2025

The celebrations before he went over the top 😂

Swipe 👈 for #WheelieWednesday with #WarsawSGP Winner Jason Doyle ✊

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The #SGPAcademy is going down under!! 🦘

After the success of its launch here in Europe, #SGPLegends and riders are teaming up to inspire and teach the next generation of Australian Speedway Talent! 🔥

Find out more via the link in our bio and stories 🔗

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ABSOLUTELY AUS-SOME 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

@jasondoyle69 went a bit overboard when he won his first #SGP round since 2017 this year at the #WarsawSGP 🇵🇱

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It's early morning and you've just got the call... 📲

1 Round, anywhere on the race calendar, where do you dream to step up and take on the worlds best? ⚔️

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50,000 screaming fans in the PGE Narodowy 🤩

Experience an event like no other with the #WarsawSGP in FULL on our Youtube page THIS Friday at 17:00 GMT 👀

Watch along with us and grab your 2025 tickets via the link in our bio 🎟️

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Time for some blind ranking!! 🙈

How would you rate some of the top #SGP riders in history? 🤔

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THIS WAS A DISASTER for @leonmadsendk 😓

“A school boy error” saw him excluded after turning up
to the tapes in the wrong helmet colour 💥

#FIMSpeedwayGP | #WarsawSGP 🇵🇱
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#bikes

Looking back at when we took over the Polish Capital 🇵🇱🏆🇵🇱

Australia hit out with back-to-back wins in the first two rounds of the year as @jasondoyle69 took home gold at the #WarsawSGP 🔥

Tickets for 2025 are on sale now via the link in our bio 🎟️

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WHAT A YEAR 🙌

Take a look at some of the key figures from a historic year in #SGP 📈

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What a weekend this was at the 2024 #CroatianSGP 🇭🇷

Take a look back at some of our favourite snaps from our time in Donji Kraljevec 📸 

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OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga

Latvia

WWK FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Landshut

Germany

Orlen Oil FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw

Poland

FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague

Czechia

ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester R4

Great Britain

ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester R5

Events.com FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow

Virkvarn FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla

Sweden

DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw

Deluxe Homeart FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens

Denmark

2025 SGP standings

Swedish team manager Linus Sundstrom revealed he hasn’t given up on tempting world No.3 Fredrik Lindgren to compete in the FIM Speedway of Nations in Torun.Lindgren announced that he wouldn’t be continuing his season into SON week, with the Swedes taking on Great Britain, Germany, Latvia, Italy, Slovenia and Norway in Semi-Final 1 on September 30.There’s no doubt the 2022 and 2024 SON bronze medallists’ chances of reaching the Final would be increased with Lindgren in the side, and Sundstrom is still keeping the door open for the nation’s speedway hero – should he change his mind and wish to race.He said: “Freddie announced during the winter that he would step down from the Swedish national team. But when we are getting closer, I will definitely give him a ring and ask if he is still standing by his decision. The worst thing we can get is a no.”Should Lindgren decline the offer, the likes of former Speedway GP stars Kim Nilsson and Oliver Berntzon, double Swedish champion Jacob Thorssell and former Finnish international Timo Lahti, who now represents Sweden, could be among the contenders to start.Sundstrom is also urging the nation’s next generation to step up. He said: “It’s time to give a chance and it’s time for the riders to grab the chances they are given as well. We have a younger generation coming through – we saw Sammy van Dyck and Casper Henriksson in SGP2 recently.“We have Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, who rode in SGP2 last year. He is a racer and signed for Czestochowa in the winter. He hasn’t had much track time, but he is back in the team now.“The guys behind Freddie must work really hard to get closer to him. He has been the best Swedish rider by far for many years, without any question.”Sundstrom hopes Lindgren will continue to inspire his compatriots on the track for some time, even with his 40th birthday approaching in September.Lindgren is showing no sign of being ready to retire. But Sundstrom said: “Sooner or later, it is going to happen, and it’s a tough one. I hope he keeps going for a few more years and continues being that important idol for the guys behind him.”Sundstrom coaches Sweden’s top riders from senior to youth level, and also runs the Swedish Speedway Academy – a fantastic project aiming to inspire more young riders to the sport’s highest level. He admits the SON taking place later in the season has had its plus points in his first year in the job. He said: “I am starting to feel a little warmer in my role. It’s my first year and we are halfway through the 2025 season. Team-wise, the SON is the biggest event of the year by far.&nbsp;“I am pretty pleased it’s at the end of the season. It allows me to get more used to the job and all the different meetings I have to go to.”

