By Good times are brewing for Imatranajo, with organisers aiming to attract road racing superstars a plenty to the Jarno Saarinen Circuit.
To aid this process, former TT Races participant Juha Kallio has been appointed main international rider scout.
Commenting about this topic, Kallio stated:
“The event itself is in good shape with electrified atmosphere of well over 40 000 racing enthusiasts gathering around the newly named Jarno Saarinen Circuit but we dont want to focus only on the carnival.
We want to deliver our spectators the ultimate racing experience with super tight fights for the podium. Races where 5 – 6 guys can take the win home.
This year we decided to increase our rider budget which simply means we are able to widen the podium fight, not just with the Superbike class but with Supersport and also the classic classes.
We are constantly on the lookout for fast riders to take on the challenge.”
Classes due to feature in early July (1st-2nd) at Imatranajo are Open Superbike, Open Supersport, Yesteryear Superbike, Sidecars, GP250, Retro Superbike, IRRC Supersport and IRRC Superbike.
One of the prime favourites for IRRC Superbike will no question be Erno Kostamo.
The reigning Macau GP Champion, set to make his TT debut this year, stated about his nation’s sole pure road race:
“Imatranajo is one of my main goals for the coming season along with the TT.
Thousands of fans cheering for you coming down Lehmuskuja, doing 300 KPH and crossing the finish line literally meters away from the Vuoksi river, is really something you cannot experience anywhere else.
I heard about the plans to invest on the racing side of the event and I am super pleased about it, us racers we don’t want to win by a mile, we want to take the fight to the finish line.”
Kostamo went onto add:
“For sure, the competition is the number one thing but don’t forget other parts of Imatra.
Fishing on the beautiful riverbank of Vuoksi or floating aboard a well-equipped sauna raft is definitely a nice way to end the weekend after tight racing.”
Quotes courtesy of Vesa Koivunen
Photo courtesy of Vesa Koivunen
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
