Qualifications:

Nine teams on site for an 8 bike ladder, where after four sessions UK rider Ray Debben was the one left outside. Fredrik Fredlund ran well from start. 7.17 sec in the first try out on track improved to a 7.10 in the next session and that stood as the quickest ET of all through the qualifications. Fredlund seemed cool and played it as safe as he could, saving the parts and running a setup that was kind to the bike but quick enough.

Ulf Ögge seemed eager but a bit nervous to start and things did not progress as smooth for him as for Fredlund during the qualifications. He was consistend but not as quick as Fredlund. Ögge qualified 2nd at 7.16 sec set during the last qualifying session. A broken gearbox almost ended the event for team Ögge before the eliminations. But 2011 Pro Stock bike champion Jesper Thiel came to rescue. Thiel, who was at home in Denmark, had the parts and met up with members of Andersen Racing Top Fuel Dragster team who was about to fly to Santa Pod. And overnight Ögge was back in competition.
 
Kalle Lyrén and the VEIDEC team had almost given up already before the event even started. After having damaged the no 1 engine, Team manager Roger Lyrén said they placed the parts they had available on a work bench and put together an engine from that. Kalle himself had a bad flue with fever and must have had a real rough event just riding the bike. However, Kalle and the crew are fighters and they gave it their best and was out during all qualifying sessions. Kalle 3rd quickest at 7.26 sec. followed by Gert-Jan Laseur (the other rider beside Ulf Ögge who rides a stunning Buell). Laseur 7.28 good for the 4th place.

Elvira Karlsson on the other VEIDEC Racing bike in 5th place 7.330. UK based riders Martin Bishop 7.335, Len Paget followed on 7.59, Kevin Charman 7.87 and to end the field Ray Debben whose quickest was 8.40 sec. That was the ranking which formed the base for the 8 bike elimination ladder.    


No 1 qualifier Fredrik Fredlund interviewed by announcer Darryl Bradford


Kalle Lyrén had a tough weekend fighting both a bad flue and technical problems, but he did it in grand style

Fredrik Fredlund (right) winner of European Finals and runner-up Ulf Ögge on the podium

Eliminations:

Fredlund and Ögge on opposite sides of as no 1 and 2 in the ladder meant they could only meet each other first in a final. And as indicated at the beginning of this article it was to happen.

On his way to the final Fredlund took out Kev Charman to start. Fredlund 7.15 winning ET, not record quick but consistent.

Elvira Karlsson got to eager at the startline and her red-light against Gert-Jan Laseur ended her championship season in round one. Laseur managed a decent 7.28 sec, but was taken out of competition in the semi-final against Fredlund. Fredlund 7.10 sec and again consistent.

Ulf Ögge started the eliminations by outrunning Len Paget. Ögge´s ET 7.26 sec which we know he would not consider a run to be content with.

Kalle Lyrén had success to start and took out Martin Bishop from further competition , but then was a no show in the semi.final  against Ögge. Ögge´s bye run again at 7.26 sec and by the look of it, Fredlund had the performance advantage at that stage, entering the final.

Fredlund first out from the startline with a slightly better reaction time and passed the finish line first of the two after 7.123 sec at 185 mph. Ögge´s loosing time 7.222 sec/ 182 mph.

Fredlund is the new 2012 Euorpean Pro Stock Bike Champion as well as winner of the European Finals. Fredlund and the Paf team (also including last years rising star, Danish rider Rasmus Olesen and with advice from the US based Pros Gary and Karen Stoffer) have been successful and the title and European records that was set this year proves Fredlund as a well deserving champion. Great job guys! As for team Ögge, the performance level is there without doubt, they just could not make it work good enough this time. Ulf Ögge runner-up at the European Finals and UEM Drag Bike Championship.
 
Link to Results: click to open pdf-files
QUALIFICATIONS
ELIMINATIONS LADDER

courtesy of TSÍ time keepers and Santa Pod Raceway

Check the full points table under a separate headline in this edition.

Low Elapsed Time of the Meet: 
7.102 seconds – Fredrik Fredlund
Top Speed of the Meet:  
185.84 mph/299.01 kph – Fredrik Fredlund


The two Buells on track - Gert-Jan Laseur near lane and Ulf Ögge far lane