The 2010 FIM Sidecarcross World Championship, the 31st edition of the sidecarcross competition, started on 5 April and finished after fourteen race weekends on 12 September 2010.FIM Sidecarcross World Championship – 2010 Calendar FIM website, accessed: 30 October 2009
The defending champions were Joris Hendrickx from Belgium and Kaspars Liepins from Latvia. The championship was won by Daniël Willemsen from the Netherlands, his eighth title, with his compatriot Gertie Eggink as his passenger. In the final two races of the season, Willemsen used Dagwin Sabbe as his passenger, replacing Eggink.
Parallel to the riders competition, a manufacturers championship was also held, which was won by WSP, with VMC coming second.
The Sidecarcross World Championship, first held in 1980 and organised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, is an annual competition. All races, manufacturers and the vast majority of riders in the competition being in and from Europe. Sidecarcross is similar to motocross except that the teams consist of two riders, a driver and a passenger. Races are held on the same tracks as solo motocross but the handling of the machines differs as sidecars don't lean. The majority of physical work in the sport is carried out by the passenger, who speeds up the sidecarcross in corners by leaning out. The coordination between the driver and the passenger are therefore of highest importance.The World Championship - Other: What is Sidecarcross.com, accessed: 27 July 2011
Overview The fourteen races of the season were held in twelve countries, Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Russia and Denmark. It was the first time since 2001, that the championship returned to Great Britain. Italy was last on the calendar in 2008, the other ten countries all hosted races in 2009, too. The Swiss GP, which was held for the first time since 2001 in 2009, was again dropped from the schedule.Sidecarcross GP Destinations The John Davey Grand Prix Pages, accessed: 8 August 2011
Format
Every Grand Prix weekend is split into two races, both held on the same day. This means, the 2011 season with its thirteen Grand Prix has 26 races. Each race lasts for 30 minutes plus two laps. The two races on a weekend actually get combined to determine an overall winner. In case of a tie, the results of the second race as used to determined the winner. While this overall winners 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. 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 seasons 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 750cc and four-stroke engines of up to 1,000cc. 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 2010 season is 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 In 2010, prize money was awarded to all rider scoring points, with €300 going to each race winner, €250 to the runners-up, gradually declining from there, with €50 going to all teams placed 12th to 20th. Additionally, every team qualified for the race plus the two reserve teams receive €500 in travel compensation.
Calendar The calendar for the 2010 season: DatePlaceRace winnersGP winnerSource 5 April Oldebroek Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Result Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink 18 April Langrish Maris Rupeiks / Kaspars Stupelis Maris Rupeiks / Kaspars Stupelis Result Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš 2 May Plomion Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Result Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš 16 May Cingoli Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Result Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink 6 June Wschowa Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Result Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx 13 June Chernivtsi Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx Result Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx 4 July Genk Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Result Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš 11 July Strassbessenbach Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Result Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink 18 July Saint-Mamet Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Result Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš 1 August Kiviõli Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Result Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink 8 August Ķegums Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Result Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš 15 August Penza Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepiņš Result Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink 5 September Slagelse Daniël Willemsen / Dagwin Sabbe Daniël Willemsen / Dagwin Sabbe Result Etienne Bax / Ben van den Bogaart 12 September Rudersberg Marko Happich / Martin Betschart Etienne Bax / Ben van den Bogaart Result Etienne Bax / Ben van den Bogaart 26 September Sverepec Netherlands The Sidecarcross des Nations is a non-championship event but part of the calendar and is denoted by a light blue background in the table above. Flags for passengers not shown.
