Lukas Fienhage raced to a commanding victory on Saturday night as the second Final of the 2024 FIM Long Track World Championship powered by Anlas, Kineo and HKC Koopmann was staged under floodlights at Marmande in south-west France.
The twenty-four-year-old German star, who won the title in 2020, was in good form all night and his Grand Final win from Great Britain’s Zach Wajtknecht and reigning champion Martin Smolinski was a reverse of the top-three finishing positions at May’s opening round in Herxheim, meaning all three riders are now tied at the top of the championship standings on thirty-eight points apiece.
Fienhage and Wajtknecht both got off to winning starts in their opening Heat races along with Dave Meijerink from the Netherlands and the dynamic Dutchman then moved into the lead on his own when he defeated Fienhage and Smolinski in the second block of Heats after Wajtknecht dropped a point to 2021 champion Romano Hummel.
Meijerink maintained his momentum with victory in his third Heat ahead of home hero Mathias Trésarrieu, Smolinski and Wajtknecht, but Fienhage kept the pressure firmly on with his second victory of the night as British fan favourite Chris Harris moved into contention with his first win of the programme.
With two Heats left to decide the all-important top three riders who would get an automatic place in the Grand Final, twenty-four-year-old Meijerink led on twelve points, one ahead of Fienhage and three clear of Wajtknecht and Harris with Smolinski and Dutch racer Mika Meijer tied for fifth on seven.
Meijerink extended his unbeaten run with victory in his fourth Heat, but a third win for Fienhage – who led home Wajtknecht, Smolinski and Harris – kept the gap to just a single point and set up a tense final block of Heats where the two leaders would meet for the first time that night.
It was Fienhage who came out on top, but Meijerink was only a bike length behind as they crossed the line and they both progressed to the Grand Final on nineteen points each before Wajtknecht also booked his place with second behind Harris in his final Heat
The next five riders – Harris, Trésarrieu, Smolinski, Meijer and series newcomer Steven Goret who was making a very impressive FIM World Championship debut on his home track – then lined up for the Last Chance Heat with only the top two transferring to the Grand Final.
On paper there were two clear favourites and Harris and Smolinski did not disappoint with the British rider taking the lead with an outside pass very similar to the move that gave him victory over the German in Marmande last season.
With the Heat scores wiped, the top five lined up for the Grand Final and it was Fienhage who reacted the fastest from the inside gate when the tapes went up to take an early lead with Meijerink clipping his rear wheel as he attempted to push his way to the front.
With a career-first podium at this level almost within his grasp, the Dutchman then suffered the heartbreak of a mechanical problem that forced him out, leaving Fienhage to claim a clear win from Wajtknecht and Smolinski with Harris, who also appeared to be struggling with a technical issue, limping across the line in fourth.
The result sets up a thrilling clash at Scheessel in Germany on 18 August for the third of this season’s five scheduled Finals.
All five of this season’s Finals along with the FIM Long Track of Nations can be watched LIVE on FIM-MOTO.TV for just €34.90.
Words by FIM Long Track – Images by Jesper Veldhuizen