Strength in Europe
Since 2011 only two non-Europeans have medalled in the Junior World Championships – Jaimon Lidsey and Max Fricke – meaning that the lineups for the U21 European Championships and the World Championships can be very similar. Indeed, four of finalists in the 2021 competition have already medalled in the most European Junior Championships- Wiktor Lampart (Gold, 2019, Silver 2018); Jakub Miskowiak (Silver, 2020); Alexander Woentin (Bronze, 2020); Mads Hansen (Bronze, 2019).
U19 European Championships
However, in 2021 the FIM have decided not to have a U21 European Championship but only an U19 competition. And some of the competitors we will meet on 4 September in Straslund also have competed in this competition too.
For example, Jan Kvech from the Czech Republic won the U19 European Championship in 2020 beating, among others, Latvia’s Ernest Matjusonoks and Francis Gusts as well as Frenchman, Steven Goret.
And this weekend the 2021 European U19 Championship was decided in Riga, Latvia.
Gusts best in Europe
Matjusonoks and Gusts were in action again on home shale as well as four of the five reserve riders for the global competition. So that meant Petr Chulpac (Czech Republic), Philip Hellström Bängs (Sweden), Norick Bloedorn (Germany) and Drew Kemp (Great Britain) were all on the start line in Riga this weekend.
Bloedorn finished in 15th and Chulpac 9th, but otherwise the top five in this U19 competition was dominated by riders who will be in this year’s U21 World Championships.
It was Latvia’s Gusts who won Gold in his home country in impressive style, dropping just one point in his five heats. In second place, after a race off, was Hellström-Bängs who beat Poland’s Mateusz Cierniak who had to be satisfied with the bronze. Outside the medals by just one point was Kemp in 4th whilst Matjusonoks finished in 5th.
Gusts and his compatriot and Lokamotiv Daugavpils teammate Matjusonoks are the only riders at Riga who will compete in the U21 World Championships as permanent riders. But this outing shows that there is some serious talent waiting in the wings should anyone be injured before 4th September. But the question remains, will Gusts be able to turn his European Gold to a World Championship medal?
