Quelle saison pour Nicolas Musset ! Ce dimanche 1^er octobre, à Castelnau-de-Lévis (81), notre tricolore engagé en Championnat du Monde de Sidecar Cross, aux côtés de son pilote Belge Marvin Vanluchene, rafle un troisième titre mondial au terme d’une saison dantesque durant laquelle il signe 12 podiums dont 6 victoires en 14 Grands Prix.

Dès la première épreuve, sur le tracé espagnol de Talavera de la Reina, l’équipage plante le décor en remportant les deux manches d’ouverture du calendrier 2023. Le duo franco-belge est arrivé à Castelnau avec 23 unités d’avance sur leurs dauphins Etienne Bax et Ondřej Čermak. Rien n’était joué et c’est au terme d’un week-end sensationnel sur le tracé du Puech Rampant que le side numéro #2 conserve sa plaque rouge après une saison d’une impressionnante régularité.

C’est donc un nouveau titre de Champion du Monde qui vient compléter la collection de notre Poitevin après ses deux titres en 2017 et 2021.

Sébastien Poirier, Président de la FFM : « Je tiens à féliciter Nicolas ainsi que son équipier Marvin Vanluchene pour cette magnifique saison. Notre tricolore s’inscrit, chaque année, un peu plus dans l’histoire de cette discipline. Il est d’ailleurs l’unique pilote français titré. Le Sidecar Cross français compte un ambassadeur d’exception et la Fédération en est particulièrement fière. »

Crédit photo : WSC.

VANLUCHENE AND MUSSET STEP CLOSER TO THE TITLE IN SCORCHING LOKET GP

It has become clear that this title chase is now a two-horse race, with only Koen Hermans and Ben Van Den Bogaart having a mathematical chance of victory over Marvin Vanluchene/Nicolas Musset and Etienne Bax/Ondrej Cermak. The reality is, that after Loket, a picture should emerge where one of the top two teams will have a clearer path to the title. However, as we always say in sport “anything can happen and probably will”.

The Czech weather was once again kind, in fact, temperatures were heading for the thirties, so racing would certainly be tough.

Warm Up

Those first three crews had it all their own way through warm-up until the very last gasp when a final flying lap by the Lielbardis twins put them on top of the pile three tenths quicker than Vanluchene and Bax.

Best of the rest, with little to choose between them were Foden/Humphrey, the Prunier brothers, Keuben/Rietman and Prummer/Lebreton.

Wilkinson/Millard and Heinzer/Betschart were saving themselves for the two vital races coming up. This was going to be a crucial round for those teams chasing down the top three, with fourth place very much up for grabs.

The team’s presentation was greeted with great enthusiasm by a much bigger crowd than turned up for qualifying. Biggest cheers were for the reigning world champion passenger Ondrej Cermak, followed by a rapturous reception for the young Latvian Lielbardis brothers.

Race One 

Thirty teams heading into the first left was a sight to behold. It was tight enough with fifteen, but this was spectacular.

Vanluchene/Musset stole the thunder of Tim Prummer by grabbing the hole shot ahead of Etienne Bax with the German third ahead of Heinzer/Betschart.

Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard were next from Lielbardis and Keuben. Brett needed him to stay there but Keuben was intent on moving up, and he did just that on lap three, going into fifth place.

The two leaders were locked together opening six seconds on Prummer in the first ten minutes. Lielbardis also passed Wilkinson, and this was bad news for the fourth-place incumbent. Next to threaten him were compatriots Dan Foden/Ryan Humphrey as they closed in from an average start.

At the front, Bax was hunting Vanluchene but could not find a way past the Belgian, with the points gap in danger of extending by three. The drama continued, with Bax intent on getting past. With ten minutes left on the clock he was right on Vanluchene’s tail, as close as he had been.

Prummer/Lebreton were amazing in third, defending that slot from an ever-closing Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman as the Lielbardis boys dropped down the order, promoting Heinzer back to fifth place.

The two leaders were in a class of their own, but mention must be made of the climb through the field of Hermans/Van den Bogaart to tenth place from last at the gate.

Into the final five minutes plus two laps and Vanluchene had eased a small breathing space on Etienne Bax/Ondrej Cermak, with the pace telling on Prummer/Lebreton. They slipped down, with a brilliant ride by Keuben to move third. Heinzer was a strong fourth and Wilkinson fifth. This result took some of the pressure off Brett and Joe, but Keuben was now the immediate danger. The Lielbardis boys recovered slightly, to go ninth behind a super strong eighth by Foden/Humphrey.

This was a magnificent show by the series leader, stretching the gap to twenty-one points over the defending champions once again.

