Can Päivärinta claim a sixth world title at Oschersleben?

With a career in top-flight racing stretching back more than two decades, Finland’s Pekka Päivärinta (ARS Yamaha) is a five-time FIM Sidecar Rider World Champion who in 2024 – as part of the FIM’s one-hundred-and-twentieth anniversary celebrations – was officially recognised as an FIM Legend.

To give this some context, Päivärinta shares the rare accolade with just a handful of motorcycle sport’s most famous names including Toni Bou, Valentino Rossi, Stefan Everts and Marc Márquez and the fifty-five-year-old is guaranteed to add another medal to his trophy cabinet this season – although whether it is gold, silver or bronze will not be decided until this coming weekend (2-4 October).

Starting the sixth and deciding round of the 2026 FIM Sidecar World Championship in Oschersleben, Germany, twenty-five-and-a-half points behind series leaders Harrison Payne (ARS Yamaha) and Kevin Rousseau, Päivärinta and his British passenger Adam Christie are tied for second with Christie’s brothers – reigning champions Sam and Thomas Christie (LCR Yamaha).

He knows the odds are stacked against him and Payne and Rousseau could seal the title in the opening race, but Päivärinta will be going for gold in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.

“If I were to win the world championship again, it would certainly be big news and would prove a lot to me and the fans about all the hard work we’ve put in,” he said. “For Adam it would be brilliant – he’s hoping for it and it would also be the best reward for him for all his hard work.”

Päivärinta and Christie’s consistency this season has been key to their success. Out of the ten points-scoring races held so far, they have only missed the podium twice and dominated round two at Grobnik-Rijeka in Croatia where they scored a double win.

With such a wealth of experience, it may come as a surprise to some that the Finn is very aware of rising tensions in the lead-up to the Oschersleben showdown.

“My experience has shown that I always achieve good, consistent results, but I still get just as nervous every time, hoping I’ll succeed and make progress towards my goals.”

He is also hinting at retirement at the end of the season – “this coming weekend is special because I’m planning to step aside and make way for the younger riders” – although his love for the sport means this is by no means set in stone.

“Motorsport has always been a part of my family. I took it up as a hobby when I was young and later it became my job and my success. My passion drives me forward every year and, of course, the paddock is like a second family to me – I have lots of friends there.”

If Oschersleben really is to be his swansong, then Päivärinta is keeping his cool with possibly only two races left in his amazing top-flight career.

“I always race to win and if I get the chance I’ll give it my all, but the standard is extremely high right now and the other teams are very good because they’re world champions – let’s see how it all plays out at the final round.”

The action in Germany is scheduled to get under way on Saturday (3 October) with the twelve-lap Sprint race at 16:30 with the twenty-one-lap Main race starting the following day at 14:35 (all local times).

All the action from Oschersleben will be streamed LIVE on FIM-MOTO.TV along with behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and expert analysis.For more details click here.

For more information on the 2026 FIM Sidecar World Championship click here.