SUNDSTROM: SON DOOR STILL OPEN FOR LINDGREN

Great Britain racer Dan Thompson says he has no fears about stepping into the unknown in this year’s SGP2 series.Thompson scored six championship points in the Virkvarn FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla on July 4 – the opening round of the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship series.The Ipswich and Glasgow star just fell short of the last-chance qualifiers on countback, but Thompson is determined to build on that result in the DeWalt FIM SGP2 of Latvia – Riga on August 1.Thompson admits the fact he has never competed on any of this year’s SGP2 racetracks is forcing him to learn fast.But he said: “It’s cool to be part of the SGP2 series. It’s a good thing for me and a good show. It feels great to be here, but it was definitely not the result I was looking for in Malilla, so hopefully I can put in a better one in Riga.“I haven’t been to any of the SGP2 venues previously, so it is difficult for me to quickly adapt to them. But it is all part of the challenge, and I am up for it.”Thompson showed real ability to defend his position on the track in Malilla, but he admits he struggled to find the right setup initially.He said: “It was difficult. It’s obviously tough racing against the best young riders in the world. But I hadn’t been to this track before, and I struggled early on getting used to it and getting a good setup. It was a good experience, though.“I just struggled a lot for some speed. When I wasn’t in clear space, I was struggling to keep people behind me. But I have learned some good stuff for next time.“I made some big changes for my last heat, which I was hoping were going to work. But then the rain came down and that completely changed my idea on things. I probably should have done it a few races earlier.”

THOMPSON: INTO THE UNKNOWN

Danish racer Leon Madsen will have five rides to punch his ticket for the 2026 FIM Speedway Grand Prix series after being named as wild card for the FIM SGP Challenge in Holsted on August 9.As host nation, Denmark was granted a wild card for the final round of the SGP qualifiers, which sees the top four riders book their places in next season’s Speedway GP World Championship.Madsen missed out on a spot in this season’s series, being forced to make do with the first substitute role for this term.He has made one appearance so far, finishing third at the FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague on May 31.Madsen is determined to feature much more regularly on the sport’s biggest stage in 2026. He said: "I'm happy to get the opportunity to race in the Challenge in Holsted. It's going to be a big night, and I'm coming with one thing in mind – to qualify for the Grand Prix series.“My goal is clear. I want to return to the world’s elite. I have proved that I still belong there, not least with the podium place in Prague earlier this year.”Madsen joins Speedway GP star Anders Thomsen, local hero Rasmus Jensen and the in-form Michael Jepsen Jensen in representing Denmark in the Challenge, where SGP regulars Martin Vaculik, Andzejs Lebedevs, Jan Kvech, Kai Huckenbeck, Jack Holder and Dominik Kubera will also bid to defend their spots in the series.Danish duo Benjamin Basso and Mikkel Andersen have been named as track reserves for the event.FIM SGP CHALLENGE LINE-UP: Anders Thomsen (Denmark), Matej Zagar (Slovenia), Kacper Woryna (Poland), Martin Vaculik (Slovakia), Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia), Mateusz Cierniak (Poland), Francis Gusts (Latvia), Rasmus Jensen (Denmark), Jan Kvech (Czechia), Kevin Wolbert (Germany), Kai Huckenbeck (Germany), Michael Jepsen Jensen (Denmark), Jack Holder (Australia), Dominik Kubera (Poland), Erik Riss (Germany), Leon Madsen (Denmark). TRACK RESERVES: Benjamin Basso (Denmark), Mikkel Andersen (Denmark).&nbsp;&nbsp;

MADSEN'S CHALLENGE CALL-UP

Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik admits he can take nothing for granted as he bids to complete a hat-trick of wins in the OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga on August 2.The five-time Speedway GP world champion battled his way to second place at the Virkvarn FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla on July 5.Title rival Brady Kurtz raced to victory at the Skrotfrag Arena to cut the Lublin rider’s Speedway GP World Championship lead from 11 points to nine.But the Aussie champion has never raced in Riga, where Zmarzlik has topped the box twice, winning at Bikernieki in 2023 and 2024.Zmarzlik would love to make it a third straight victory in Latvia’s biggest speedway event. “Why not?” he said. “But in this sport, every year is different. I must be fully focused again and do everything I can do the best I can in every round. I am always focused on myself and I doing everything I can do to get the good results.”Zmarzlik had to win his last-chance qualifier with a breathtaking first lap to join Kurtz in the Malilla final. While he was unable to add to his four SGP wins at the venue, he left content with second spot.He said: “This was not a bad night, but for me and my team, this was really hard work. I’m happy that I got on the podium and second place; it’s a really nice feeling. I didn’t have the best day, but I was still on the podium.”

