2026 FIM-E Main Event – Qualifying Sunday
words and photos by Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes
A day of attrition both on and off the track with sweltering temperatures as survival mode kicked in at the second day of qualifying at Santa Pod Raceway, England to set the final qualifying fields.
FIM-E Top Fuel Bike
Rikard Gustafsson maintained his position at the head of the pile with a 5.9519/246.87 being the quickest in class today but over a tenth off his 5.8 from yesterday. Behind him there was a fair bit of movement, with Luke Farrugia getting a valid time with Gabriel Briffa’s Funnybike after a weekend of woes, a 6.4477/217.19 placing the Maltese team in second spot ahead of Neil Midgley’s 6.4696/156.19 on a very early click off. Nine entries have times on the board, but it is likely that one of the qualified eight won’t make the startline tomorrow for eliminations.
FIM-E Super Street Bike
Hungary’s Daniel Donat Lencses has clearly found something over the winter and maintained his spot at the head of the field with 6.5 second runs on three out of the four sessions, yesterday’s 6.5680 remaining the best of the lot. Almost an unheard of over a tenth behind, Jake ‘Hollywood’ Mechaell produced a 6.7009/224.64 for second spot, a final shot saw the current number one plate holder ride out a well past the eighth wheelie in perfect balance. This knocked ‘Caspar’ Lampropoulos down to third (the Greek producing a 6.7231/222/17 in the final session), ahead of his team mate Giannis Martzaklis’s new PB of 6.7446/218.02.
FIM-E Super Twin
Marcus Christiansen’s 6.9390 from yesterday keeps the Dane on top of the heap, but Roman Sixta and Anders Jensen both improved today with a 7.0735 and 7.3974 that neither will be that happy with but places the Czech and Dane second and third respectively, with Chris van Nimmen rounding out the ladder.
FIM-E Pro Stock Bike
Germany’s Jorg Lymant stays on top of the pile with his 7.2 from yesterday, the reigning champion deciding to skip the final session as conditions were on the ragged edge for his Buell. British veteran Martin Bishop improved to a 7.5948 for second spot on what will be a four bike ladder tomorrow.
FIM-E Junior Dragbike
While qualifying wasn’t a cut throat affair for the Juniors as they will compete on an all run ladder tomorrow and Alia Lester’s +0.0005 holds up for top spot. Leah Morrison took aim and only just missed with a +0.0007 on a 8.00 dial-in in the final session to earn her second spot.
Entry list is here:
https://www.santapodracersclub.com/entry_lists/2026/3_main_event/mainevent_entry_list
Livestream will be here:
https://www.youtube.com/@SantaPodTV
Results over the weekend will be posted here:
https://santapodresults.com/2026/Main%20Event/
Individual ET slips will be posted here:
https://www.etslips.co.uk/
FIM-E Schedule 2026
May 22-25, Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway, England
August 6-9, Summit Racing Equipment Internationals, Tierp Arena, Sweden
August 21-23, NitrOlympX, Hockenheimring, Germany
September 10-13, Euro Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, England