Result

1/Vanluchene/Musset, 2/Bax/Cermak, 3/Keuben/Rietman, 4/Heinzer/Betschart, 5/Wilkinson/Millard, 6/Prummer/Lebreton, 7/Sanders/Rostingt, 8/Lielbardis/Lielbardis, 9/Foden/Humphrey, 10/Hermans/Van Den Bogaart.

Race Two

More heat, more action, and more drama. That was the recipe for this one as down went the gate. Once more it was Vanluchene/Musset from Bax/Cermak and the Prunier boys leading the charge. Prummer was fourth with Keuben right in the mix too.

On lap two, Wilkinson was past Prummer and in fifth place, with the Lielbardis twins behind the German and looking threatening. Etienne Bax simply had to stay with Marvin and keep the pressure on, but Vanluchene was looking safe and strong.

A first lap incident had dropped Koen Hermans right to the back once again in what was becoming a torrid season for a man with title hopes. By contrast, Keuben/Rietman were getting stronger by the race and were on target for an overall podium this weekend.

Lap five, and Wilkinson was up to fourth as Prunier slid down the order, such was the fierce pace, as Bax almost matched Vanluchene’s lap time, but not quite.

Once again, Hermans was climbing through the field and scraping into the points, as Wilkinson edged ever closer in the standings. Third place in 2023 was almost Herman’s for the asking, but suddenly was looking shaky.

Two left-handed sidecars in the hands of Foden and Heinzer sat seventh and eighth, with the Prunier boys now ninth after a flying start.

Wilkinson’s nemesis the Lielbardis boys were now right on him as he in turn fought to reel in Keuben. As if by command, they battled past Keuben to go third and help Wilkinson’s cushion.

That became a lost cause because immediately afterwards, he fell victim to the Lielbardis brothers as they moved third. Keuben`s passenger Dion Rietman had heat exhaustion on the final lap and they were obliged to stop. This dropped them to eighth in the results one lap down on Vanluchene. He is now further away from Wilkinson, who made the podium as a result.

Further back, the scrap for fifth, sixth and seventh was alive and well with French Champions Prunier attacking again and relegating Tim Prummer. 

At the front, Vanluchene/Musset were heading for a glorious victory over the defending champions with a nine-second advantage.

Result – 1/Vanluchene/Musset, 2/Bax/Cermak, 3/Lielbardis/Lielbardis, 4/Wilkinson/Millard, 5/Prunier/Prunier, 6/Heinzer/Betschart, 7/Prummer/Lebreton, 8/Keuben/Rietman, 9/Foden/Humphrey, 10/Hermans/Van Den Bogaart.

Overall Podium – 1/Vanluchene/Musset, 2/Bax/Cermak, 3/Wilkinson/Millard

(Source FIM & Barry Nutley)

16/07/2023

After thundery and humid weather yesterday, the sun was out again with a vengeance as warm-up set the scene for the two GP races. We spoke yesterday about Celina Jahn, lady passenger to Patrick Hengster. Well, they qualified as second reserve, so they were on track for warm-up. Sadly, the same was not true of the other lady competitor Belgian Colleen Van Troys and her sidekick Simon Dinneweth. They did not make the cut, so would be spectating, or already on their way home.

This could turn out to be a pivotal round with the shape of the championship at stake and Etienne Bax on blistering form. Koen Hermans and Marvin Vanluchene are also both riding with speed and confidence, so as we always say in this game – “anything can happen”.

Race One – Just as in qualifying, the Prunier brother hit the front in style. Despite extreme pressure from Koen Hermans and Etienne Bax, the French champions held this for a full three laps until the top men eventually went past.

Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset were then fourth behind the flying Frenchmen as Hermans and Bax eased away at the front.

Heinzer/Betschart were next up followed by Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman and German star Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans.

The Leferink brothers, Veldman/Lebreton and Wilkinson/Millard completed the top ten.

With fifteen minutes gone, Hermans/Van Den Bogaart had a two-second margin over Bax/Cermak with Vanluchene trying to get on terms and preserve his now-diminishing title lead. The Lielbardis twins were fighting up with Veldman/Lebreton, both teams making ground at the expense of Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard among others.

The performance of Killian and Evan Prunier in this company was outstanding and they were now holding a strong fourth place. Their consistency was impressive, and they were on target for a great, if not personal best result.

Julian Veldman was now up to sixth ahead of Tim Prummer and setting fast times. His next target was the Swiss crew of Heinzer/Betschart, and the gap was a mere six seconds. It was game on for Veldman/Lebreton and they were flying.

Into the closing stages and Hermans/Van Den Bogaart were well clear of Bax/Cermak with Veldman/Lebreton now up to fifth and chasing the Prunier boys. This was a fantastic display by Hermans/Van Den Bogaart to grab a few more points and creep more into the picture.

