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News • August 11th, 2026
|The excitement of the 2026 FIM Sidecar World Championship reached new heights this past weekend, from 7 to 9 August, as the competition returned to Italy for the first time in twenty-three years. The event took place at the Cremona circuit, where the defending champions, Sam and Thomas Christie from Beverley, showcased their skills, securing victory and shaking up the championship standings.
Championship Drama in Cremona
The weekend was filled with unexpected twists, particularly for series leaders Harrison Payne and his passenger Kevin Rousseau, who had been dominating the championship until now. During the second race on Sunday, a ruptured fuel pipe forced the duo to retire while leading, handing the overall win to the Christie brothers. This dramatic turn of events reduced Payne and Rousseau's lead in the championship from twenty-and-a-half points to just four-and-a-half, leaving them vulnerable as the competition heats up.
The Christies, riding an LCR Yamaha, have proven they are not to be underestimated. Their victory in Cremona not only boosts their confidence but also positions them as serious contenders in the title race, sitting just eleven points behind Finnish rider Pekka Päivärinta and his British passenger Adam Christie, who are currently in second place.
Race Highlights
The weekend kicked off with the qualifying rounds, where Payne and Rousseau topped the charts by nearly a second, starting the twelve-lap Sprint race from pole position. They made a strong start, quickly pulling ahead of the Christie brothers, the Peugeot duo of Ted and Vincent, and Päivärinta and Christie.
As the race progressed, Payne and Rousseau established a comfortable lead. By the time the checkered flag waved, they finished with an impressive margin of ten-and-a-half seconds over the Christies, who managed to fend off challenges from the Peugeots and Päivärinta/Christie, crossing the line in second place.
Sunday's Main Race
The Main race on Sunday saw the duration shortened from twenty to eighteen laps due to intense heat. Once again, Payne and Rousseau took the lead, but the competition was fierce. The Christie brothers were engaged in a tough battle with the Peugeots, who were not making it easy to catch up. However, on lap fifteen, disaster struck for Payne and Rousseau when flames erupted from their sidecar, forcing them to pull over and extinguish the fire. This incident led to the deployment of the safety car, which allowed no further overtaking.
As the race concluded under the safety car, the Christie brothers celebrated their well-deserved victory, while the Peugeots claimed second place, marking their first podium finish together. Päivärinta and Christie secured third overall, with Schlosser and Krieg finishing fourth, followed by Streuer and Vissenberg in fifth, and the Turner brothers rounding out the top six.
Heading to the Netherlands
With the championship now taking a six-week break, the next round will take place at the iconic Assen circuit in the Netherlands from 18 to 20 September. Fans will not want to miss the action, as all races will be streamed live on FIM-MOTO.TV, complete with behind-the-scenes footage and expert analysis.
