Publicity photo
On Saturday, May 14, the opening of the grand Baltic drift season was held on the Biķernieki track with exciting fights and changing weather conditions. Lithuanian riders showed the best performance in the PRO class, as in the final Donatas Macpreikšas won over Valdis Vindžigelski, while this time the entire podium was won by athletes from Estonia.
The new season of 2022 started with a record of new participants, as 126 pilots from all three Baltic countries entered the Biķernieki track – 68 Street class representatives, 40 Semi Pro riders and 18 PRO class athletes. It should be noted that the stages of the Latvian, Estonian, Livonian and Baltic championships took place within the framework of this competition, as well as the Latvian and Estonian drift cups.
The weather was changing on the track throughout the day, as the rain alternated with the sun, which ensured a very variable condition of the pavement. Driving was complicated not only by the change between wet and dry pavement, but also by the fact that the composition of the asphalt changed several times within the completely new configuration. As a result, the pilots had to adapt to new and unpredictable conditions on the track throughout the day.
In the PRO class, the best performance in the qualification was shown by the new Estonian pilot Kevin Pesur, leaving behind Valdis Vindžigelski from Lithuania and Edgars Kroģers from Latvia. Taking into account that only 12 pilots were able to get points in the qualification, the above-mentioned three, as well as the Lithuanian Donatas Macpreikšas, already automatically entered the TOP 8 round.
The winner of the qualification Pesurs TOP 8 suffered a loss against Rolandas Bērziņš, while this time Kroģeris conceded in front of the Estonian Ao Vaida. In the semi-finals, the above-mentioned Lithuanians Vindžigelskis and Macpreikšas demonstrated outstanding performance, beating Bērziņš and Vaidu respectively. Estonian Ao Vaida turned out to be the third place in the duel this time, while in the grand final Donatas Macpreikšas coped with her compatriot Valdis Vindigigskis.
Everything started great for Latvian athletes in the Semi Pro class, as the experienced Aleksandrs Murajs won the qualification, leaving the Estonians Kristo Pastels and Kaleva Kivilo behind. In addition to these three, Jānis Bērziņš, Dāniels Lācis, Anrijs Luters and two other guests from Estonia – Arti Kannistro and Mihaels Reilans – automatically entered the TOP 16 round due to their good qualification results.
The fights in the Semi Pro test were really hot and exciting, in several episodes the Latvian pilots did not have enough equipment and off-track. In the end, three Estonian pilots and Jānis Bērziņš were able to compete for the best four. In the first semi-final, Reiljan managed to beat Bērziņš, while in the second semi-final, Pastel was able to cope with his compatriot Ragnar Vīnapū. In the final, Pastel won with a convincing performance, but better this time in the fight for third place in Viinapuu, thus providing Estonia with a full pedestal in the Semi Pro class.
Estonia also performed well in the Street standings, as Estonian Sergei Shestopalov won the 68-pilot race, beating Harry Bildart in the final. In the fight for the third place, Igor Voznakovsky triumphed this time, winning over Rustama Jurabayev. It should be noted that a new item in the Street class has been introduced this season – TOP 32 X tandem rides. Athletes with a score of 33 or lower compete, allowing these young pilots to gain tandem experience against their competitors in competition mode. Dāvis Kalniņš has historically triumphed in this new TOP 32 X, leaving Emīls Segliņš and Uģis Jurovs behind
The information was prepared by:
Eline Berke