Classification
Riders The top ten teams in the final overall standings were:FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Classification 2010 FIM website, accessed: 6 August 2011 PositionDriver / PassengerEquipmentBike NoPoints1 Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Zabel-WSP 111 5562 Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepins KTM-VMC 1 5473 Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx KTM-VMC 2 4644 Etienne Bax / Ben van den Bogaart Zabel-EML 8 4565 Maris Rupeiks / Kaspars Stupelis KTM-WSP 7 4236 Ben Adriaenssen / Kenny van Gaalen KTM-VMC 18 3227 Tomas Cermak / Ondrej Cermak JAWA-MEFO 10 2868 Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders KTM-VMC 3 2839 Baptiste Bigand / Julien Bigand Zabel-VMC 33 24310 Jan Visscher / Jeroen Visscher Zabel-VMC 15 232 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 overall standings in the manufacturers competition were: PositionManufacturerPoints1 WSP 6262 VMC 6173 MEFO 4004 Husaberg 2185 KTM 1846 AYR 837 BETA 13
2010 season races
Oldebroek - Netherlands The top ten of the first Grand Prix of the 2010 season, held on Easter Monday, 5 April 2010, at Oldebroek in the Netherlands:Starters list for the Oldebroek GP Stichting Circuit Oldebroek website, accessed: 24 April 2010FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NETHERLANDS/PAYS-BAS FIM website, accessed: 24 April 2010 Top Ten Finishers Pos. Race 1 Race 2 # Team Make # Team Make 1 111 Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Zabel-WSP 111 Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Zabel-WSP 2 8 Etienne Bax / Ben van den Bogaart Zabel-EML 7 Maris Rupeiks / Kaspars Stupelis KTM-WSP 3 18 Ben Adriaenssen / Kenny van Gaalen KTM-VMC 18 Ben Adriaenssen / Kenny van Gaalen KTM-VMC 4 7 Maris Rupeiks / Kaspars Stupelis KTM-WSP 2 Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx KTM-VMC 5 24 Marcel Willemsen / Bruno Kaelin Zabel-WSP 8 Etienne Bax / Ben van den Boogaert Zabel-EML 6 1 Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepins KTM-VMC 9 Stuart Brown / Luke Peters Husaberg-MEFO 7 3 Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders KTM-VMC 4 Marko Happich / Martin Betschart Zabel-MEFO 8 2 Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx KTM-VMC 3 Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders KTM-VMC 9 33 Baptiste Bigand / Julien Bigand Zabel-VMC 1 Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepins KTM-VMC 10 9 Stuart Brown / Luke Peters Husaberg-MEFO 33 Baptiste Bigand / Julien Bigand Zabel-VMC
Langrish - Great Britain The top ten of the British Grand Prix, held on 18 April at Langrish:FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GREAT BRITAIN/GRANDE-BRETAGNE FIM website, accessed: 24 April 2010 Top Ten Finishers Pos. Race 1 Race 2 # Team Make # Team Make 1 7 Maris Rupeiks / Kaspars Stupelis KTM-WSP 1 Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepins KTM-VMC 2 2 Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx KTM-VMC 7 Maris Rupeiks / Kaspars Stupelis KTM-WSP 3 111 Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Zabel-WSP 111 Daniël Willemsen / Gertie Eggink Zabel-WSP 4 1 Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepins KTM-VMC 2 Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx KTM-VMC 5 3 Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders KTM-VMC 11 Peter Steegmans / Sven Verbrugge KTM-WSP 6 33 Baptiste Bigand / Julien Bigand Zabel-VMC 3 Janis Daiders / Lauris Daiders KTM-VMC 7 10 Tomas Cermak / Ondrej Cermak JAWA-MEFO 33 Baptiste Bigand / Julien Bigand Zabel-VMC 8 6 Vaclav Rozehnal / Marek Rozehnal Zabel-VMC 9 Stuart Brown / Luke Peters Husaberg-MEFO 9 18 Ben Adriaenssen / Kenny van Gaalen KTM-VMC 18 Ben Adriaenssen / Kenny van Gaalen KTM-VMC 10 9 Stuart Brown / Luke Peters Husaberg-MEFO 14 Thomas Morch / Robbie Bax Zabel-WHT
Plomion - France The top ten of the first of two French Grand Prix in 2010, held on 2 May at Plomion:FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FRANCE FIM website, accessed: 4 May 2010