Per Bengtsson

SUPER TWIN:
Super Twin team Bentec with rider Per Bengtsson was behind in the points standings entering the Sweden Internationals after having experienced two less than successful events in Hungary and England. "With a new clutch it takes time to find a new baseline" said Per and commented on how important it is to have good tracks to run on to be able to use the tools on hand fully. The new Tierp Arena naturally was a blank sheet of paper for team Bentec as well as for most of the championship teams. Bengtsson qualified 3rd quickest with 6.61 sec. and performed confident and consistent during the eliminations. After the win Bengtsson said they started with a modest set up and  adjusted in steps in between runs. Bengtsson feels the team now have a better basline to work with for the forthcoming events and that he is going for the championship, something that seemed remote before the event, but is  now within reach. The #1 position  is 12 points away and currently held by Jan Sturla Hegré. Bengtsson is 3rd with Hans Olav Olstad in 2nd place. Next event for team Bentec is the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro, Finland which is also the next round of the UEM Drag Bike Championship.

Runner-up Super Twin:
Mark Ashelford, Australia (read the article about him in this edition)

Peter Svensson

TOP FUEL BIKE:
Team Kendall Top Fuel Bike winner Peter Svensson said they broke a piston during qualification round#1 and experienced some problems with the transmission during the event. “However we had real good traction the last two runs”, said Svensson who was as close as can be to make it into the 5-second range during eliminations. In the quarter finals Peter ran 6.022 sec. and  noted an ET of 6.006 in the final! Looks like Svensson´s own European record of 5.979 sec. set 2009 may not survive the season. Peter Svensson, crew chief brother Sören and crew also wished to comment on the Tierp new Arena. “What a fantastic arena and event! We wish to send the track operator Tierp Arena and championship co-ordinator Speedgroup our sincere congratulations on the achievements with the arena and the Sweden Internationals”. Peter Svensson and crew sits out the next championship round at Alastaro and rejoins the competition for championship round #5 at Gardermoen, Norway first weekend in august.

Runner-up Top Fuel Bike: Ian King (UK)


Jesper Thiel

PRO STOCK BIKE:
Team Sovereign Pro Stock Bike winner Jesper Thiel from Denmark stated the setup they had chosen to start the qualifications with showed to be too aggressive and they experienced traction problems to start with. Thiel  had to work the bike down the track. The mechanics team adjusted the bike between runs during the qualifications and the ET:s during the eliminations was quick and consistent 7.10 sec/7.09/7.11 and 7.14 to end the final. That was also the fastest side by side final in the history of European Pro Stock Bike.  Thiel is in a confident championship lead after the Sweden International by 63 points while Fredlund is 2nd. Team Sovereign run the full championship and and both Thiel and team collegue rider Rasmus Olesen will be at the startline of the Alastaro track at the end of june.

Runner-up Pro Stock Bike: Fredrik Fredlund (Finland)

Round #4 of the European UEM Drag Bike Championship is run in Alastaro Finland June 30th-July 3rd