The 2009 FIM Sidecarcross world championship, the 30th edition of the competition, started on 29 March and finished after thirteen race weekends on 13 September 2009.
After six championships in a row for Daniël Willemsen, the 2009 edition was won by Joris Hendrickx from Belgium. His passenger, Kaspars Liepiņš, is from Latvia.MSC Wieslauftal (Rudersberg GP) website News, accessed: 14 September 2009. Archived 2009-09-16.
Parallel to the riders competition, a manufacturers championship was also held and won by Vruwink MotorCycles - VMC.
Overview
The 2009 season was the 30th edition of the sidecarcross world championship. The defending champion was Daniël Willemsen from the Netherlands. He started the season with a new passenger, having parted with the Swiss Reto Grütter, whom he won the 2007 and 2008 title with. After 17 seasons in the sidecarcross world championship, former five-time world champion Kristers Sergis had announced his retirement from the competition, having finished his career with a second place in the 2008 edition. Another former world champion to retire from the competition was Marcel Willemsen, but he did still take part in one more Grand Prix during the season. With Kaspars Stupelis and Sven Verbrugge, two riders who had won world championships as passengers with Daniël Willemsen also took part in the competition, the later reunited with Willemsen in a team.
The thirteen races of the season were held in eleven countries, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Ukraine, Netherlands, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, Poland and Germany. It was the first time since 2001, that the championship had returned to the traditional sidecarcross nation of Switzerland. Russia was on the calendar only for the second time, the previous race having been scheduled to be held in Moscow in 2004 but being cancelled because of heavy rain. Poland hosted a race for the first time. The competition however did not return to Great Britain who held its last event in 2001.Sidecarcross GP Destinations The John Davey Pages, accessed: 8 August 2011
Format
Every Grand Prix weekend is split into two races, both held on the same day. Thus the 2011 season with its thirteen Grand Prix had 26 races. Each race lasts for 30 minutes plus two laps. The two races on a weekend get combined to determine an overall winner. In case of a tie, the results of the second race are used to determine the winner. While this overall winner receives no extra WC points, they usually are awarded a special trophy. Race start times are set at 13:30 and 16:00.
Events typically consist of a qualifying competition, held in multiple stages on Saturdays of a race weekend while the two race events are typically held on Sundays. One exception to this rule is Easter weekends, when the races are held on Easter Monday. Race weekends can consist of additional motocross or quart support races as well, but the FIM stipulates that the World Championship races have priority. Riders have to be provided with at least one 30-minute free practice season, which will be timed. A race can consist of up to 30 starters and the qualifying modus is dependent on the number of entries. With up to 32 entries, it will be held in one group split into two sessions of 30 minutes each. Above 32 entries, the starter field will be sub-divided into two groups through ballot and the current standings. Each qualifying group can consist of up to 30 racers. Should there be more than 60 entries, a pre-qualifying has to be held. Of the riders in the two groups, the top twelve directly qualify for the races. The remaining teams then go to a second-chance qualifying, in which the best six advance. The riders placed seventh and eighth remain in reserve should one of the qualified teams not be able to participate.FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP APPENDIX FIM website, accessed: 27 July 2011
The FIM stipulates that all drivers must be of a minimum age of 18 while passengers have to be at least 16 years old to compete, but no older than 50. Riders older than 50 have to provide a certificate of medical fitness to be permitted to compete. The driver has the right to exchange his passenger under certain conditions.
Starting numbers for the season are awarded according to the previous season's overall finishing position of the driver. Current or former World Champions have however the right to pick any number they wish, except the number one, which is reserved for the current World Champion.
The competition is open for motor cycles with two-stroke engines from between 350 and 750 cc and four-stroke engines of up to 1,000 cc. Each team is permitted the use of two motorcycles with the possibility of changing machines between races.
The FIM does not permit radio communication between riders and their teams. Outside assistance during the race on the course is not permitted unless it is through race marshals in the interest of safety. Limited repairs in the designated repair zone during the race are permitted.
The first twenty teams of each race score competition points. The point system for the 2009 season was as follows: PlacePoints1 252 223 204 185 166 157 148 139 1210 11PlacePoints11 1012 913 814 715 616 517 418 319 220 1
Prize money Prize money and travel reimbursements in the sport are not large, sidecarcross still qualifying mostly as an amateur sport. In the 2009 season for example, every team received Euro 500 as a travel indemnity per race weekend qualified for. Additionally, prize money was paid, with the winner earning €300, the second placed team €250, the third placed team €200. With the prize money gradually dropping off from there, the teams placed twelfth to twentieth still received €50 each.
Calendar The calendar for the 2009 season:FIM Sidecarcross World Championship – 2009 Calendar FIM website, accessed: 5 August 2011 DatePlaceRace winnersGP winnerSource29 March Castelnau Daniël Willemsen / Dagwin Sabbe Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Result Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx3 May Wohlen Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Result Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge17 May Gdańsk Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Result Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge24 May Chernivtsi Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Result Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge7 June Varsseveld Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Result Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge12 July Genk Marko Happich / Martin Betschart Marko Happich / Martin Betschart Result Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders19 July S'bessenbach Jānis Daiders / Lauris Daiders Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Result Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepins26 July Slagelse Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Henrik Söderqvist / Tobias Sylwan Result Henrik Söderqvist / Tobias Sylwan9 August Kegums Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Result Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx16 August Penza Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Result Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge23 August Kiviõli Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Jānis Daiders / Lauris Daiders Result Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders6 September Saint-Jean Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Jānis Daiders / Lauris Daiders Result Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge13 September Rudersberg Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Result Stuart Brown / Luke Peters 27 September Jauer Belgium The Sidecarcross des Nations in Jauer on 27 September 2009 is a non-championship event but part of the calendar and is denoted by a light blue background in the table above.
