For the First Time in Lithuania – FIM Motocross World Championship Round

On August 1–2, Lithuania will host, for the first time in its history, a round of the FIM Sidecar Motocross World Championship and the FIM Quad Motocross World Championship. The world’s elite will gather at Mickūnai MX Park in the Anykščiai district – a venue now officially included in the championship calendar.

This marks an unprecedented event in the history of Lithuanian motorsport. Two years of negotiations with the International Motorcycling Federation, infrastructure development, and the implementation of strict technical requirements have paid off – Lithuania has become a host of a World Championship event.

A Historic Step for Lithuanian Motorsport

Giedrė Leskauskienė, President of the Lithuanian Motorcycling Federation, emphasizes that this round is more than just a sporting event:

"This is a historic moment for Lithuanian motorsport. Hosting a World Championship in our country is clear international recognition that we are ready to organize top-level competitions. It is also a huge motivation for our athletes – when the world’s elite come to your home track, you realize that you can be among them too. We are pleased that the National Sports Agency and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport recognized the importance of this championship and contributed to its implementation."

According to the federation president, the event will have a long-term impact: it will encourage young people to take up motocross, strengthen infrastructure, and increase Lithuania’s visibility on the international stage.

Lithuanian Riders Among the World’s Elite

In the FIM Sidecar Motocross World Championship, spectators are expected to see Lithuanian rider Viktorija Vareikaitė competing alongside French rider Gregory Raymond. Among the potential participants are also well-known representative of the Variakojis family, Liutauras Variakojis, together with Latvian Mārtiņš Antons, as well as Lithuanian championship medalists Jonas Pirtinas and Lotārs Aleksejevs.

Top global stars will also arrive in Lithuania – including the 2024 world vice-champions, Latvian brothers Daniels and Bruno Lielbardis, and the 2025 world champions from the Netherlands, Koen Hermans and Ben van den Bogaart. The vice-champions, French duo Killian Prunier and Evan Prunier, are also expected to compete.

In the FIM Quad Motocross World Championship, European Championship participant Laurynas Mikalauskas and Lithuanian champion Gediminas Volkavičius are planning to take part.

Building a World-Class Venue from the Ground Up

Event organizer Lukas Pakeltis admits this is the most ambitious project in his and the region’s history:

"We wanted more than a Lithuanian or Baltic championship. A World Championship round is a massive challenge, but it is exactly these kinds of projects that help both organizers and the sport grow. This will be the biggest sporting event in the Anykščiai region."

According to the organizer, World Championship standards require a fundamental transformation of infrastructure:

"This level demands the highest standards – a paddock with full utilities, large spectator parking areas, TV broadcast positions, a media center, and dedicated zones for officials and teams. In simple terms, a fully functioning infrastructure must emerge in the middle of open fields. The investments are significant, but they remain in Lithuania."

A Long-Term Project

Importantly, Lithuania will host the FIM Sidecar Motocross and FIM Quad Motocross World Championship rounds for more than just one year. A three-year agreement has been signed, giving Mickūnai MX Park the opportunity to become a permanent stop on the world motocross calendar.

On August 1–2, spectators in the Anykščiai district can expect not only intense sporting battles for every second, but also a celebration of speed, technology, and adrenaline unlike anything Lithuania has seen before.