It’s been 223 long days since the chequered flag waved in Vesoul to crown Harry Walker the 2025 European champion, but he will not be wearing the #1 plate this season. That’s because the all-new FIM World Quadcross series kicks off this weekend in the steep hills of Castelnau-de-Levis, with Kevin Saar posting the quickest time in free practice. Manfred Zienecker and home-rider Sylvain Petit completed the top three positions, whilst reigning European champion and vice-champion, Walker and Patrick Turrini, ended 5th and 6th.
Pre-Qualifying
26 riders took to the steep, beautiful Castelnau-de-Levis circuit for the pre-qualifying event, and it did not take long before the lap times began to fall. Different lines and different techniques were being experimented with, but it would be the 5x European Champion Kevin Saar who ended proceedings on top, with a margin of +1.468 seconds over his nearest challenger, Patrick Turrini, who is sporting the new number of 51 this season. The reigning double-European champion, Harry Walker, was less than a tenth away from his great Italian rival, to put himself straight into contention at the dawn of this new championship. Finishing the session as top French rider was Sylvain Petit, in fifth place, who only completed 6 laps compared with fourth-placed Manfred Zienecker who completed 9 laps.
The vibes in the paddock and the lap times on circuit would suggest that the riders were getting more acquainted with the machinery and terrain, which bodes well for what we anticipate being a hotly contested opening round of the World Quadcross championship.
Results
- Kevin Saar
- Patrick Turrini
- Harry Walker
- Manfred Zienecker
- Sylvain Petit
Qualifying Race
Harry Walker bolted from the gate the quickest to take the holeshot, with Kevin Saar and Patrick Turrini in hot pursuit. Jordi Niclas Gieler made a lightning start, too, to place himself in fourth position by the end of lap one. Saar attempted an inside move on the British rider, but slick track conditions would see him run wide, allowing Walker to respond immediately and reclaim the lead of the race.
A slight amount of daylight was appearing between Walker and Saar and, likewise, Saar and Turrini, however, an uncharacteristic stall from Walker would see both Saar and Turrini take advantage, to promote themselves into the leading two positions. Walker was left to be the chaser, as opposed to be chased.
Manfred Zienecker did not make the best of starts, but determination and boldness would see him move further up the order as the laps ticked by, to be fighting within the top five. In the meantime, Jordi Niclas Gieler had dropped into the thick of the pack, and was also fighting his way through, taking the chequered flag in 16th position.
Back at the front, Walker could not quite keep tabs on the leading duo and would come home in a secure third place. Turrini, try as he might, just could not find the opportunity to remove Saar from the race lead, and found the chequered flag only +0.318 after the Estonian rider.
Results
- Kevin Saar
- Patrick Turrini
- Harry Walker
- Manfred Zienecker
- Mark Mclernon
