Czech hero Ervin Krajčovič (KTM) raced to the 2025 FIM Flat Track World Championship powered by HKC Koopmann, Anlas, Kineo and Blackburst at Pardubice this afternoon, claiming an emotional victory on home ground to regain the crown from defending champion Sammy Halbert as the title fight went down to the wire.
- Ervin Krajčovič is the home hero in the Plochodrážní Stadion Svítkov
- Prague-born star takes title from defending champion Sammy Halbert
- Ondřej Švédík secures bronze on a famous day for Czech Flat Track
Starting the sixth and final round trailing Halbert by just four points, the Prague-born thirty-four-year-old – the champion in 2023 – knew he needed to defeat the experienced American to take the title and with his passionate home fans cheering him on he stormed to a dramatic victory in the restarted Grand Final to strike FIM gold for the second time.
After crossing the line in fifth, a dejected Halbert was left to count the cost of his aggressive move on Ondřej Švédík (KTM) after the initial start that put the Czech rider on the ground. The opening lap incident prompted the red lights to come on and sent the thirty-eight-year-old from Washington State to the penalty line at the back of the grid for the restart, a disadvantage he was unable to overcome.
With the sun beating down on the Plochodrážní Stadion Svítkov, Italy’s Kevin Corradetti (Yamaha) drew first blood ahead of his compatriot Giacomo Bossetti (GASGAS) and Britain’s Jack Bell (Triumph) before Švédík opened his account with victory from Halbert and former champion Gerard Bailo (Zaeta)from Spain.
The opening block of Heats was completed with a win for Britain’s Tim Neave (GASGAS) ahead of Krajčovič and German series newcomer Marius Kircher (KTM).
Block two saw Halbert return to his winning ways chased by Bailo as Italy’s Daniele Tonelli (TM), who started the day still in with a slim chance of overhauling Švédík for series bronze, saw his fortunes go from bad to worse when he crashed out while challenging for the lead after failing to score in his opening Heat with an apparent mechanical problem.
Victories for Krajčovič from Neave and Corradetti from German veteran Markus Jell (KTM) meant that at the halfway stage it was Corradetti who led on a maximum score of fourteen, one point ahead of a three-way tie for second between Krajčovič, Halbert and Neave.
With the top ten after the Heat stages progressing directly to the Grand Final and the next ten fighting it out in the Last Chance Heat for the remaining two places on the grid for the main race of the day, tensions were rising in the paddock.
However, Bailo – showing the form that carried him to the 2022 title – kept his cool to win his third Heat from Argentinian racer Santiago Arangio (Yamaha), Halbert and Neave and Krajčovič then asserted his dominance to lead home Corradetti and Švédík before Tonelli got his first points on the board with victory ahead of Menno Van Meer (Honda) from the Netherlands.
Švédík and Krajčovič guaranteed their starts in the Grand Final when they ran one-two in their final Heat race with Arangio, Kircher and Corradetti also booking their places and Bailo then followed suit with his second win of the programme with Italy’s Michele Guerra (Husqvarna) and Jell also progressing in second and third.
With both riders certain of a place in the twelve-lap Grand Final and just grid positions at stake, Neave then defeated Halbert before Tonelli and Bell brought it home in first and second in the Last Chance Heat to ensure they made the cut.
With just one race left to decide the title, Krajčovič went to the start first knowing victory – and the extra point for posting the fastest lap – was essential to force a run-off for the championship if Halbert finished second and, starting two places inside his US rival on the front row, he fired straight into an early lead from Švédík.
Halbert also started well, but exiting the corner to complete the first lap he drifted wide and made contact with Švédík who slid out. With the race halted and Halbert adjudged to be at fault, for the restart he was forced to line up at the back of the grid.
Krajčovič again started well and slotted into second behind Švédík as Halbert struggled to come through the pack on the three-hundred-and-ninety-one-metre circuit. With Neave battling for third with Corradetti and Halbert’s forward progress slowing, at the end of lap nine Krajčovič made a decisive pass on his compatriot and it was effectively game over.
Taking the flag – and the title – to put the seal on a sensational season of racing, Krajčovič led home series bronze medallist Švédík, who posted the fastest lap, as Corradetti completed the race podium ahead of Neave with Halbert’s fifth leaving him a frustrating five points adrift of the new champion.