Result – 1/Hermans/Van Den Bogaart, 2/Bax/Cermak, 3/Vanluchene/Musset, 4/Prunier/Prunier, 5/Veldman/Lebreton, 6/Heinzer/Betschart, 7/Lielbardis/Lielbardis, 8/Weiss/Schneider, 9/Wilkinson/Millard, 10/Keuben/Rietman, 11/Foden/Humphrey, 12/Leferink/Leferink

Race Two – Would it be more of the same with Killian/Evan Prunier launching off the line as before? The answer was an emphatic NO.

Vanluchene/Musset shot up the centre of the hill to edge Etienne Bax out of the hole shot. The top three from race one were in reverse order this time but Bax was still second and he needed to be ahead of the red plate of Vanluchene.

Behind was a frantic chase involving Wilkinson, Prummer, Lielbardis and Benny Weiss. This was a fast track, and the times were well inside two minutes for the top three. Hermans was quickest but Bax was not going to give that away and could not afford to.

The top three were unbelievably close and it was anyone’s fight at the half-way stage. Veldman was now up to sixth and closing on the Tim Prummer and Jarno Steegmans KTM.

Bax/Cermak had a massive dilemma with Vanluchene fractionally ahead and Hermans right up their exhaust pipe. The Lielbardis boys were a strong fourth, but Veldman/Lebreton were coming.

Wilkinson/Millard forced past Tim Prummer to go sixth, and that was good for a left-hand sidecar on this track.

The fight at the front was sensational and Bax/Cermak made their move with seven minutes left and a record one hundred GP wins at stake.

Hermans took Vanluchene on the same lap with the red plate slipping backwards after an epic battle.

With Hermans now second, the focus moved to Veldman’s progress through the field as he chased down Lielbardis. The Latvians were heading for another good result and were marginally quicker than Veldman, who must have been feeling rusty after so much time away.

Stuart Brown and Nathan Cooper were now in tenth place having gone past a slowing Tim Prummer. This was another stella show from the veteran just returning from injury.

With two laps to go, Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard passed the Lielbardis brothers into a fine fifth place protecting their series standings. In the same move Veldman moved fourth, so he was a happy bunny. Davy Sanders/Luc Rostingt also slid by Liebardis to go sixth.

Bax recorded his 100th GP win and took overall victory in Germany, enhancing his challenge for the title again along the way.

Result – 1/Bax/Cermak, 2/Hermans/Van Den Bogaart, 3/Vanluchene,Musset, 4/Veldman/Lebreton, 5/Wilkinson/Millard, 6/Sanders/Rostingt, 7/Lielbardis/Lielbardis, 8/Weiss/Schneider, 9/Keuben/Rietman, 10/Brown/Cooper, 11/Gordejev/Ven de Wiel, 12/Van de Lagemaat/Van Hal

Overall Result Podium – Bax/Cermak, Hermans/Van den Bogaart, Vanluchene/Musset.

From Barry Nutley

«

Another good weather day was forecast along with a good track on which to race. Qualifying had pointed the way to how things might pan out here, but nerves were running high among the men at the top.

Marvin Vanluchene and Nicolas Musset had lifted eighteen victories from their first twenty races in all competitions, having been defeated yesterday for only the second time. They had a bad start in qualifying and had to fight through. They also came up against an “on-form” Koen Hermans and Ben Van Den Bogaart, as well as a return to old ways for the reigning champions and qualifying race winners Etienne Bax and Ondrej Cermak.

Justin Keuben and Dion Rietman can now also rank among the elite with their consistently fast performances and another race win yesterday. Throw into the pot Daniel Willemsen and Aivar de Wiel who were also fast in qualifying, and we had a good cocktail. All these factors, plus the unknown from the chasing pack, were bound to be unsettling for those fighting at the top. 

The traditional rider’s presentation was preceded by a moving tribute to Rene Boon, a former GP passenger, mechanic, and veteran racer who tragically lost his life in an accident one week ago in Kramolin. Family and friends held flares during the one-minute silence as messages of condolence were shared. All here at WSC add their heartfelt sympathy to those sentiments.

 

Race One –The gate dropped, and the hole shot sprint was on. Into the first left it was Justin Keuben/Dion Rietman who pipped Etienne Bax/Ondrej Cermak to the spot, with Gert Van Werven/Robbe de Veene and Tim Prummer/Jarno Steegmans chasing hard. Brett Wilkinson and Joe Millard were up there too with Vanluchene/Musset on their heels.

Keuben was having a clear run, and that was key. All behind were getting filled in, whilst his vision was clean.

Lap three and Van Werven was in second, having passed Bax/Cermak. Vanluchene/Musset were coming, pulling Koen Hermans/Ben Van Den Bogaart with them.

