The third round of the 2025 FIM Flat Track World Championship is approaching, and the official entry list has been released. It features 23 full-time riders and one wild card — and this time, it’s much more than a mere guest appearance. Completing the list is British rider Tom Neave, twin brother of Tim, who will compete riding none other than the Italian-made Zaeta.
Tom Neave, 2021 British Superstock national champion, is active both on asphalt circuits and in flat track, which he uses to hone his technique and improve physical conditioning. In recent weeks, he’s been one of the standout riders — along with his brother — in rounds 3 and 4 of the ACU British Flat Track Championship and in the DTRA Flat Track Nationals at Mallory Park.
His presence at the FIM Flat Track round is excellent news for fans, who will get to see a wild card entry that isn’t just there to make up the numbers — Neave is expected to battle for top positions.
The real unknown for Tom will be the bike. He won’t be racing on his usual Fantic, but will instead ride a Zaeta, a handcrafted Italian flat track machine powered by a TM 450 cc engine. The Zaeta is a unique creation, built with extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum alloys to reduce weight and achieve the exact stiffness required for flat track — which differs notably from the demands of motocross.
Among the bike’s distinctive features are an open cradle frame, an aluminum-beam swingarm, a traditional Öhlins front fork, and full carbon bodywork — including fenders, tank, and rear subframe — as well as radically different geometry compared to a DTX, which is a converted motocross bike.
Neave will be riding a true artisan-built weapon, a highly sought-after flat track machine that’s difficult to master but extremely effective when used to its full potential — according to those who have raced it. The British rider will be teammate to Gerard Bailo, 2022 Flat Track World Champion, who joined the Italian team in 2024.
Meanwhile, on the Donji Kraljevec oval in Croatia, we’ll witness round three of the thrilling battle between the three strongest riders of 2025 so far: Ervin Krajčovič, Ondrej Svědík, and Sammy Halbert, currently the top three in the standings. The Italian riders on the grid will include the fast Daniele Tonelli, currently fourth overall, along with Giacomo Bossetti, Michele Guerra, and Stefano Casiraghi.
The Croatian round of the FIM Flat Track World Championship will mark the first appearance of German rider Christian Stange, who had been cleared to compete in the full championship but was sidelined until now due to injury. His return brings to an end the run of his substitute, Marius Kircher, who bows out after making a strong impression with a seventh-place finish in Terenzano.
As always, the FIM Flat Track World Championship will be available via free live streaming. Just visit fim-moto.tv, register, and enjoy the show. The first heat is scheduled to start at 7:45 PM, and the action will take place under the lights.
