IJSSPEEDWAY – Jasper Iwema did not make it to the semifinals of the Roelof Thijs Bokaal in Thialf tonight. The 32-year-old resident of Hooghalen collected eight points in five heats and with that he stuck in seventh place.
A place in the top six entitles you to the so-called last-chance-heat where there are still two places to earn for the final.
Gearbox broken
In the first two heats, Iwema finished in second place. In the third heat he finished third and was already looking worried at his machine afterwards. And those concerns were justified because at the start of the fourth heat his engine failed. Iwema didn’t move at the start and had to watch the race from the sidelines.
“My gearbox broke. I’ve had so many technical problems in the last week and a half. It can only get better in the next two days at the World Cup,” Iwema said afterwards.
Decisive fifth heat
In the fifth and all-decisive final heat, he appeared on the ice on his spare machine. After a good start he went into battle with the other Dutchman Niek Schaap. But after a neck-and-neck race, the race was halted after three laps after the only woman on the field crashed, Annica Karlsson from Sweden.
At the restart Iwema had to give way to Schaap. But in the second lap, the Drent took over the lead and did not relinquish it.
Roelof Thijs Bokaal
Seventeen drivers from eight different countries were at the start of the Roelof Thijs Bokaal. The victory eventually went to the Finn Henri Ahlbom.
The other two Dutchmen, Niek Schaap and the only 15-year-old debutant Sebastian Reitsma, also finished on eight points after five heats, just like Iwema. Schaap eventually finished ninth and Reitsma made a flashy debut with tenth place.
Battle for world title
The race, named after former ice racer Roelof Thijs from Assen, is traditionally the amuse-bouche of the battle for the world championship. After two rounds in Togliatti, Russia, the last two rounds in the battle for the world title will follow in Heerenveen tomorrow and Sunday.
No Russians
Due to the war in Ukraine, the Russian participants are not welcome in Thialf. After the first two World Cup rounds, seven Russians are in the top ten of the intermediate standings. Replacements have been called up for the races in Heerenveen.
Jasper Iwema and Niek Schaap will also be at the start of the battle for the world title tomorrow and Sunday. After the first race weekend in Togliatti, Iwema is ninth in the standings. But in front of him there are no fewer than six Russians who are therefore not allowed to start in Thialf. Schaap did not play in Togliatti.