Sunday May 10, 2026 at 3:15pm
Series newcomer Ashton Boughen (VRX Dirt Store Ducati) turned the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship on its head on Saturday afternoon, storming to a stunning victory at the opening round at Roden in the Netherlands and sealing an incredible debut win both for himself and for the Italian manufacturer that celebrated its entry into the series with two riders on the podium.
Podium at 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship, Roden © Jesper Veldhuizen
• FIM Flat Track World Championship gets under way with Dutch date
• Series newcomer Ashton Boughen shocks established stars
• Roden opener sets the scene for sensational season of racing
With interest in the extended ten-round championship at an all-time high and a number of new competitors and manufacturers lining up at the Speed Centre Roden for the Netherlands’ debut on the championship calendar, there was a sense of anticipation in the paddock where a truly international entry of riders from twelve countries and two continents had assembled.
Defending champion Ervin Krajčovič (KTM) sewed up his second title in three years last season, but the Czech hero could only claim a tentative fourth in the opening eight-lap Heat as Britain’s Jack Bell (Triumph) celebrated his twenty-third birthday with victory ahead of Ondřej Švédík (KTM) and Tim Neave (VRX Dirt Store Ducati).
Following a restart, the second Heat saw a tapes-to-flag victory for eighteen-year-old Boughen who wasted no time in throwing the gauntlet down to his rivals, although he was forced to fight hard as Spain’s Gerard Bailo (Zaeta) – champion in 2022 – poured on the pressure with his favoured inside lines allowing him to close through the turns before the British rookie pulled clear with faster, wider lines along the straights.
Local hero Maikel Dijkstra then took a popular victory ahead of Italy’s Daniele Tonelli (TM) and William Bonnici (Suzuki) from France to complete the first block of racing.
Since finishing second in 2023, Bailo has struggled to replicate his title-contending form, but the Spaniard looked back to his best when he swept by Tonelli during the early stages of the fourth Heat to record an impressive win with the Ukraine’s Stanislav Ohorodnik taking third from the Czech Republic’s Švédík, last season’s bronze medallist.
2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship, Roden © Jesper Veldhuizen
Krajčovič then claimed his first Heat victory of the campaign ahead of Bell and Dutch racer Menno van Meer (Honda) as Boughen slipped to fourth before Britain’s Neave led home his compatriot and series newcomer Gary Birtwhistle (Royal Enfield) who was representing the famous manufacturer on its championship debut.
Sharing the lead with Bell at the halfway mark, Bailo’s second victory of the afternoon – this time at the expense of Švédík and van Meer – moved him into a clear lead as Tonelli won from Bell and Boughen and Krajčovič led home Dijkstra and Bonnici.
With the top ten riders following the Heats transferring directly to the Grand Final and the next ten contesting the Last Chance Heat, tensions were running high as Švédík led home van Meer and Krajčovič. Neave then picked up his second win of the afternoon, this time ahead of Bell who also booked his place in the Grand Final along with Tonelli and Bonnici, before Boughen led home Bailo for a second time with Dijkstra’s third ensuring he also progressed.
After finishing one-two in the Last Chance Heat, Ohorodnik and Dutch racer Stef Hamstra (KTM) took their placesalongside the automatic qualifiers for the twelve-lap Grand Final before Boughen launched into the lead around the opening turn chased by Tonelli, Neave and Bailo.
The Italian moved to the front at the end of lap one, but there was nothing to choose between the leading trio as Boughen and Bailo forced their way to the front and Neave began to apply pressure in fourth before taking third from Tonelli at half-distance.
With Boughen again running wide lines and Bailo favouring the inside, lap-after-lap the Spaniard appeared to draw level through the sweeping turns before Boughen pulled clear on the straights to claim an historic debut victory as Bailo was forced to defend in the closing stages from Neave.
Bell put the seal on a famous day for British racers with an impressive fourth ahead of Krajčovič and Tonelli as Hamstra, Van Meer, Bonnici and Dijkstra completed the top ten.
The focus now shifts to Terenzano in Italy for round two on 30 May.
With its mix of established stars, fast-rising talent and series newcomers, the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship is taking shape to be one of the most exciting in the sport’s history and FIM-MOTO.TV will stream all rounds LIVE including behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and expert analysis.