Grasstrack

Motorcycle racing format

the rail construction type
Motorcycle Grasstrack is a form of track racing which typically, in its current form, takes place on a flat track consisting of two straights and two bends usually constructed in a field. It is one of the oldest types of motorcycle sports in the UK with the first meetings having taken place in the 1920s. Other competitors from the postwar era included now famous names such as Bernie Ecclestone and Murray Walker. In Europe the same sport is often called Long Track racing. This is exactly the same setup as British grasstrack which has tracks normally around 600–800 meters in length, but is held on the continent with tracks up to 1000–1200 meters in length and with speeds reaching 90 mph – 100 mph. The machinery used is the same as are the riders.

The FIM, the World's motorcycle racing authority run a World Longtrack series as well as a World Team Cup. Although both events are named 'Longtrack', they often are competed for on Grass. The World Longtrack series competitors must either qualify by finishing high enough up the standings the previous year, be selected by the FIM for a 'Wild Card', or compete in a series of qualifiers and the 'Challenge' meeting, held annually. The World Team Cup involves each team consisting of 3 riders racing each other for points. The top team at the end is the winner. The 1000cc Right Hand Sidecars also have their own World Championship, previously known as the 'Sidecar World Cup' and 'Sidecar Gold Cup'. The event usually takes place on speedway circuits, with Sidecar Speedway machines being mostly used.

FIM Europe hold European Championships for both the 500cc Solos and 500cc Sidecar classes. Qualification for both events is through one of the semi finals, before a One Day Final, where the winner of the 'A' Final at the end of the event is crowned European Champion.

YearVenueFirstSecondThird 1978 Hereford Chris Baybutt Franz Kolbeck Don Godden 1979 Assen Gerald Short Gunther Brackland Tjalle Reitsma 1980 Bad Waldsee Willi Stauch Gerald Short Sture Lindblom 1981 Artigues de Lussac Neil Farnish Bernie Leigh Skjold Larsen 1982 Damme Jeremy Doncaster Mike Beaumont Josef Maucher 1983 Nandlstadt Christian Brandt Eric Schafferer Gerald Short 1984 Eenrum Martin Hagon Vaclav Verner Kent Noer 1985 La Reole Clayton Williams Harm Horstede Tommy Brock 1986 Eenrum Simon Cross Steve Schofield Joachim Reitzel 1987 Nandlstadt Roman Matoušek Joachim Reitzel Bob Dolman 1988 Joure Frank Kehlenbeck Will James Kent Noer 1989 La Reole Robert Barth Kent Noer John Bostin 1990 Uithuizen Robert Barth Kent Noer Henk Snijder 1991 Werlte Rif Saigareev Thomas Diehr Trever Banks 1992 Alken Anne van der Helm Vaclav Milik Paulus Ellens 1993 Eenrum Richard Musson Paulus Ellens Armando Dal Chiele 1994 Cloppenburg Robert Barth Anne van der Helm Steve Schofield 1995 Joure Kelvin Tatum Bernd Diener Anne van der Helm 1996 Saint Colomb de Lauzun Steve Johnston Steve Schofield Zdeněk Schneiderwind 1997No Championship 1998 Schwarme Zdeněk Schneiderwind Oleg Kurguskin Massimo Mora 1999 Werlte Bernd Diener Zdeněk Schneiderwind Vladimir Trofimov 2000 Saint Colomb de Lauzun Zdeněk Schneiderwind Uppie Bos Enrico Janoschka 2001 Noordwolde Maik Groen Zdeněk Schneiderwind Uppie Bos 2002 Berghaupten Sirg Schutzbach Zdeněk Schneiderwind Uppie Bos 2003 La Reole Gerd Riss Herbert Rudolph Matthias Kroger 2004 Eenrum Theo Pijper Gerd Riss Bernd Diener 2005 Schwarme Paul Hurry Dirk Fabriek Andrew Appleton 2006 La Reole Stephan Katt Theo Pijper Dirk Fabriek 2007 Folkestone Theo Pijper Stephan Katt Andrew Appleton 2008 Siddeburen Stephane Tresarrieu Richard Speiser Rene Lehtinen 2009 Berghaupten Stephan Katt Stephane Tresarrieu Glen Phillips 2010 La Reole Andrew Appleton Theo Pijper Martin Smolinski 2011 Wainfleet Martin Smolinski Jannick de Jong Andrew Appleton 2012 Eenrum Stephan Katt Dirk Fabriek Jannick de Jong 2013 Bielefeld Jannick de Jong Dirk Fabriek Richard Speiser 2014 St. Macaire Jannick de Jong David Howe Enrico Janoschka 2015 Staphorst Jannick de Jong James Shanes Stephan Katt 2016 Folkestone James Shanes Mathieu Tresarrieu Andrew Appleton 2017 Hertingan James Shanes Andrew Appleton Edward Kennett 2018 Tayac Dimitri Berge Josef Franc Zach Wajtknecht 2019 Bad Hersfeld Zach Wajtknecht Paul Hurry Kenneth Hansen 2020 Tayac Mathieu Tresarrieu Romano Hummel Dave Meijerink 2021 Leamington Spacancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic 2022 Leamington Spadue to take place on 7 August 2022