Best European riders have their sights set on Albacete

This weekend the UEM European Championship takes place at the Albacete circuit in Spain, where 19 countries will be represented across three categories; Superstock 1000, 125GP and Supersport.

The entry list of riders brings together the top-classified riders from the National Championships in Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the leading participants in the three main inter-regional Championships in Europe; Alpe-Adria, Scandinavia and the Balkans.

The 125GP category has 42 entrants, a figure arrived at after a difficult selection process in which there was an extremely high number of applications. The main favourites will be Spaniard Isaac Viñales and Portuguese Miguel Oliveira, who have so far dominated the category in the CEV Buckler (Spanish National Championship) this year. Joining them will be Italian youngster Mauriello and Czech talent Popov, both of whom have been competing in the Italian Championship and rode at Mugello last Sunday.

Young German Luca Grünwald is also a talent to watch, and as IDM Champion will attempt to emulate his compatriot Marcel Schrötter as European Champion. Other notable entrants are French Champion Gregory di Carlo, Dutch Champion Roy Pouw and Scandinavian Champion, Norwegian rider Henning Flathaug.

In Superstock 1000 the calibre of entrants is at a premium with Spaniard Javier Forés, who recently claimed his National title, pitting his wits against Italian Champion and veteran Ivan Goi, as well as Czech Michal Filla and Swede Nicklas Cajback. Local representation will come from Javier del Amor, with Santiago Barragán another Spaniard and a rider who fought magnificently with Forés for victory in the CEV Buckler race disputed at Albacete just last month.

In Supersport a surprise entry on the list is the name of Carmelo Morales, current European Superstock 1000 Champion but who this season is competing in the Moto2 category. Morales intends to impose his experience on the category ahead of rivals and former World Championship riders Mirko Giansanti (ITA) and Raymond Schouten (NED).

The best television coverage in the history of the European Championship

A total of seven European television channels will broadcast the action from the UEM European Championship at Albacete this weekend, the highest level of coverage afforded to the event since it started in its current one-race format three years ago.

Teledeporte (Spain), Eurosport UK (Britain), Sport1 (Germany), Sport TV (Portugal), RAI Sport (Italy), Nelonen (Finland) and Super Sport (Albania) will broadcast the Superstock 1000, 125GP and Supersport races, offering either live or extended highlights coverage to their viewers.

The race schedule is as follows (Spanish time):
10:45 Superstock 1000
12:00 125GP
13:15 Supersport

Between the Superstock and 125GP races a tribute to Alex Crivillé will take place as turn two of the Albacete circuit is officially named after the 1999 500cc World Champion