SidecarCross of Nations: Medal chances for Team Germany?

Since 2017, the Dutch – who had already enjoyed frequent success – have won every SidecarCross of Nations. But this impressive run could now come to an end. Team Oranje will have to do without two of its best riders. Former world champion Koen Hermans, who has been performing below expectations this season anyway, is out with an injury following his crash in the Baltic states. At the last Grand Prix in Rudersberg, the Leferink brothers also crashed, with passenger Sem sustaining a knee injury. Stephan Wijers and Han van Hal (9th in the World Championship) will now start as replacements, alongside Julian Veldman and Rodolphe Lebreton (8th in the World Championship) and Koen Grondman and Ross Vincent (10th in the World Championship). Veldman is the most likely to secure race wins.

On home turf, the French are also likely to be in the mix at the front, led by Killian and Evan Prunier (World Championship runners-up). Competing with them for a podium place will be Gwendal Carcreff and Mathis Hupon (15th in the World Championships) and Guennady Auvray and Jarno Stegmans (24th in the World Championships). However, the English are considered the stronger side, with Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard (4th in the World Championships) and Dan Foden/Noah Weinmann (7th in the World Championships), who are always capable of top placings. Rounding out the team are Michael Hodges/Ryan Henderson (21st in the World Championships).

The Belgians also have a strong line-up, featuring world champions Marvin Vanluchene/Ben van den Bogaart and Davy Sanders/Jens Vincent (6th in the World Championships). The team is rounded off by Niels Hendrickx/Tayim Kaethoven (20th in the World Championships). The son of world champion Jan Hendrickx, who is just 18 years old, has only competed sporadically in Grands Prix, but recently showed with an eighth-place finish in the last GP that he is certainly capable of finishing in the top 10.

Other nations taking part include Estonia, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland and Germany. The Swiss team comprises the occasional riders Marco and Remo Heinzer (26th in the World Championships), Sven and Marc Buob (33rd in the World Championships) and Remo and Luca Käser (29th in the World Championships). Competing for Germany are Adrian Peter/Julian Zimmermann (14th in the World Championship), Leon Hofmann/Leon Freygang (34th in the World Championship) and Patrick Hengster (16th in the World Championship), who, as in Rudersberg, will be supported by Joel Hoffmann in the sidecar. Last year, the German team fell short of expectations, finishing ninth, after Tim Prümmer was unable to take part in the main races due to an injury to his passenger, Jarno Steegmans.

This season, Prümmer finished third in the World Championship alongside Patrick Schneider. This leads the keen sidecarcross fan to wonder why the bronze medallists were not selected for the German team – even though, like the three mentioned above, they are also part of the squad. Prümmer: “No one ever officially asked me...”. A statement that team manager Wolfgang Reinhardt confirmed when we enquired. However, he also emphasised that German Championship placings are no longer the sole criterion for team selection, as they used to be. This makes it all the more difficult to speculate as to why the World Championship bronze medallists and winners of the Straßbessenbach Grand Prix were left out. There have certainly been differences of opinion between Prümmer and the DMSB in the past. Financial considerations may also have played a part. It should be noted, however, that in the run-up to the SQXoN, there have always been enough sponsors to cover the teams’ costs – as is the case once again this time. Yet anyone who values planning certainty is unlikely to be satisfied with mere hope.

Even in previous years, when the championship was still organised by the UEM or FIM Europe, there were discussions regarding team selection. To avoid this, clearly defined criteria for selecting teams, as well as early and open communication with all applicants, are necessary. Furthermore, the FIM should consider introducing regulations regarding reserve teams and the permitted replacement of injured pillion riders before race Sunday. After all, spectators also expect thrilling races at the SQXoN, with all nations fielding full line-ups.