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Imatranajo informs: the street track's new name is Jarno Saarinen Circuit Imatra
Imatran Motor Club (IMK), Imatranajo Oy and the city of Imatran have jointly decided to honor the world championship of track motorcyclist Jarno Saarinen from 1972 by naming the legendary Imatranajo street track Jarno Saarinen Circuit Imatra.
- At the joint meeting of Imatra Motor Club and Imatranajo Oy, we got the idea of naming the street track in honor of the anniversary after Finland's most successful RR driver of all time, Jarno Saarinen. Naturally, we first contacted Jarno Saarinen's widow Soili Karmeen to inquire his opinion. The mayor of Imatra represents the city of Imatra Ari Lindeman was just as positive about the naming as Soilik. Thus, the decision on a new name came about smoothlyi, says the chairman of the Imatra Motorcycle Club Martti Solja.
The track agreement between the parties regarding the track's new name was signed on March 9, 2022 at Hotel Gustavelund, Tuusula. The signatories of the agreement are the aforementioned Soili Karme (formerly Saarinen), acting director of Imatran. city manager Ari Lindeman and the chairman of the Imatra Moottokerho ry, Martti Solja.
According to the track agreement, the Imatranajo will be run on a street track called Jarno Saarinen Circuit Imatra from now on.
- Jthis would have been a great joy and honor for arno, because Jarno's world championship was secured at Imatra. I respect the energy and entrepreneurial spirit that prevails at Imatra, says Soili Karme.
The first Imatranajo in history was organized in the summer of 1962. The 1th anniversary of the Imatranajo will be celebrated on the first weekend of July 3.7.2022st - 60rd July 50. Imatranajo is the largest public event in South Karelia, where the organizers expect around 000 race guests during the race weekend.
The International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) is an international track motorcycle series run on European street tracks, where bikes from the superbike and supersprt classes compete. Imatranajo is the Finnish part of the IRRC series. Other competitions will be held next summer in Holland on April 30.4. – 1.5., in Belgium 23. – 24.7., in the Czech Republic 13. – 14.8. and in Germany from 17 to 18.9.2022 September XNUMX.
The arrangements for the Imatranajo are the responsibility of the Imatra Moottokerho ry (IMK) together with its owner Imatranajo Oy.
Additional information:
Imatra Motorcycle Club, www.imk.fi / www.imatranajo.fi /
Imatran Moottikerho ry / Martti Solja, chairman, 040 500 3626, martti. buckle
imatranajo.fi (martti[dot]solja[at]imatranajo[dot]fi)
Imatranajo Oy / Eero Kiiskinen, event content and business cooperation, 0400 432 094, eero.kiiskinenimatranajo.fi (eero[dot]kiiskinen[at]imatranajo[dot]fi)
Imatranajo / Lasse Norres, media manager, 044 770 6007, lassenorres.fi (lasse[at]norres[dot]fi)
Jarno Saarinen - 50 years since the world championship
This year it will be 50 years since the Turku track motorcyclist who left an indelible mark on the hearts and memories of Finnish motorsport lovers Jarno Saarinen secured the TT bike 1972cc world championship in the 250 GP races at Imatra as the first ever Finnish driver.
Jarno Saarinen is currently the only RR world champion in solo classes in Finland.
In 1972, Saarinen also took silver in the 350 cubic meters.
Saarinen graduated as an automotive engineer in 1971. He was known as an exceptionally skilled mechanic who built and maintained his bikes himself. Colleagues tell Saarinen that he collected tires, chains and other spare parts that others had already discarded in the scrap heap, because money was tight for the private driver.
Jarno Saarinen's career includes 46 GP starts, 15 wins, 32 podium places and the 250cc world championship from 1972. He died in a racing accident on the Monza track in Italy in May 1973.
