After finishing runner-up once at last year’s Imatra Road Races, Eemeli Lahti enters next week’s event as one of the favourites to win, both in the eyes of many followers and according to the rider himself. Long-time Imatra Road Races dominator Erno Kostamo will not compete this year, but Lahti’s status as a favourite is not solely due to his absence.

Fourteen-time Imatra Road Races winner Erno Kostamo was injured at the Isle of Man TT three weeks ago and will unfortunately miss this year’s event, taking place in Imatra on 3–5 July. In a statement released on Tuesday, Kostamo nevertheless encouraged fans to attend the event, highlighting the unique atmosphere created by racing on the streets of Imatra city centre. Eemeli Lahti, who finished second in last year’s Sunday IRRC Superbike race at Imatra, shares that view and heads into next week’s event aiming for victory. Representing Salpausselän Moottorikerho, Lahti competes in the Superbike class of the new European Series Road Racing (ESR) championship for 1000cc motorcycles. He will also compete in the Imatra Road Races Open Superbike class.

“I also consider myself one of the favourites for victory and therefore the leading Finnish rider at Imatra. In recent years, the Imatra Road Races have largely been a battle between Finnish riders, and this year, unfortunately due to Kostamo’s injury, there will be new winners. Hopefully everything comes together for me during the race. Whenever I compete, I race to win,” Lahti emphasises.

“There are many unique aspects to racing on a street circuit compared to permanent race tracks. Experience plays a major role, and Imatra is a place where you don’t get to ride throughout the summer. It’s a completely different feeling racing on public roads that are closed for competition, where people normally commute to work. The speeds are high, the adrenaline is intense because the run-off areas are very different from permanent circuits. Spectators are close to the action and much more involved than they would be on a race track hundreds of metres away. The racing looks spectacular for the fans and offers an exceptional level of excitement for the riders.”

Lahti’s main focus this season is the FIM Endurance World Championship, where he and his team currently hold third place overall. While currently on course for a World Championship bronze medal, Lahti aims to turn that into a fight for gold. He is also contesting the British, Estonian and Baltic Superbike championships.

Racing on a Street Circuit in Finland Is Something Special

Lahti has competed twice at the Imatra Road Races and attended the event as a spectator around five times. Before making his race debut, he also took part in a demonstration ride at Imatra.

“That demonstration ride was where the spark really started. It was my first opportunity to ride flat out on a street circuit,” Lahti recalls.

The Imatra Road Races remain Lahti’s only experience of street racing, making the event especially significant and attractive to him.

“All my friends and family are there in the grandstands supporting me. It’s also a huge event in Finland. Racing on a street circuit abroad wouldn’t feel the same to me as racing at Imatra.”

Lahti expects many of the same riders to be fighting at the front in both the ESR Superbike and Open Superbike classes, as several Finnish and international competitors have entered both categories. ESR Superbike counts towards the European Series Road Racing championship standings, while Open Superbike is a standalone Imatra Road Races class. Riders contesting the full ESR season are therefore likely to prioritise the championship class in order to score valuable series points.

“I’m expecting strong competition from my teammate Kenny Koskinen, even though he hasn’t been able to ride much because of his military service. Ville Valtonen will probably be very competitive as well.”

In addition to the riders already mentioned, the Finnish entrants in the ESR Superbike class include Niko Lehtiranta, Jesse Riihonen, Lasse Kärki, Toni Tapio, Anssi Koski, Heikki Manilla, Roope Ollonqvist and Pekka Pouhakka.

The Imatra Road Races officially begin on Thursday with the opening ceremony. Friday features practice sessions and qualifying, while the races take place on Saturday and Sunday. The full event timetable is available on the official website:

www.imatranajo.fi/aikataulu

ESR Superbike Entry List

Pre-entered riders

4 Nico Müller (GER) – MüllerMotorsport
5 Olivier Lupberger (SUI) – Lupberger Racing
6 Rasmus Lindstrom (SWE) – Swedish Race Parts
7 Niko Lehtiranta (FIN) – Lehtiranta Racing
8 Pontus Röstlinger (SWE) – Röstlingerracing8
13 Ville Valtonen (FIN)
17 Jesse Riihonen (FIN)
19 Jean-Pierre Polet (BEL) – Road’s Warrior
22 Eemeli Lahti (FIN) – Velt Motocenter
25 Amalric Blanc (FRA) – Never Be Clever Racing
30 Lasse Kärki (FIN) – Team Vuokrakontti
36 Markus Karlsson (SWE) – Karlsson Motorsport
38 Erno Kostamo (FIN) – RVS Motorsport (Will not compete)
48 Toni Tapio (FIN) – Team Tapio
49 Jakub Sprojcar (CZE) – TTRace
51 Anssi Koski (FIN) – AK51 Racing Team
69 Heikki Manilla (FIN)
73 David Brook (GBR) – Brook Suspension
77 Stephane Bednarek (FRA) – Family Racing Team
79 Roope Ollonqvist (FIN)
87 Emil Krchnavy (SVK)
92 Pekka Pouhakka (FIN) – RRC/Mopoukot
127 Damien De Reys (BEL) – BUZZ27
174 Laurent Hoffmann (BEL) – Hoffmann by MRP
234 Fedrik Matthys (BEL) – Hoffmann by MRP