Championships for the Finns

This weekend has been a lot about Finland from our Nordic point of view. Young Finnish talent Saku Purtilo made his ever first apperance in the big leauges by entering the World Championship and the first round in Terenzano. Back in Finland the first round of the offcial Finnish Championship went of at the long track in Tampere.

Yesterday on May 24 the first round of the Finnish official Championship was held in Tampere Finland. A 1000 meter long track, normally a horse track, but for the day speedway and flat track was the horsepowers used.

The first round ended up with quite familiar names in top five, when Ossi Rantala grabbed the victory before the much more experienced Mikko Koskinen. Olli Mäkele, who didn’t fought among the very top last year, but has as we predicted, made a huge step until this year grabbed the third place. The wild one, Riku Haapamäki, ended up on fourth and maybe the even wilder Santeri Toppari on fifth. There is a video published on facebook from the race and the speed is certainly there You will find it at https://www.facebook.com/groups/975714087024585

But the first round of Finnish Championship was missing young Saku Purtilo who instead made his first round of the FIM Flat Track World Championship. And it was quite an impressive first start. 13 points after three heats and the final in reach he crashed with Menno Van Meer in his fourth. The 13 points where enough for the LCQ, but Saku got a minor injury, ended up in hospital for a check up. But after a brief contact we got confirmed that Saku most likely and hopefully, we cross our fingers, is ok and good to go in a couple of weeks again. In total Saku ended up with two points, and having them after the very first round even with a heat less and no lcq or final is very well done. Congrats Saku and get well soon. Results from the first round at https://www.fimflattrack.com/2025-results-terenzano-finals/

Next round of Finnish Championship is held at the same time and place as Round 2 of Viking cup on June 8 in Kauhajoki and next round for Saku in WC is in Meissen Germany on June 14.