Classification
Riders The final standings of the 2009 season:FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Classification 2009 FIM website, accessed: 8 August 2011 PositionDriver / PassengerEquipmentBike NoPoints1 Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepins KTM-VMC 4 4832 Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx KTM-VMC 3 4653 Jānis Daiders / Lauris Daiders KTM-VMC 8 4184 Marko Happich / Martin Betschart Zabel-MEFO 5 3775 Daniël Willemsen / Sven Verbrugge Zabel-VMC 1 3666 Václav Rozehnal / Marek Rozehnal Zabel-VMC 7 3657 Māris Rupeiks / Haralds Kurpnieks KTM-WSP 6 3418 Etienne Bax / Marc van Deutekom Zabel-VMC 10 3009 Stuart Brown / Luke Peters Husaberg-VMC 17 26610 Tomáš Čermák / Ondřej Čermák JAWA-MEFO 37 26111 Peter Steegmans / Christian Verhagen Zabel-VMC 16 24512 Nicky Pulinx / Kaspars Stupelis Zabel-VMC 9 22913 Kristof Santermans / Ben van den Bogaart Zabel-WSP 19 18214 Thomas Morch / Robbie Bax Zabel-WSP 18 14215 Jan Visscher / Jeroen Visscher Zabel-VMC 30 12216 Gerrit van Werven / Gertie Eggink KTM-VMC 96 11317 Daniel Millard / Joe Millard Husaberg-WSP 35 10918 Ben Adriaenssen / Kenny van Gaalen KTM-VMC 90 10819 Henrik Söderqvist / Tobias Sylwan Husaberg-MEFO 20 10120 Martin Walter / Andre Saam Zabel-WSP 15 10021 Robert Gustavsson / Henrik Apelgren KTM-MEFO 747 5222 Joshua Luscher / Markus Gloor Husaberg-VMC 31 5123 Margo Sonn / Elvijs Mucenieks KTM-AYR 23 4824 Marcel Willemsen / Bruno Kaelin Zabel-WSP 11 4125 Kevin Bitsche / Johannes Vonbun Zabel-WSP 67 4126 Benjamin Daniel / Guennady Auvray Husaberg-WSP 41 3927 Thijs Derks / Roy Derks Husaberg-EML 13 2628 Gert Gordejev / Keit Kivaste KTM-AYR 34 2429 Lukáš Černý / Edouard Chereau JAWA-MEFO 21 2230 Evgeny Scherbinin / Sergey Sosnovskikh KTM-AYR 79 1931 Miroslav Knotig / Robbie Bax MEFO 98 1932 Roman Koch / Aleksey Bessarabov Zabel 351 1933 Baptiste Bigand / Julien Bigand Zabel-VMC 25 1834 Arnolds Sīlis / Gints Sīlis MTH-VMC 171 1835 John Lyne / Steve Kirwin KTM-VMC 24 1736 Mark Kinge / Kev Foyle Husaberg-WSP 71 1737 Eric Schrijver / Patrick van de Nieuwenhuizen MTR-VMC 14 1638 Carlo van Duijnhoven / Tom van Duijnhoven Zabel-VMC 12 1439 Joonas Saloniemi / Juho Saloniemi KTM-AYR 53 1440 Michail Kursov / Pavel Anikin Zabel 311 1241 Igor Rodionov / Dmitri Rodionov KTM-AYR 199 1242 Andreas Rutter / Steffen Nicke Zabel 102 1143 Boudewijn Gommeren / Jean Pierre Loos KTM-Bastech 130 1144 Argo Poldsaar / Indrek Aljes KTM-AYR 44 1145 Sergei Ivanov / Atho Jalas KTM-AYR 188 1046 Liutauras Variakojis / Arvydas Davidonis KTM-AYR 49 947 Andreas Clohse / Birgen Beernaert Zabel-VMC 27 848 Marcel Grondman / Rick Sellis Zabel-VMC 55 749 Frank Mulders / Roy Derks MTR-WSP 111 750 Jean Marie Ains / Matthieu Cailleau JAWA-MEFO 65 751 Valeriy Starchenko / Evhen Potanin Zabel-VMC 901 552 Richard Jenkins / Daniel Chamberlain Zabel-VMC 87 553 Dmytro Hrechanuk / Oleksandr Litovchenko MTH-BSU 92 454 Dorian Boileau / Paul Fressard Husaberg-VMC 77 455 John Nielsen / Dennis Hansen JAWA-VMC 191 356 Nick Jarvis / Josh Chamberlain KTM-VMC 144 257 Tommy Sorensen / Andreas Linden Husaberg-AYR 92 258 Willi Liebl / Vladislav Gabor Husaberg-MEFO 66 259 Zigmas Žiukas / Jonas Davidonis KTM-AYR 52 260 Guillaume Martin / Edouard Chererau Zabel-VMC 110 161 Wim Janssen / Bart Notten Zabel-VMC 36 162 Werner Wittmann / Premysl Novotny KTM-NMP 116 163 Kert Varik / Veikko Parksepp KTM-AYR 45 1 Equipment listed is motor and frame.
Manufacturers Parallel to the riders championship, a manufacturers competition is also held. In every race, only the best-placed rider of every make is awarded points in this competition.
The final standings in the manufacturers competition were: PositionManufacturerPoints1 VMC 6422 MEFO 4343 WSP 4114 AYR 655 KTM 30 6 Husaberg 4 BSU 4
References
External links The World Championship on Sidecarcross.com The John Davey Grand Prix Pages – Results of all GP's up until 2005 FIM Sidecar Motocross World Championship