80,000 sun kissed spectators were treated to a great sidecar race in Assen. With all the start line procedures finished, the lights went out for 17 laps round the famous 4.555 km Assen circuit, better known as “The Cathedral” It was Tim Reeves and Gregory Cluze who got the whole shot on their “The Relocator” LCR, Kawasaki, but right on their tail was Ben and Tom Birchall on their “Mitchell’s of Mansfield” LCR, Suzuki. Bennie Streuer and Geert Koerts with their “Team Streuer” LCR, Suzuki, overhauled Sebastien Delannoy and Kevin Rousseau on their “Team Sand Seb 72” LCR, Suzuki for third into the first series of bends.

Problems for Philippe Gallerne and Julien Chesnau with their “Team Gallern” RCN, Suzuki, they spun at the first corner, they managed to get going again, but were to retire from the race with suspension problems at the next corner. Problems too for Jacob Rutz and Thomas Hofer on their “Sidecar Racing Team Rutz” LCR, Yamaha, they were to enter pit lane on the warm up lap with a broken gear change, they did get going again, but were 3 laps down on the rest of the field when they rejoined the race.

The first two teams of Reeves/Cluze and the Birchall Brothers were to dominate the race from word go, and they certainly entertained the massive crowd, they were to swap places for the lead on numerous occasions throughout each lap. It was not till half way through the race that Reeves and Cluze got the break they wanted, the Birchall Brothers were caught up with a slower team, by the time they got past, Reeves and Cluze had a good five to six bike lengths out in front. The Birchall Brothers fought hard and managed to get some time back on Reeves and Cluze, but it was an overjoyed Reeves and Cluze who were to take the chequered flag for the race win, and add 25 points to their championship title lead. The Birchall Brothers Ben and Tom crossed the line for second, only 0.561 down on Reeves and Cluze, they were credited with the fastest lap of the race too, a time of 1:42.392. After the race, both teams congratulated each other on a great race and said “It must have been good to watch”.

Delannoy and Rousseau managed to get by Streuer and Koerts on lap four and were to make a good gap between themselves and “Team Streuer”. This was not to change throughout the race, with the French team taking the chequered flag for third; the team were overjoyed with their podium placing, and will be hoping they can do the same at the last round in Le-Mans, France.

Bennie Streuer and Geert Koerts once again with the massive support from the spectators were to cross the line in fourth, good points for the teams championship fight. After the race Streuer said “On lap two I thought we had a problem with the back wheel, it turned out the back tyre had lost all the grip, we could not catch Delannoy, but the team are happy with fourth, and again the support the team has had this weekend is unbelievable, thank you all very much”.

Crossing the line for fifth place was Uwe Gurck and Manfred Wechselberger with their “Polizei Sport Verein Wels” LCR, BMW, the team had no problems throughout the race and was very happy with their placing. Passenger Wechselberger was very nervous going into the race, but once the lights went out all was back to normal with the Austrian, and he enjoyed the race.

A great sixth place for wild card team Kees Kentrop and Jeffrey Verhagen with their “Connect Roke Team” LCR, Yamaha, they had a trouble free race, and enjoyed the race in front of so many spectators, “It was great hearing the spectators cheering and clapping on the slowing down lap” said Kentrop.

Mike Roscher and Anna Burkard on their “Roscher Hanni Racing” LCR, BMW had a trouble free steady race, and were happy with their seventh place, with Roscher saying after, “It’s all points for the team, and we enjoyed the race” Eighth place went to Petri Makkula and Harri Asumaniemi on their “Team Makkula” LCR, BMW. “It was not what the team wanted but after the nightmare weekend the team have had with electrical and fuel problems, this will do for us, we have some more points for the championship” said Makkula.

Three weeks will see the FIM Sidecar World Championship head back to Germany, to Oschersleben for the next round.



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