Britain who held its last event in 2001.[5]

Format

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The multiple champion Daniël Willemsen in action

Every Grand Prix weekend is split into two races, both held on the same day. Thus the 2011 season with its thirteen Grand Prix had 26 races. Each race lasts for 30 minutes plus two laps. The two races on a weekend get combined to determine an overall winner. In case of a tie, the results of the second race are used to determine the winner. While this overall winner receives no extra WC points, they usually are awarded a special trophy. Race start times are set at 13:30 and 16:00.[2]

Events typically consist of a qualifying competition, held in multiple stages on Saturdays of a race weekend while the two race events are typically held on Sundays. One exception to this rule is Easter weekends, when the races are held on Easter Monday. Race weekends can consist of additional motocross or quart support races as well, but the FIM stipulates that the World Championship races have priority. Riders have to be provided with at least one 30-minute free practice season, which will be timed. A race can consist of up to 30 starters and the qualifying modus is dependent on the number of entries. With up to 32 entries, it will be held in one group split into two sessions of 30 minutes each. Above 32 entries, the starter field will be sub-divided into two groups through ballot and the current standings. Each qualifying group can consist of up to 30 racers. Should there be more than 60 entries, a pre-qualifying has to be held. Of the riders in the two groups, the top twelve directly qualify for the races. The remaining teams then go to a second-chance qualifying, in which the best six advance. The riders placed seventh and eighth remain in reserve should one of the qualified teams not be able to participate.[2]

The FIM stipulates that all drivers must be of a minimum age of 18 while passengers have to be at least 16 years old to compete, but no older than 50. Riders older than 50 have to provide a certificate of medical fitness to be permitted to compete. The driver has the right to exchange his passenger under certain conditions.[2]

Starting numbers for the season are awarded according to the previous season's overall finishing position of the driver. Current or former World Champions have however the right to pick any number they wish, except the number one, which is reserved for the current World Champion.[2]

The competition is open for motor cycles with two-stroke engines from between 350 and 750 cc and four-stroke engines of up to 1,000 cc. Each team is permitted the use of two motorcycles with the possibility of changing machines between races.[2]

The FIM does not permit radio communication between riders and their teams. Outside assistance during the race on the course is not permitted unless it is through race marshals in the interest of safety. Limited repairs in the designated repair zone during the race are permitted.[2]

The first twenty teams of each race score competition points. The point system for the 2009 season was as follows:[2]

Place Points
1 25
2 22
3 20
4 18
5 16
6 15
7 14
8 13
9 12
10 11
Place Points
11 10
12 9
13 8
14 7
15 6
16 5
17 4
18 3
19 2
20 1

Prize money

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Prize money and travel reimbursements in the sport are not large, sidecarcross still qualifying mostly as an amateur sport. In the 2009 season for example, every team received Euro 500 as a travel indemnity per race weekend qualified for. Additionally, prize money was paid, with the winner earning €300, the second placed team €250, the third placed team €200. With the prize money gradually dropping off from there, the teams placed twelfth to twentieth still received €50 each.[2]

Calendar

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The calendar for the 2009 season:[6]

Date Place Race winners GP winner Source
29 March   Castelnau   Daniël Willemsen /   Dagwin Sabbe   Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Result
  Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx
3 May   Wohlen   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge Result
  Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge
17 May   Gdańsk   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge Result
  Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge
24 May   Chernivtsi   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge Result
  Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge
7 June   Varsseveld   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge Result
  Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge
12 July   Genk   Marko Happich /   Martin Betschart   Marko Happich /   Martin Betschart Result
  Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders
19 July   S'bessenbach   Jānis Daiders / Lauris Daiders   Joris Hendrickx /   Kaspars Liepiņš Result
  Joris Hendrickx /   Kaspars Liepins
26 July   Slagelse   Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx   Henrik Söderqvist / Tobias Sylwan Result
  Henrik Söderqvist / Tobias Sylwan
9 August   Kegums   Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx   Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Result
  Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx
16 August   Penza   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge Result
  Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge
23 August   Kiviõli   Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx   Jānis Daiders / Lauris Daiders Result
  Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders
6 September   Saint-Jean   Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx   Jānis Daiders / Lauris Daiders Result
  Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge
13 September   Rudersberg   Joris Hendrickx /   Kaspars Liepiņš   Joris Hendrickx /   Kaspars Liepiņš Result
  Stuart Brown / Luke Peters
27 September   Jauer   Belgium
  • The Sidecarcross des Nations in Jauer on 27 September 2009 is a non-championship event but part of the calendar and is denoted by a light blue background in the table above.

Classification

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Riders

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The final standings of the 2009 season:[3]

