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18:10

After FIA Q4:

Micke Gullqvist had a plan for adjustments he thought might do the trick after evaluating the third FIA Pro Modified session's 7.67. It turned out to be a good plan, good enough for 5.98/388 km. Micke was low qualifier before but increased from 6.12 sec to 5.98. Well done team Gullqvist! Another team that improved during session #4 was Fredde Fagerström and crew from 6.51 to 6.16 and with that he ended third  after Gullqvist and Bert-Ove Olofsson who ran 6.15 yesterday. Tami Brander cut off a tenth of a second during session #4 and ended no 9 qualifier with a 6.34. Kristian Nyström improved from 6.24 to 6.28 (good for 8th spot) and Marko Lantto from 6.87 to 6.62 (11th). Johan Lindberg not out on track during the last session but said they will have fixed a new clutch for Sunday's eliminations. For the eliminations Micke Gullqvist enjoys a bye run in round 1, Johan Lindberg meets Kristian Nyström, Bruno Bader v Marko Lantto, Robert Joosten v Mats Eriksson, Bert-Ove Olofsson meets Jari Parén, Fredde Fagerström meets Marco Maurischat and Marc Maihuizen runs against Tami Brander.

11 cars on site at Alastaro to compete for 8 spots in the FIA Pro Stock ladder. Numbers 9-11 before session #4 stayed outside the ladder - Christian Sagelv, Bo Pettersson and Ulf Wagnhester. One minor improvement during session #4 only, Richard Sundblom with a 6.776 but he stayed in the #3 position. Low qualifier Thomas Lindström with a 6.68 followed by Jimmy Ålund at 6.71. For the eliminations the ladder looks like this: Thomas Lindström v Mats Jacobsson, Michael Callin v Sampsa Palos, Jimmy Ålund v Jan Palmqvist, Richard Sundblom v Michael Malmgren.

Before session #4 it was Chris Andrews who was in 9th spot and outside the FIA Top Fuel Dragster ladder. He had one last shot and took it. 4.71 sec at 344 km was good for the 7th spot. Instead it was Micke Kågered who was bumped out from the ladder. Kågered's 5.98 did not do the job this time. We gather however that it was of some comfort that the breaking of parts seems have come to a stop and whatever it was the team found before this event has been cured.  No other improvements performancewise during this session where Antti Horto was the only one not on track, but stayed low qualifier with a fine 4.12 sec/472. Risto Poutiainen in 6th place maybe a bit disappointed, but elimination day means a new day of racing and it all starts from zero again. The elimination ladder looks like this: Antti Horto v Patrik Pers. Timo Lehtimäki v Jari Halinen, Janne Ahonen v Chris Andrews, Anita Mäkelä v Risto Poutiainen. The Finnish Top Fuel drivers were mighty popular with the big crowd at Alastaro.     

No improvement during the last session in FIA Top Methanol Funny Car in which everyone but Micke Larsson was out on track. Jonas Staflund ran 6.04/314 (the track was cleaned of oil after the finish line after his run), Jonnie Lindberg 5.91/394, Ulf Leanders 5.76/399 Low qualifier Leif Andréasson ended the day with 5.71, his low qualifying time from Friday was 5.67/405. Eliminations look like this: Leif Andréasson enjoys a bye run, Johan Lindberg meets Jonas Staflund, and Ulf Leanders is up against Mikael Larsson.

A few teams improved their performance during the last FIA Top Methanol Dragster session. Dave Wilson's 5.472 ends up in 4th position, Esko Raisvuo 5.65 but still #6. Timo Habermann 5.465 (previously 5.51) stays in 3rd place. Low qualifier still Manty Bugeja at 5.42/421 (had previously run 5.44). In eliminations Manty Bugeja meets Esko Raisvuo, Dennis Habermann runs against Chris Polidano, and Timo Habermann takes on Dave Wilson.

17:25

After UEM Q4:

UEM Pro Stock Bike session #4 included a great run from Fredrik Fredlund at 7.10 sec and disappointment for Ulf Ögge who by the looks of it had shifting problems when it was time to go into stage. Ögge was shut off and backed away, but remains second quickest. The eliminations will be Ögge vs Bishop, Lyrén against team-mate Elvira Karlsson and low qualifier Fredlund is up against Timo Savolainen.

