The Motocross SM season in Orimattila reached a conclusion that will not be forgotten
The 2026 individual Motocross SM season ended at the Ollosten track in Orimattila with a weekend full of great emotions from the first start to the final checkered flag. The two-day final offered championship decisions, surprises, and a battle where the fate of the Finnish Championship was ultimately decided by a single point.
On Saturday, in addition to the Youth SM class, competitions were held in the MX85, MX Open, senior, veteran, and ATV classes. On Sunday, the season culminated in the final SM heats for the MX1, MX2, MX125, and MXD classes. Leppälä decided the Youth championship with two heat wins
The most followed result of Saturday was seen in the Youth SM class. Representing the Helsinki Motorcycle Club, Viktor Leppälä arrived at the final as a challenger, but responded to the pressure at the decisive moment in the best possible way. Leppälä won both of the day’s heats and, with them, rose to become the Youth Finnish Champion. Vilho Vehviläinen finished second in the first heat and Santeri Oinonen third. In the final heat, Oinonen was second and Vehviläinen third.
In the day’s overall results, the top three were Leppälä, Oinonen, and Vehviläinen. The season’s SM medals were awarded in the order of Viktor Leppälä, Vilho Vehviläinen, and Santeri Oinonen.
In the MX85 class, Laur Kallikorm won both heats. Daniel Wiik finished second and Leo Peltola third.
Tiitus Räikkönen drove to victory in the MX Open class. There was an exceptionally even competition for the following positions, as Hermanni Koskinen, Heikki Vähäpesola, and Miska Kumaja all collected 40 points. A comparison of placements raised Koskinen to second and Vähäpesola to third.
The Saturday winners of the senior and veteran classes were Markus Ritvanen in the MXS30 class, Eemi Mutikainen in the MXS35 class, Janne Metsämäki in the MXV40 class, Antti Palmgren in the MXV45 class, Lari Lehtiö in the MXV50 class, Harri Ritari in the MXV55 class, and Valdur Kahro in the MXV60 class. In the ATV classes, the victories went to Valtteri Vainionpää in the MX-QUAD class, Matti Sipilä in the MX-QUAD V35 class, and Katariina Sarvikas in the MXQUADW class.
Haavisto took the premier class championship convincingly
On Sunday, instead of the usual two heats, three starts were run in the MX1 and MX2 classes using the Triple Crown format.
Jere Haavisto and Erki Kahro fought for the MX1 class championship heading into the final. Representing Tampere Motocross, Haavisto did not leave the decision to others, but won all three of the day’s heats and secured the Finnish Championship. Kahro finished second in the season’s total points and achieved the SM silver.
Jasper Haavisto, who had a strong end to the season, rose to the bronze. Enduro rider Roni Kytönen brought his own addition to the final by driving in his first MX1 class SM competition. Kytönen finished third in the day’s overall results.
The MX1 class SM medalists were Jere Haavisto from Tampere Motocross with 310 points, Erki Kahro from Estonia with 290 points, and Jasper Haavisto from Tampere Motocross with 244 points.
The MX2 championship was only decided in the final heat
The MX2 class final offered the most dramatic championship decision of the weekend. Viktor Leppälä, who won the Youth Finnish Championship on Saturday, continued at a furious pace on Sunday and won all three MX2 heats.
Saku Mansikkamäki, who was fighting for the championship, had to experience both a violent crash and a retirement during the day.
The situation changed heat by heat. With only one start left in the season, five riders were still within six points. The championship could still be won by Matias Miettinen, Mansikkamäki, Simo Koskinen, Leppälä, or Jonni Hujala.
In the final heat, Mansikkamäki held his position behind Leppälä and finished second. That was enough to raise the Vantaa Motorcycle Club rider to Finnish Champion. Mansikkamäki won the championship with 264 points. Leppälä remained with silver by a difference of only one point.
The bronze medal was also decided by the smallest possible margin. Koskinen and Miettinen both ended up with 261 points. A comparison of the heat wins achieved during the season decided the bronze for Koskinen.
The MX2 class SM medalists were Saku Mansikkamäki from Vantaa Motorcycle Club with 264 points, Viktor Leppälä from Helsinki Motorcycle Club with 263 points, and Simo Koskinen from Helsinki Motorcycle Club with 261 points. Leppälä’s weekend was exceptional in its entirety: five competition heats, five wins, a Youth Finnish Championship, and an MX2 class SM silver by a one-point difference.
Nieminen ended his dominant championship season
Veeti Nieminen, who had already secured the MX125 class Finnish Championship in Alavus, ended his season with two second-place finishes. Representing the Ylä-Savo Motorcycle Club, Nieminen was also second in the final’s overall results. In Orimattila, Aleksi Pirinen won both of the day’s heats. Torben Salo finished third.
Nieminen collected eight heat wins and four second-place finishes during the season. His final point total was 280, and the championship came with a 68-point lead over Pirinen. Topias Kontto achieved the SM bronze.
The MX125 class SM medalists were Veeti Nieminen from Ylä-Savo Motorcycle Club with 280 points, Aleksi Pirinen from Hyvinkää Motorcycle Club with 212 points, and Topias Kontto from Pori Motorcycle Club with 206 points.
Lomp held onto her championship lead
The MXD class final started with Carita Lomp’s six-point lead. Her closest challenger was Hanna Mertsalmi. Lomp strengthened her position in the first heat by finishing third ahead of Mertsalmi. In the second heat, Mertsalmi’s technical difficulties took away the last chances for the championship. Lomp drove to third place again and secured the Finnish Championship.
Both heats in Orimattila were won by the Swede Tyra Bäckström. Melissa Mäntylä finished second in both heats and Lomp third. There was an even battle for the season’s bronze until the end. Jella Piepponen achieved the SM bronze with a one-point lead over Ria Virtanen.
The MXD class SM medalists were Carita Lomp from Estonia with 263 points, Hanna Mertsalmi from Hyvinkää Motorcycle Club with 235 points, and Jella Piepponen from Imatra Motorcycle Club with 191 points.
A colorful and exciting SM season to a close
The 2026 Motocross SM season offered tight championship battles, new winners, and decisions that kept the excitement until the final heats. During the season, competitions were held in Tampere, Karkkila, Siilinjärvi, Tornio, Alavus, and Orimattila.
A successful SM season was created as a result of broad cooperation. Behind every sub-competition worked a large group of club activists, officials, and volunteers, whose work made safe and high-quality competition weekends possible in different parts of Finland.
The Finnish Motorcycling Federation thanks all the clubs that organized the competitions, riders, teams, mechanics, families, officials, volunteers, partners, media representatives, and the audience for the 2026 season. Thanks also to AMOQ and Duell for supporting the motocross SM series and for their long-term work for the benefit of Finnish motocross.
The Orimattila final ended the individual SM season in a way that once again showed the high level of Finnish motocross. The championships have been decided and the medals distributed – next, eyes turn towards the coming season.