Just ten riders lined up to take part in the first-ever, 14-lap ‘King of Imatra’ race at Imatranajo.
Wet conditions all-round greeted the ten competitors racing, which included world’s fastest road racer Peter Hickman and pre-race favourite Erno Kostamo.
The pair went onto be evenly matched across early race chapters before Kostamo found different levels.
0.712 to the good over Hickman at lap six’s finalisation, the 2022 Macau Grand Prix winner, Penz 13 backed rider didn’t look back from here, emerging at the end of the fourteenth, final lap in spite of a major moment, 11.409 seconds ahead.
Kostamo gladfully collected the 5,000 euros prize pot, King of Imatra watch whilst Hickman in second, made it four podium finishes from his first Imatranajo racing venture.
Ville Valtonen took third, Nico Muller banked fourth with remaining race finishers been Laurent Hoffmann, Markus Karlsson and 2021 Cookstown Grand Final race winner Forest Dunn.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou