After twelve years of organisation of the British F1 Sidecar Championship (ten of those alongside the prestigious British Superbike series) and more recently, a five-year deal to organise and promote the FIM Sidecar World Championship, the RKB-F1 organisation is calling it a day.
The huge crowd at the Donington Park World SBK round witnessed stunning action from the Superside teams on one of the hottest weekends of the year.
Twelve crews had firm entries for this crucial Donington event, but UK Border Control officials eliminated French father and son team Ted and Vincent Peugeot before they even left France. Young Ted was prohibited from travelling due to his passport not having enough “safety margin”, in that it expired a matter of weeks from his due travel date. Once again, post Brexit legislation dealt a blow to sport, and to a particularly talented but cash-strapped crew.
An eclectic mix of competitors made for a very interesting grid at Brands Hatch for the third round.
From World and British Championship regulars and series leaders for both series, to new names and wild cards testing the water for the first time, the weekend was always going to have an unknown flavour. Certain predictions were inevitable, but equally there were surprises along the way. For the first time ever, the Santander Salt team featured two lady passengers, as Sarah Stokoe joined Rob Biggs alongside Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement. Sarah is well known in the sidecar world, partly as George Holden’s partner, but also for her exploits alongside multiple TT winner Rob Fisher in classic racing.
FIM Sidecar World Championship. Donington Park preview.
From Mark Walters – The FIM Preview for the Donington Park World Championship round
The 4.02km Donington Park circuit in the heart of England will host the sixth round of the FIM Sidecar World Championship, again as with Assen earlier in the year supporting the World Super Bike championship for solo motorcycles.
Championship leaders, with 210 points, Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement will want to forget about their last race in Croatia. They encountered problems with the front of their machine and scored a DNF. A far cry from their race one victory, which was taken with them well in control. But they will want to come back here to Donington Park to try and replicate their first GP win, which was here last year. They have stood on the top spot of the podium regularly since then but the first win is always special.
It is with a great sadness that I have been asked to let everyone know that Jenny Wells has passed away this morning after a very short battle with cancer.
I am in a state of shock here. The last I heard from Jen was not that long ago when she was saying she wouldn’t be doing any more photography due to illness and then just days ago that she was too weak for treatment.
Jen my friend, you will be missed at race meetings. Not only for the photos you loved taking and that were appreciated so much by so many, but for the proper laughs we had at circuits everywhere, if ever there was a chance to laugh at anything I got wrong you were always there.
Details of further arrangements will be posted when they are ready. I will see you all at The Revival
I’ll have one or maybe even two for you there Jen, and I won’t be alone in doing so. xx
The Donington Park Round of World SBK will once again host the Superside family in the fifth round of what has been an outstanding Championship year.
Whilst grid numbers have not been high, we have witnessed fierce four and five-way battles at the front, and equally strong scraps all the way down. The half-hour highlights TV Show filmed at each round has extended the audience and attracted new viewers to the sport.
Marcus Schlosser/Marcel Fries (Gustoil Yamaha) have closed to within sixteen points of series leaders Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement. At the previous round in Croatia, the Santander Salt Yamaha failed to finish the second race, giving added impetus and encouragement to the defending champions. Last year at Donington Park, Schlosser suffered the same fate, so he will be hoping history does not repeat.
(Sorry no photos on this one, my mistake, too slow downloading and the link expired)
This famous track in Rijeka Croatia was the perfect setting to begin the second half of what has been a stunning season of racing so far.
The twenty-three-point advantage held by Santander Salt’s Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement would need protecting, as main rivals Markus Schlosser/Marcel Fries knew full well that everything was still to play for at this stage of the year.
In scorchingly hot conditions, the teams prepared for a replay of the amazing racing from Hungary just a few days before. Free practice on the 2.6 miles circuit with its long straights, got underway prompt at 1pm on Friday. All teams spent the session in familiarisation and set-up, with no dramas or problems to report.
Do you fancy having a go as a sidecar passenger? Now is your chance at the Cadwell Park Sidecar Revival, the big sidecar meeting of the season, taking place August 6th and 7th.
To put your name down for taxi rides see the info page on the