Sidecarcross World Championship

Sidecarcross World Championship

The Sidecar Motocross World Championship is an annual event, first held in 1980. It is organised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Before 1980, a European competition was held from 1971 onwards.

The current champions for the 2012 season are the Dutch combination Daniël Willemsen and Kenny van Gaalen. Willemsen has a record ten World Championships to his name.

The sport is predominantly amateur, with only a few top-riders, like Willemsen and the Belgian cousins Jan and Joris Hendrickx being professional riders.

The Sidecarcross World Championship, first held in 1980 and organised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, is an annual competition. All races, manufacturers and the vast majority of riders in the competition being in and from Europe. Sidecarcross is similar to motocross except that the teams consist of two riders, a driver and a passenger. Races are held on the same tracks as solo motocross but the handling of the machines differs as sidecars don't lean. The majority of physical work in the sport is carried out by the passenger, who speeds up the sidecarcross in corners by leaning out. The coordination between the driver and the passenger are therefore of highest importance. Record world champion Daniël Willemsen estimated that the passengers contribution to the success of a team is at least 50%, and that not enough credit is given to the passenger. The balance of a sidecar is reliant on the work of the passenger and passenger-driver coordination is vitale for success.

The sport is especially popular in Eastern Europe. Parallel to the riders competition, a manufacturers championship is also held.