Following a two-year absence from the series, super-fast Finn Lasse (KTM) made a winning return to the FIM Flat Track World Championship powered by Anlas, Kineo, Blackburst and HKC Koopmann after racing to victory at today’s opening round at Boves-Cuneo in north-west Italy.
Extended six-round 2024 FIM Flat Track World Championship gets under way in Boves-Cuneo Two-time champion Lasse Kurvinen on top on his championship comeback Eight nationalities represented in truly international eight-rider Grand Final It had been almost thirty-three months since Kurvinen, back-to-back champion in 2020 and 2021, clinched his second title on the TT course at the Bisalta Motor Park before announcing his retirement and his return to the scenic circuit in the shadow of the Italian Alps could have come straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Only fourth in his opening Heat race, a win second time out pushed him up to fourth in the overall standings as a full field of the world’s leading Flat Track riders battled it out and with only the top six after flour blocks of racing earning an automatic place on the Grand Final startline, every single pass was crucial.
After the first block of Heats it was America’s Sammy Halbert, Britain’s Tim Neave (Yamaha) and defending champion Ervin Krajčovič (KTM) from the Czech Republic who shared the early lead before Halbert pulled clear with victory in his second Heat as Neave took second behind Italy’s Vittorio E. Marzotto (Fantic) and Krajčovič had to settle for third as Kurvinen won from Dutchman Menno Van Meer (Honda).
Halbert, a former American Motorcyclist Association Grand National Champion, then defeated Neave to make it three from three and Krajčovič added another win as Kurvinen came home second behind Germany’s Markus Jell (KTM).
The six riders progressing directly to the Grand Final were decided in the fourth block of Heats where Halbert, despite tasting defeat for the first time after losing to Kurvinen, qualified top ahead of Neave – who claimed his third victory of the programme – and Krajčovič. Kurvinen went through in a clear fourth from 2022 champion Gerard Bailo (Zaeta) from Spain – whose first win came in his fourth Heat – and Jell.
The next eight riders then lined up for the Last Chance Heat to decide the two final riders to make the evening’s main points-paying race. With so much at stake, the action was fierce for the full duration as Van Meer and Marzotto booked their places on the startline at the expense of, among others, Czech rider Ondřej Svědík (Yamaha) who drew first blood almost twelve months ago at the opening round of the 2023 series in Great Britain.
Drawing on all his experience, Kurvinen then completed his sensational return to the series with victory in the Grand Final from Neave who, in just his second full season in the sport, continued his impressive progression with a career-best second as Halbert completed the podium ahead of Krajčovič, Bailo, Jell, Van Meer and Marzotto.
With barely any time to regroup, riders now travel to the Speedwaystadion Meissen in Germany for round two on Saturday 27 July.