The battle for the title in both 250cc and 350cc promises to be tough. Indeed, in 350cc, Mike Edwards, Antony Hart and Guillaume Foureau can all claim to win the title. In 250cc, the same thing between the German Stefan Tennstadt and the Belgian Yves Hecq.
Thursday noon, we arrive on the circuit of Hockenheim, legendary circuit, its stadium having hosted magnificent passes in weapons in Grand Prix in the 80s with its 120 000 spectators.
At 15h, the installation begins. Around 19h, we are all settled and a torrential rain falls on the circuit. The rain finally stops at midnight and on Friday morning, we wake up under a summer sun that will last all weekend.
First qualifying session, Mike Edwards takes the pole early with a comfortable lead over Antony Hart. He decides a few minutes from the end of the session, to take the second bike. He starts with new and cold tires and makes a high side. With a broken wrist, he loses all chances to retain his title.
Antony Hart, Ian Simpson and Jean-Paul Lecointe thus become the first 3 of this practice session.
In 250, Mark Rogers leads Stefan Tennstadt and Denmark's Leif Nielsen on his magnificent Bartol.
In YC 250 Harald Merkl is ahead of Stuart Thomas.
Saturday morning, 2nd qualifying session. Simpson wins the pole ahead of Hart, Linden, Lecointe and Foureau. In 250, Mark Rogers keeps pole ahead of Sleigh, Nielsen, Hecq and Tennstadt.
Pl | Nr | Name | Team | Time | Diff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 30 | IAN SIMPSON (GBR) | Team BSR | 1:13.530 | |
2 | 75 | ANTONY HART (GBR) | 1:14.761 | 1.231 | |
3 | 5 | PETER LINDEN (SWE) | Phase One Endurance | 1:15.164 | 1.634 |
Pl | Nr | Name | Team | Time | Diff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 | MARK ROGERS (GBR) | 1:16.438 | ||
2 | 29 | COLIN SLEIGH (GBR) | NCL Racing | 1:16.940 | 0.502 |
3 | 14 | LEIF NIELSEN (DNK) | 1:17.457 | 1.019 |
Pl | Nr | Name | Team | Time | Diff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 88 | HARALD MERKL (DEU) | Schneider Racing Team | 1:17.701 | |
2 | 52 | STUART THOMAS (GBR) | 1:25.127 | 7.426 |
Combined practice times | Starting grid | ||
See all results at www.raceresults.at |
Saturday afternoon, the start is given in the most total confusion, the organizers not applying the FIM regulatory start procedure.
Peter Linden crashes, a red flag is show and a new start is given for 10 laps, this time with a little less chaotic procedure.
Simpson takes the lead with Antony Hart at his heels followed by Lecointe and Foureau.
Mark Rogers leads the 250 ahead of Colin Sleigh and Leif Nielsen.
Stefen Tennstadt, who led the championship by 2 points, takes a serious option on the title following Yves Hecq's mechanical problem.
At the finish, Simpson wins the race in front of Hart Lecointe, Foureau and Dondaine.
In 250, the victory went to Mark Rogers in front of Sleigh, Nielsen, Tennstadt and Keller.
Saturday evening, an aperitif is held under the ICGPmarquee, the opportunity for riders and companions to meet for a moment of great conviviality.
On this occasion, announcement of the postponement of the race in Brazil to Interlagos for 2019, the current elections in Brazil having frozen the budgets of partners.
The supporter's trophy n°1 is awarded on this occasion to Maurice Hollemaert, who has been following the ICGP championship for several years, each time coming from Le Loiret with his push bike, traveling thousands of kilometers to follow the ICGP.
Sunday afternoon, starting the second race, this time, no problem, Eric Saul having briefed the organizers to remind them the rules of the FIM start procedure.
It is again Simpson who takes the lead in front of Antony Hart who will try throughout the race to go back on Ian Simpson, failing shortly in second place but securing the title 2018 in 350.
In 250, this time, Colin Sleigh took control in front of Mark Rogers, Stefan Tennstadt and Leif Nielsen.
Yves Hecq disappears in the first round, leaving the title 250 to Stefan Tennstadt.
Classements : | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
350cc | 250cc | |||
Course 1: | Course 2: | Course 1: | Course 2: | |
1er: | IAN SIMPSON (GBR) | IAN SIMPSON (GBR) | MARK ROGERS (GBR) | COLIN SLEIGH(GBR) |
2ème: | ANTONY HART (GBR) | ANTONY HART (GBR) | COLIN SLEIGH(GBR) | MARK ROGERS (GBR) |
3ème: | JEAN PAUL LECOINTE (FRA) | PETER LINDEN (SWE) | LEIF NIELSEN (DNK) | STEFAN TENNSTÂDT (DEU) |
Record tour: | Antony Hart 1.13.395 |
Ian Simpson 1.12.681 |
Colin Sleigh 1.15.307 |
Mark Rogers 1.15.412 |
First race | Second race | ||
Results | Results per class | Results | Results per class |
See all results at www.raceresults.at |
The championship ends with the victory of Antony Hart in 350 and Stefan Tennstadt in 250, in YC 250, it is Stuart Thomas
A great season 2018 that ends. We are already working on the 2019 organization and we congratulate all the drivers who participated in the 2018 championship.
In the meantime you can follow the evolution on the website or Facebook ICGP Racing.