Hermans was on a mission and fought his way through the leaders. By lap seven, he had moved to the head of the race, having passed them all, pulling Bax with him as they both passed Keuben. Hermans was lapping a second faster than Bax, so that gap would now grow.

Marvin Vanluchene moved to fourth, and at the half-way stage was threatening Keuben/Rietman. This was sidecar motocross in the sand at its best. 

Bax still trailed Hermans by five seconds but was staying in touch.

Despite setting the fastest lap early on, Gert Van Werven had slipped to eighth behind Prummer, Leferink and Wilkinson who was now back in fifth. 

Dan Foden and Ryan Humphrey had battled from the back of the grid and were up to tenth ahead of Willemsen/de Wiel and the Lielbardis boys.

With six minutes left on the clock plus two laps, Hermans lead was eight seconds as he and Ben Van Den Bogaart looked untouchable.

Vanluchene’s challenge had faded as he was overtaken by Brett Wilkinson/Joe Millard when the hard Brits moved up one more place to fourth. They were seven seconds behind Keuben/Rietman, but then suddenly they were out with a problem. Unbelievably with just two laps remaining, their race was over having fought for twelve laps.

Into the final tour and Hermans had it won from Bax/Cermak, with Keuben/Rietman holding third place. Dan Foden/Ryan Humphrey collected a magnificent sixth place after coming from Last Chance qualifying.

 

Result – 1/ Hermans/Van den Bogaart, 2/ Bax/Cermak, 3/ Keuben/Rietman,

4/ Vanluchene/Musset, 5/ Leferink/Lleferink, 6/ Foden/Humphrey,

7/ Sanders/Rostingt, 8/ Van Werven/de Wiel, 9/ Willemsen/de Wiel,

10/ Prummer/Steegmans, 11/ Lielbardis/Lielbardis, 12/ Mulders/Van Deutekom, 13/ Wijers/Van Der Putten, 14/ Van de Lagemaat/Van Hal,

15/ Van Daele/Beleckas.

Race Two – The track preparation was perfect between races, and it was all ready for the off as the gate formed. Marco Heinzer/Reudi Betschart had failed to make it to the line for race one due to fuel problems, so would they be out this time?

Brett Wilkinson and his team had been busy fixing their clutch problem, keen to salvage some decent points to protect their sliding championship position.

Keuben again took the lead from the gate chased by Day Sanders having one of his best starts for a while. Next came Koen Hermans and Daniel Willemsen with Tim Prummer and Etienne Bax following.

Marvin Vanluchene once again did not get a good start, but Hermans was flying and soon up to second place. One lap later he was in the lead and charging.

Dan Foden/Ryan Humphrey once again were going well, as indeed was the forty-three-year-old Carlo Van Duijnhoven having only his second race in eight years. He was in ninth place with a host of good teams behind.

On lap seven, Sanders was still holding third, as Keuben went missing, moving everyone up one place, but Bax was closing so the writing was on the wall.

Brett Wilkinson, having seemingly cured his clutch problem, was down in sixteenth but also digging in for a long fight back.

Amazingly, the German Prummer sat fourth ahead of Vanluchene, and seemed to be maintaining the pace. He had crashed but recovered in the opening race, so was making amends here.

Lap nine and Etienne Bax had moved second almost within sight of Hermans. It was not to be however, as Hermans/Van Den Bogaart were devastatingly fast and had pulled a thirty-second lead by lap twelve.

With two laps left, the scene was set for a resounding overall victory for the Hermans/Van Den Bogaart machine, and what a machine it was.

Wilkinson had recovered to almost a top ten slot, so all was not lost, with Sanders having the ride of his life to follow Vanluchene home ahead of Prummer.

The Lielbardis boys made sixth place theirs after first passing Tim Prummer then getting caught by Van Werven/de Veene, so they would be happy with that in their first full GP season.

Result –1/Hermans/Van den Bogaart, 2 /Bax/Cermak, 3/ Vanluchene/Musset,

4/ Sanders/Rostingt, 5/ Van Werven/de Veene, 6/ Lielbardis/Lielbardis,

7/ Prummer/Steegmans, 8/ Willemsen/de Wiel, 9/ Leferink/Leferink,

10/ Foden/Humphrey, 11/ Wilkinson/Millard, 12/ Van De Lagemaat/Van Hal,

13/ Wijers/Van der Putten, 14/ Prunier/Prunier, 15/ Chanteloup/Chopin.

 

Updated Championship points will be here on the standings section of this website.

The TV highlights show will be ready to view in a few days, so stay with us here for that, with updates and all the news as it happens on www.fimsidecarcross.com

 

From Barry Nutley »