14th World Championship medal for Pekka Päivärinta at the Sidecar Festival in Oschersleben

Since 2004, Pekka Päivärinta has been an integral part of the Sidecar World Championship paddock. The Finn has long been regarded as one of the most successful riders in his field and, with five world championship titles – three with his long-standing sponsor Adolf Hänni, and one each with Timo Karttiala and Kirsi Kainulainen – he has secured a permanent place in the pantheon of the World Championship, which has been held since 1949.

After finishing fourth in the overall standings in 2024 and 2025, Päivärinta and his British passenger Adam Christie – who, thanks to his technical expertise, has also played a key role in this impressive run of form – have been regulars on the winners’ podium this season. Two victories on the former Grand Prix circuit at Grobnik/Rijeka are matched by three second-place finishes and four third-place finishes. Only in the second race at Assen did they have to settle for fourth place.

Pekka Päivärinta/Adam Christie: Podiumsdauergäste 2026

Foto: Helmut Ohner

When the elite of sidecar racing gather on the first weekend of October for the grand finale of this year’s World Championship, it could even be enough for the 55-year-old evergreen to clinch his sixth title, even though the British-French pair Harry Payne andKevin Rousseau from Team Steinhausen Racing – who hold a 25.5-point lead – hold the best prospects ahead of the final two rounds.

As the fourth-placed team in the provisional standings are already an insurmountable 95 points behind, it is already certain ahead of the event that on Sunday afternoon the Finnish phenomenon will be presented with his 14th (!) World Championship medal – Christie’s first – on Sunday afternoon by a representative of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme; only the colour remains to be decided.

Provisional schedule for the Sidecar World Championship, Oschersleben

Sidecar World Championship standings after 10 of 12 races