Position Driver / Passenger Equipment Bike
No
Points
1   Joris Hendrickx /   Kaspars Liepins KTM-VMC 4 483
2   Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx KTM-VMC 3 465
3   Jānis Daiders / Lauris Daiders KTM-VMC 8 418
4   Marko Happich /   Martin Betschart Zabel-MEFO 5 377
5   Daniël Willemsen /   Sven Verbrugge Zabel-VMC 1 366
6   Václav Rozehnal / Marek Rozehnal Zabel-VMC 7 365
7   Māris Rupeiks / Haralds Kurpnieks KTM-WSP 6 341
8   Etienne Bax / Marc van Deutekom Zabel-VMC 10 300
9   Stuart Brown / Luke Peters Husaberg-VMC 17 266
10   Tomáš Čermák / Ondřej Čermák JAWA-MEFO 37 261
11   Peter Steegmans /   Christian Verhagen Zabel-VMC 16 245
12   Nicky Pulinx /   Kaspars Stupelis Zabel-VMC 9 229
13   Kristof Santermans / Ben van den Bogaart Zabel-WSP 19 182
14   Thomas Morch /   Robbie Bax Zabel-WSP 18 142
15   Jan Visscher / Jeroen Visscher Zabel-VMC 30 122
16   Gerrit van Werven / Gertie Eggink KTM-VMC 96 113
17   Daniel Millard / Joe Millard Husaberg-WSP 35 109
18   Ben Adriaenssen /   Kenny van Gaalen KTM-VMC 90 108
19   Henrik Söderqvist / Tobias Sylwan Husaberg-MEFO 20 101
20   Martin Walter / Andre Saam Zabel-WSP 15 100
21   Robert Gustavsson / Henrik Apelgren KTM-MEFO 747 52
22   Joshua Luscher /   Markus Gloor Husaberg-VMC 31 51
23   Margo Sonn /   Elvijs Mucenieks KTM-AYR 23 48
24   Marcel Willemsen /   Bruno Kaelin Zabel-WSP 11 41
25   Kevin Bitsche / Johannes Vonbun Zabel-WSP 67 41
26   Benjamin Daniel / Guennady Auvray Husaberg-WSP 41 39
27   Thijs Derks / Roy Derks Husaberg-EML 13 26
28   Gert Gordejev / Keit Kivaste KTM-AYR 34 24
29   Lukáš Černý /   Edouard Chereau JAWA-MEFO 21 22
30   Evgeny Scherbinin / Sergey Sosnovskikh KTM-AYR 79 19
31   Miroslav Knotig /   Robbie Bax MEFO 98 19
32   Roman Koch / Aleksey Bessarabov Zabel 351 19
33   Baptiste Bigand / Julien Bigand Zabel-VMC 25 18
34   Arnolds Sīlis / Gints Sīlis MTH-VMC 171 18
35   John Lyne / Steve Kirwin KTM-VMC 24 17
36   Mark Kinge / Kev Foyle Husaberg-WSP 71 17
37   Eric Schrijver / Patrick van de Nieuwenhuizen MTR-VMC 14 16
38   Carlo van Duijnhoven / Tom van Duijnhoven Zabel-VMC 12 14
39   Joonas Saloniemi / Juho Saloniemi KTM-AYR 53 14
40   Michail Kursov / Pavel Anikin Zabel 311 12
41   Igor Rodionov / Dmitri Rodionov KTM-AYR 199 12
42   Andreas Rutter / Steffen Nicke Zabel 102 11
43   Boudewijn Gommeren / Jean Pierre Loos KTM-Bastech 130 11
44   Argo Poldsaar / Indrek Aljes KTM-AYR 44 11
45   Sergei Ivanov / Atho Jalas KTM-AYR 188 10
46   Liutauras Variakojis / Arvydas Davidonis KTM-AYR 49 9
47   Andreas Clohse / Birgen Beernaert Zabel-VMC 27 8
48   Marcel Grondman / Rick Sellis Zabel-VMC 55 7
49   Frank Mulders / Roy Derks MTR-WSP 111 7
50   Jean Marie Ains / Matthieu Cailleau JAWA-MEFO 65 7
51   Valeriy Starchenko / Evhen Potanin Zabel-VMC 901 5
52   Richard Jenkins / Daniel Chamberlain Zabel-VMC 87 5
53   Dmytro Hrechanuk / Oleksandr Litovchenko MTH-BSU 92 4
54   Dorian Boileau / Paul Fressard Husaberg-VMC 77 4
55   John Nielsen / Dennis Hansen JAWA-VMC 191 3
56   Nick Jarvis / Josh Chamberlain KTM-VMC 144 2
57   Tommy Sorensen / Andreas Linden Husaberg-AYR 92 2
58   Willi Liebl /   Vladislav Gabor Husaberg-MEFO 66 2
59   Zigmas Žiukas / Jonas Davidonis KTM-AYR 52 2
60   Guillaume Martin / Edouard Chererau Zabel-VMC 110 1
61   Wim Janssen / Bart Notten Zabel-VMC 36 1
62   Werner Wittmann /   Premysl Novotny KTM-NMP 116 1
63   Kert Varik / Veikko Parksepp KTM-AYR 45 1
  • Equipment listed is motor and frame.

Manufacturers

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Parallel to the riders championship, a manufacturers competition is also held. In every race, only the best-placed rider of every make is awarded points in this competition.[2]

The final standings in the manufacturers competition were:[3]

Position Manufacturer Points
1 VMC 642
2 MEFO 434
3 WSP 411
4 AYR 65
5 KTM 30
6 Husaberg 4
BSU 4

References

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  1. ^ MSC Wieslauftal (Rudersberg GP) website (in German) News, accessed: 14 September 2009. Archived 2009-09-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP APPENDIX Archived June 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine FIM website, accessed: 27 July 2011
  3. ^ a b c FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Classification 2009 Archived 2012-05-27 at the Wayback Machine FIM website, accessed: 8 August 2011
  4. ^ "Side Car Moto-Cross". netherlandsembassy.lv. 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-05.[dead link]
  5. ^ Sidecarcross GP Destinations The John Davey Pages, accessed: 8 August 2011
  6. ^ FIM Sidecarcross World Championship – 2009 Calendar Archived June 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine FIM website, accessed: 5 August 2011
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