Will Markus Schlosser and Lucas Krieg begin their comeback in Cremona?

Six weeks ago, the sidecar elite faced off for the last time on the French track at Pau Arnos. In sweltering heat, Harry Payne and Kevin Rousseau won the first race ahead of Pekka Päivärinta and Adam Christie, as well as Sam and Tom Christie. In the second race, too, this trio was leading the field when a crash involving Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clément brought the race to a halt. As a restart was not possible, half points were awarded.

Like Pau Arnos, the next track is also uncharted territory for the sidecar teams. Rounds 7 and 8 of the World Championship will be held at the Circuit Angelo Bergamonti in Cremona. Payne/Rousseau (Steinhausen Racing), who have won four of the six races so far, head to Italy with an 11.5-point lead over the two-time winners of the season, Päivärinta/Christie (Hänni Racing). The reigning champions, Christie/Christie, are already a considerable 33.5 points behind in third place in the World Championship standings.

For Markus Schlosser/Lucas Krieg (Gustoil Sidecar Racing), who have struggled with the set-up of their sidecar so far, the main priority is to break into this leading group and make up lost ground. The Swiss-German duo had ample opportunity to test their sidecar during the long break, and anyone familiar with the ambitious Schlosser – who secured the World Championship title in 2021 alongside Marcel Fries – knows that he will leave no stone unturned until he has returned to his former winning form.

Following their crash in France, this time the fifth-placed pair in the World Championship, Ellis/Clément, will be missing from the starting grid because their heavily damaged sidecar has not yet been repaired. This opens up opportunities for Tim Reeves/Melanie Farnier (Carl Cox Motorsport), Markus Venus/Thomas Hofer (ITW Racing), Bennie Streuer/Manon Vissenberg, Corey and Danyon Turner, and Ted and Vincent Peugeort to improve their positions.

Whilst Patrick Werkstetter/Valentin Pirat (Sattler Motorsport) will finally be joining the battle for points following the driver’s months-long injury lay-off, Paul Leglise/Marjorie Cescutti (521 Competition), Paul Leglise/Ema Salmon (Carl Cox Motorsport KRT) and Manuel Moreau/Alice Roba (KM Side) – all of whom have already suffered several retirements this season – are keen to shake off their run of bad luck.

The races will take place on Saturday 8 August, starting at 12.35 CEST, over 12 laps, and on Sunday 9 August, from 12.15 pm CEST over 20 laps on the 3.792-kilometre circuit, which has hosted the Superbike World Championship since 2024.

Schedule, Sidecar World Championship, Cremona

World Championship standings after 6 of 12 races