Series pace-setter Ashton Boughen (VRX Dirt Store Ducati) made it back-to-back Grand Final victories and underlined his status as a serious title contender when he produced a perfect performance to extend his advantage in the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship at round two, staged on Saturday evening in Terenzano in Italy.
- Round two of 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship staged at Terenzano
- British teenager Ashton Boughen makes it two Grand Final wins in a row
- Gerard Bailo and Ervin Krajčovič complete hard-fought podium in Italy
The British teenager, a sensational winner on his series debut at the opening round in the Netherlands earlier this month, was in dominant form at the Terenzano Speedway Arena and took maximum points from his four eight-lap Heat races before fighting to a hard-earned victory in the Grand Final ahead of Spanish former champion Gerard Bailo (Zaeta) and defending champion Ervin Krajčovič (KTM) from the Czech Republic.
Under a clear sky and in dry conditions, Krajčovič got his evening off to a winning start ahead of the British pairing of Tim Neave (VRX Dirt Store Ducati) and Gary Birtwistle (Royal Enfield) and Bailo then led home Frenchman Sébastien Jeanpierre before Boughen opened his account with a clear-cut victory over Czech racer Ondrej Svedik.
Using wide lines to maintain his momentum, Boughen then recorded another comfortable win – this time ahead of Krajčovič – before home favourite Daniele Tonelli (TM) won from Finland’s Saku Purtilo (Honda) and Svedik defeated Neave.
Already out in front on his own following two blocks, once Bailo had beaten Krajčovič and on-form British rider Jack Bell (Triumph) it was time for Boughen to make it three in a row with a narrow victory ahead of Svedik before Neave claimed his first win of the evening chased by American former champion Sammy Halbert (Picasso Engineering).
With the top ten riders after the Heats progressing directly to the twelve-lap Grand Final and the next ten fighting it out in the Last Chance Heat to determine the final two places on the grid for the programme’s main event, there was a lot resting on the fourth block of racing.
Already safely through to the Grand Final, Krajčovič led home the Ukraine’s Stanislav Ohorodnik before Boughen maintained his unbeaten record with victory over Bell and Svedik won from Jeanpierre.
Halbert – the champion in 2024 – missed the opening round, but was back in action in Italy with a deal to help develop the Swiss-designed OMT 450 project bike and after finding himself in the unfamiliar position of lining up in the Last Chance Heat, the thirty-eight-year-old powered his way into the Grand Final along with Argentina’s Santiago Arangio (Zaeta).
Bailo has started the season in impressive form and the 2022 champion led the Grand Final away from the line with Krajčovič on his shoulder and Boughen running his favoured outside line in third before Neave slipped underneath him to demote his team-mate.
On lap five, Krajčovič briefly wrestled the lead from Bailo, only for the Spaniard to grab it straight back, but Boughen was up to third again and looking menacing and three laps later he made a decisive move, diving down the inside of Bailo and the defending champion in one dramatic charge to take a lead he refused to relinquish.
Bailo – who won the bonus point for the fastest lap in the Grand Final – and Krajčovič continued their race-long battle and completed the podium with Bell and Neave rounding out the top five.
The 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship now takes a four-week break before the action resumes at Teterow in Germany on 27 June when Boughen will start with a six-point lead over Bailo who, in turn, is already nine points clear of Krajčovič.
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