The European Grass Track semi-final that was canceled due to rain in Loppersum will now be held in Saint-Macaire, France on Saturday, June 22nd. This event will determine which riders qualify for the European Grass Track Championship on July 6th in Tayac, France. The first group of riders secured their spots in the championship during the first semi-final in Bielefeld, Germany. Despite wet conditions, the races went on as scheduled. German rider Lukas Fienhage took the top spot, followed by Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris and Jacob Bukhave. Dutch riders Mika Meijer and William Kruit also qualified for the final. Unfortunately, Nigel Hummel missed out due to a knee injury.
The search for a venue to host the rescheduled semi-final in Saint-Macaire was a challenge for the international governing body, FIM. Failure to find a location would have forced national motorsport boards to select riders for the final in Tayac, with limited spots available per country. This scenario has been avoided thanks to the relocation of the event to France.
The decision to move the semi-final to France was made due to the consistently wet weather in the Netherlands, which posed a risk to the successful execution of the event. Saint-Macaire is expected to have better weather conditions, making it a more suitable location. Initially, there were discussions about holding the event the day before the final in Tayac, but this option proved unfeasible.
The change in venue has impacted other events, such as the international competition in Opende on June 21st and the Dutch Open Grass Track in Noordwolde, Friesland on June 23rd. Several international specials riders will be unable to participate in these events due to their involvement in the competition in France. As a result, the international specials races in Opende have been canceled, and the focus will shift to the national specials. Additionally, the 125cc Cup class will be featured in the evening program on Saturday.
The race in Noordwolde has been rescheduled to take place on July 21st. The organizers are hopeful for a strong turnout and favorable weather conditions, following the challenges they faced with rain and thunderstorms during the previous edition.