Big disappointment again for Nate Gagnon who failed to run during the last UEM Supertwin session and with that stayed outside the eight-bike elimination ladder. Samu Kemppainen improved slightly to 6.91, other than that no improvements during the last session where the top 3 ranked riders were not out on track. Job Heezen low qualifier with 6.61/318 kmh. The eliminations will be Job Heezen vs Jan Sturla Hegré, Samu Kemppainen vs Pekka Parikka, Petri Mattsson against Martijn de Haasand Svein Olav Rolfstad against Ismo Mäenpää.

Great run by Ian King during this last UEM Top Fuel Bike qualifying session in which only Kai Selkämaa and King were on track. King 6.197 sec at 349 km! Well done team Gulf Oil and Puma Engineering. Selkämaa ran 7.93 sec during a run which he shut off early, after the bike seemingly slid sideways mid track. Ian King low qualifier 6.19, followed by Rikard Gustafsson 6.64, Kai Selkämaa 6.80 and Nils Lagerl&ou,l;f 7.96.

12:25

After Pro Q3:

In UEM Pro Stock Bike no changes in ranking. Fredrik Fredlund is No #1 qualifier with a 7.079. Ulf Ögge hurt the engine badly after a rod broke Friday and had to change the engine.

In UEM Supertwin Job Heezen took the lead from Petri Mattsson. Svein Olav Rolfstad improved from 7.16 to 6.88 sec, good for third quickest, we believe he is be pleased with that. Nate Gagnon has not had any luck so far at Alastaro, the bike drifted during the first two sessions and during session #3 the bike was shut off before staging (we are unaware of the reason at this time).

In UEM Top Fuel Bike Ian King managed a major improvement running a 6.32 (which did not look close to perfect). Gustafsson still second quickest with a 6.64.  

In FIA Pro Stock it is still Thomas Lindström in the lead 6.68 and the first half of a European speed record. No improvement by Jimmy Åund who is close behind at 6.71. Richard Sundblom repeated and improved slightly still third, now with a 6.79. Outside the ladder currently Sagelv, Pettersson and Wagnhester. The bumpspot is at 6.942 currently held by Mats Jacobsson.

Marco Maurischat, whose two first attempts at the track Friday was disqualified (We believe inadvertent beam blocking - Ed) now in the 16 car Pro Modified field at 11th a with a 6.82. Micke Gullqvist in the lead did not come close to the 6.12 , adjustments will be made for session #4. The clutch broke for Johan Lindberg who may have to stay in the pits for session #4, Johan qualified in 6th position with a 6.28. Marc Meihuizen improved the most in the field to 6.27 which moved him from 8th to 5th. Freddy Fagerström had to shut off when Marko Lantto approached his right lane. Lantto hit the centre line reflectors. The 13 cars on site all qualified.

Impressive run again from Antti Horto, improved to a 4.123 sec over the 1000 feet distance and is in the lead in Top Fuel Dragster after session 3. Janne Ahonen improved from 3rd to 2nd place and ran a fine 4.19 in session 3. Micke Kågered third time on track without breaking parts and the team has reportedly taken things step by step this weekend after having identified some problems that have been there for a long time and that may now be cured. Micke holds the bumpspot at 6.44 sec after session 3. Chris Andrews have no luck at Alastaro so far, was shut off after the burnout and towed back to the pits. Chris outside the ladder with one attempt remaining. Timo Lehtimääi improved slightly from 4.44 to 4.38 and Risto Poutiainen improved to 4.53, we believe the team are not happy and aim to go quicker in session #4. Anita Mäkelä stays in the #3 position with a 4.31.

Three cars on track during session #3 of Top Methanol Funny Car, Jonnie Lindberg reported gearbox problems as reason for the 9.12 run. Leif Andréasson 5.83 which was not close to the 5.69 from yesterday. Team Leanders seemed disappointed with the 5.74 run which was the quickest for TMFC today but not near the 5.69 team Leanders managed yesterday. Larsson and Staflund not out on track this session.  

Manty Bugeja in the last pair of the session took over the Top Methanol Dragster lead from Dennis Habermann. Bugeja 5.44 low qualifier while Dennis Habermann ran one tenth of a second slower today 5.51. Chris Polidano improved from 5.89 sec to 5.52. Esko Raisvuo was towed back in the pits before reaching the burnout box (we are unaware of the reason for that). Timo Haberman's run 5.54 seconds shaking the tyres, still 3rd with 5.51 from yesterday. The six cars on site all have all qualified now.   

At the moment we have some light rain over the area. There is a storm warning for the late afternoon, early evening. We will just have to wait and see what becomes of that.