It’s the final round of the first edition of the FIM Quadcross World Championship and, with the championship already wrapped up by Kevin Saar, it will certainly be interesting to see who comes out swinging before heading into the off-season.
Timed practise would see newly-crowned world champion, Kevin Saar, top the time-sheets ahead of home rider Mike van Grinsven and Matteo Stiller. Mclernon, who is looking to confirm the runner-up spot in the championship this weekend, came home fourth quickest whilst a returning Harry Walker completed the top-five.
Qualifying Race
The final qualifying gate-drop of the season saw Mike van Grinsven storm into an early, whilst world champion Kevin Saar was ushered to the outside of the circuit and would eventually slot back into position just outside of the top ten places. Trailing van Grinsven in the early laps were Mclernon, Walker, Stiller, and Mike Verboven, but trouble would soon be at the doorstep for the race leader.
Van Grinsven would miss the double-jump and dropped to fifth position, but this would be only one-half of the story as, speaking to Mike post-race, he described an issue with the shock absorber causing him to not ride at 100%. This would allow Mclernon and Walker to take the top couple of places and Mclernon would do an outstanding job of defending the race lead.
Despite his efforts, both himself and Walker would lose position to Verboven who put himself at the helm, which he would not relinquish throughout the remainder of the race. Van Grinsven, in the meantime, had recovered and was closing the deficit that had opened between himself and the leading quartet.
Whist this was unfolding, Kevin Saar was making up ground with every lap, eventually finding himself in sixth position as the race approached it’s closing stages.
Van Grinsven, in contrast with the start of the race, was now hot on the heels of Stiller, Mclernon, and Walker, and didn’t take too long to put himself in front of the trio to then pursue his fellow countryman. Stiller had Mclernon in his iron sights next, and he called the line choice perfectly to drive around the outside of the Ulsterman to claim the final podium spot. Walker would follow suit just one lap later, and this left Mclernon in an almost certain fifth position.
Just one more lap to go, and Van Grinsven was all over the back of the #22 machine pioloted by Verboven, but there was just no room for him to make the overtake necessary. Out went the chequered flag, and Verboven claimed his first qualifying victory of the season by just 0.456 over van Grinsven. Stiller took the final podium spot, whilst on the fringes of the top five, Saar slashed the gap to Mclernon and would take the flag ahead of him.
Results
- Mike Verboven
- Mike van Grinsven
- Matteo Stiller
- Harry Walker
- Kevin Saar
With just one more day to go in this fantastic, dramatic, historic 2026 season, all eyes are now firmly planted on the two GP races tomorrow.
By Bradley Hix
