Svensson European Finals winner

The scenario arriving at Santa Pod was that Kai Selkämaa was in the championship lead with 190 points, followed by Rene van den Berg (178 points) and Petri Paljakka (149 points). They were the main contenders for the championship trophies with Peter Svensson chasing from behind at 114 points. Svensson with a theoretical chance to advance into the 3rd ranking if he top scored.


Peter Svensson - low qualifier

During the qualifications it was also team Svensson & the Billet Racing crew who mastered the track the best with 6.2031 sec/216.13 mph.


Sverre Dahl broke at the semi´s

Sverre Dahl  2nd quickest after Svensson with 6.347/219.07 mph.

The difference between no 1-8 qualifiers after three sessions slightly over two seconds. Maybe it said something about the "trickiness" of the track.. some said traction was almost too good and difficult to adjust the bikes after. Some teams managed better than others for sure.


Not Rene van den Berg´s race

Rene van den Berg who has been running  consistently for part of the season found himself in the middle of the field after 3 passes of qualifying with 6.991 sec/203.50 mph.


Ian King - Puma Engineering

Ian King out on track on his "temporary ride" on loan from Eric Muccignato during the first session but, broke a rod causing damage that meant he parked the bike for the remainder of the event. However team King made good use of the  involuntary "free" time as it meant they could be of assistance to Petri Paljakka ,who was 3rd quickest during qualifications on stunning the "ex-King" Puma Engineering bike.       


Eric Teboul - Top Fuel & Rocket Bike rider

Eric Teboul also brought his incredible exhibition rocket bike to Santa Pod. The competition in Top Fuel Bike for Eric ended already in the quarter finals against Sverre Dahl. But I gather his new world record set later the same day with the rocket bike was of some comfort. How about travelling the quarter mile in 5.1964 sec. at a speed of 243.72 mph (392 km) over the finish line (and on a bike!?). Just spectacular!  

Check the full UEM & FIA final Championship points standings under separate headings in this newsletter.

All teams on site made a huge effort despite many technical problems to provide the spectators at Santa Pod with some truly great racing and a good end to the championship season 2010. Well done all of you and thanks for the 1st class entertainment this year!

Petri Paljakka - champion 2010


In the end it was the 2009 European Finals winner Peter Svensson who managed to pull it off once more, and he did so running strong numbers all through the eliminations. 6.06 sec in the quarter finals/6.15 in the semi´s and then ended the event by running 6.08 sec in the final.. (out of incident  that was the same ET as in the 2009 European finals final). Only this time with Paljakka in the other lane instead of Dahl..

As for the championship ranking Svensson´s win and set of low ET also meant he stopped at the same points as Rene van den Berg in the 3rd position. Svensson´s event wins meant the higher  ranking was his and team Billet could (a bit to their own surprise) also bring home a championship trophy. Well done!


2010 Champion - Petri Paljakka

Elimination day for Svensson´s opponent in the final, Petri Paljakka was probably more nerve wrecking that the team would have wished for. It started well in the quarter finals where Paljakka set a new personal record with 6.446, and taking out top contender Selkämma from further competition at the same time.

Then technical problems in the semi-finals for Paljakka who just barely got off the startline before the bike stranded soon after. Luckily opponent Sverre Dahl was a no show in the semi-finals and advancement into the final meant enough points for Paljakka to pass both van den Berg and Selkämma and grab the champions trophy. Rookie and champion all in one year.. what about that?! Even if the event win was not for Paljakka, he was a  happy man after the race was finished and I dare guess we still have further personal records to be delivered from Paljakka in 2011.


Selkämma 2nd in the championship


Kai Selkämma

Kai Selkämma, who was the winner of the Hungarian championship round that started the season and runner-up at the Main Event, lost the chance for the title in the quarter finals against friend Paljakka but at least got to bring the runner-up championship  trophy back to Finland.   


Steve Woollatt got to the semi´s

The Main Event winner Steve Woollatt´s performance in the 6.40´s during eliminations could have gotten him a long way if it was not for Peter Svensson being the opponent in the semi-final. With Svensson at 6.15 sec., Woollatt´s chances for another event win at Santa Pod this season vanished.   


No win for Woollatt at Santa Pod this time..

UEM TOP FUEL BIKE
Winner: Peter Svensson  (SWE)

	QUALIFYING:		ET	MPH	KPH
1	Peter Svensson	SWE	6.2031	216.13	347.75
2	Sverre Dahl	NOR	6.3471	219.07	352.48
3	Petri Paljakka	FIN	6.7047	194.64	313.17
4	Steve Woollatt	GBR	6.8583	192.96	310.47
5	Rene van den Berg	NED	6.9914	203.50	327.43
6	Kai Selkämaa	FIN	7.1505	183.57	295.36
7	Eric Teboul	FRA	7.3166	194.61	313.12
8	Steve Carey	GBR	8.2665	103.60	166.69
	Alternate:
9	Ian King	GBR	9.8038	86.54	139.24

ELIMINATIONS:

Round 1:
Peter Svensson 6.068 sec/221.21 mph Bye run (Steve Carey no show)
Steve Woollatt 6.448 sec/198.04 mph def. Rene van den Berg 6.899 sec/209.14 mph
Sverre Dahl 6.570 sec/266.15 mph def. Eric Teboul broke no time
Petri Paljakka 6.446 sec/217.97 mph def. Kai Selkämmaa 7.064 sec/181.33 mph

Semi Finals:
Peter Svensson 6.151/215.86 def. Steve Woollatt 6.441/212.07
Petri Paljakka no time def. Sverre Dahl no show

Final:
Peter Svensson 6.080 sec/231.36 mph def. Petri Paljakka red-light no time


Low Elapsed Time of the Meet: 6.068 sec - Peter Svensson  
Top Speed of the Meet: 231.36 mph/372.25 km - Peter Svensson