A truly awesome performance by the Pirate crew. On Saturday and Sunday it was time for the 3rd and 4th runs of the Federal League in Esselbach, Hessen. Let's forget about the weather on siad weekend and concentrate on the storm that was the Pirates, during the races. Saturday was big, but Sunday was like a hurricane.

Let's begin with Steffi, who didn't give her competitors a shadow of a chance on either of the two days. Even when she wasn't the first one out of the gate, she reached the speed of a bolt of lightning by the time she reached the home stretch and unpacked all of her technique. Thus, she came in in 1st place on both days having well earned it.

Next, we come to Melissa, the youngest (14) member of the women's elite, who managed to ride her way to the semifinals with her buoyancy on both days. Funnily enough, she always ended up in the group of the 7 oldest and most experienced riders by lot, which ruled out an advance in the semis. On Saturday, she had to settle for 6th place. On Sunday she did everything better and faster and missed her chance at the final just barely, in 5th place. (Little Melissa's really mixing it up in the elite.)

And now, the boys
Simon, who is physically astill a bit inferior, was able to qualify for the quarter final on Saturday, but was eliminated in 5th place. On Sunday it went a lot better. He absolved the 3 preliminaries in 3rd place and well each time and was able to advance after the quarter final. In the semi, 5th place was all that was possible, despite his will and fighting spirit.

Stefan started in both the 20" and 24" on both days. He hardly gave anything awayduring the preliminaries or the qualification run for the final. On Saturday, he was able to come in 2nd in the 20" race, despite a small mistake on the 3rd turn. On Sunday he kicked it up a notch and came in in 1st.
On Saturday in the cruiser 24" race he came in in 1st after a lot of huge jumps and on Sunday apparently a faulty click pedal was the cause for Stefan sliding off the course on the 2nd straight. Despite his fighting spirit, he remained in 3rd place until the end.

J-J also started in both divisions, but his strength is definitely in the cruiser elite. Athletic and with a tread like a bull, that's J-J. He can also handle his Pirate cruiser extremely well. On Saturday, 1st place and on Sunday, despite a slight collision and the run going to Sascha, 1st place overall.
In the 20" elite, J-J made it through the preliminaries and into the semi on Saturday, where he finiahed in 5th place. On Sunday, he reached the final and finished in 7th place.

Sascha, also a rider in the cruiser elite is kicking some ass. He was able to win many of the preliminaries and even J-J had to struggle. Sascha came in 2nd, right behind J-J, on both days. (These pictures are pretty sweet.)

Lastly, we should mention, or should I say praise, Thorsten. Elite men, a division with a lot of riders and a lot of competition. Everyone with the intention of making it to the final and to the podium. For Thorsten the first of the two intentions came true on Saturday, when he finished the final in 7th place. On Sunday he achieved both, when he made it to the final and stood in 3rd place on the podium.

Congratulations to all my riders, keep it up and good luck for your next Federal League race in Bispingen.

Greetings to all other Pirate fans as well,
Jürgen.