- Mathias Trésarrieu and Jordan Dubernard run one-two at Morizès
- Danish teenager Patrick Kruse completes incredible comeback in third
- Romano Hummel and Tero Aarnio fill final two qualifying positions
Contested by a mix of ambitious young hopefuls and riders with more experience in the Long Track top-flight who were all hoping to fast-track their places behind the tapes in next season’s elite, the FIM Long Track Challenge has a reputation for fast-paced, no-holds-barred racing and this year’s edition was no exception.
Trésarrieu, who currently lies seventh in the 2025 FIM Long Track World Championship, got his night off to the best possible start with victory in the opening Heat from Dave Meijerink from the Netherlands, but Danish seventeen-year-old Kruse immediately found himself on the back foot when he was forced to retire.
Fast Finn Aarnio then continued his recent run of good form with victory ahead of his compatriot Henri Ahlbom and Hummel and Dubernard also opened their accounts with wins.
With three Heats down and two to go, Hummel led on a maximum twelve points, but he was only one ahead of Trésarrieu who in turn was just one clear of a four-way tie between Dubernard, Aarnio, Appleton and Meijerink as the field fought for a place in the all-important top ten that would earn them a start in the Semi Finals.
Hummel’s first disappointment of the night came in his fourth Heat when he failed to score as Trésarrieu won from Aarnio and Meijerink before Meijer and Stichauer then took vital victories and Kruse defeated Dubernard to claim his first win of the programme.
With everything resting on the deciding block of Heats, Frenchman Tino Bouin finally found his form to win ahead of Dubernard, although it came too late to drag himself back into contention. Meijerink then won the battle of the Dutchmen from Meijer and Trésarrieu beat Hummel as Kruse held his nerve to lead home a dramatic final Heat ahead of Aarnio.
With tensions rising, Trésarrieu raced to victory in the first Semi Final ahead of Hummel and Aarnio at the expense of Meijer and Stichauer before Dubernard took care of business in the second Semi Final from Kruse as Appleton, Meijerink and Moi were eliminated.
By this point the five riders qualifying for next year’s series were already decided, but a Grand Final was needed to determine the podium positions and Trésarrieu had the passionate home fans on their feet as he led home Dubernard with Kruse completing a famous comeback in third ahead of Hummel and Aarnio.
With the Challenge event completed for another year, focus now shifts to the fourth and concluding Final of the 2025 FIM Long Track World Championship powered by Anlas, Kineo and HKC Koopmann that will be held at Roden in the Netherlands on 21 September.
The second block saw Czech racer Hynek Stichauer take his first win of the programme ahead of Meijerink before British veteran Andrew Appleton – who had followed Dubernard home in his first Heat – defeated Trésarrieu. Norway’s Glenn Moi then won from Aarnio as Hummel led home Kruse and Dubernard to establish an early lead.
Dubernard bounced straight back to win his third Heat from Aarnio as Hummel – the 2021 FIM Long Track World Champion who has not contested this year’s series – continued to make his presence felt with his third straight victory, this time at the expense of Kruse, before Meijerink led home Appleton and Trésarrieu won from Dutch racer Mika Meijer. |