ZMARZLIK READY FOR RIGA TEST

Former Speedway GP world champion Artem Laguta raced to a 13 paid 15-point maximum for Wroclaw as they triumphed 51-39 at home to Grudziadz in the PGE Ekstraliga on Sunday.Laguta went unbeaten by an opponent over five rides, with Speedway GP star Dan Bewley dropping just one point on his way to 11 paid 14. World title contender Brady Kurtz tallied 10 paid 11.Vadim Tarasenko topped the Grudziadz score chart on 11 points, with Speedway GP star Max Fricke and fellow Aussie ace Jaimon Lidsey notching nine paid 10 points apiece.Elsewhere, Danish racer Leon Madsen racked up 14 paid 16 points for Zielona Gora as they won 50-39 at home to arch-rivals Gorzow.He was backed up by 13 paid 15 points from six rides from former SGP2 silver medallist Damian Ratajczak, with Denmark’s Rasmus Jensen picking up 10 paid 11 points.Slovak star Martin Vaculik topped the Gorzow scoring on 11 paid 13, with Speedway GP rival Anders Thomsen adding a straight 11 and European champion Andzejs Lebedevs picking up nine paid 10.In Friday’s match, five-time world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik raced to 14 points as champions Lublin picked up a 58-32 win away to Rybnik.Polish star Dominik Kubera collected 11 paid 13, with world No.3 Fredrik Lindgren and double SGP2 champion Mateusz Cierniak racing to nine paid 10 points apiece. Jack Holder scored seven paid eight.Two-time World Under-21 champion Maksym Drabik collected 10 points for the home side.For full details of the weekend’s results, scorers and the latest league table, <a href="https://ekstraliga.pl/se">CLICK HERE</a>.

EKSTRALIGA | LAGUTA UNBEATEN AS WROCLAW TAKES WIN

German shooting star Hannah Grunwald sensationally saw off reigning champion Celina Liebmann to win the FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy in Croatia on Saturday.The world’s biggest all-female speedway event in Donji Kraljevec was the culmination of a <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/competition-fierce-as-german-pioneer-liebmann-defends-fim-womens-speedway-gold-trophy-in-croatia">two-day FIM Women’s Speedway Academy</a>, which saw riders hone their skills with expert coaching from four-time Speedway GP world champion Greg Hancock and British former FIM Long Track team world champion Glen Phillips on Thursday and Friday.The result was a hugely competitive event, which saw Grunwald and her fellow German star Liebmann <a href="https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/953/fim-women-s-speedway-gold-trophy-donji-kraljevec.html">both qualify for the final unbeaten with 12 points</a> from four rides.While former SGP2 star Liebmann was hotly tipped for victory, 17-year-old Grunwald made a sublime start to take an unforgettable win, with Liebmann producing a fine ride to pass compatriot Jenny Apfelbeck for second as Germany claimed all three spots on the podium. Danish rider Louise Funch Larsen finished fourth.Grunwald’s victory earns her a trip to the <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/rounds/olybet-fim-speedway-gp-of-latvia-riga">OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga on August 2</a>, courtesy of FIM Speedway global promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, where she will play a key role in the event and celebrate alongside the best riders in the world.Reflecting on her triumph in Croatia, Grunwald said: “It was a great day, and I am so happy. The two days of the academy and the Gold Trophy were great fun. I really, really learned a lot. They were two hard days. But it was a great academy, and I met a lot of great people.”Grunwald was delighted to lead an all-German podium. She said: “We have a lot of good women in Germany. Celina is very good, and I am as well. I’m so happy with this win.”&nbsp;<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480378/conversions/IMG_2948-large.jpg"/>Liebmann has been battling with a hip injury in recent months, only making her track return this week. She was pleased to race her way to the silver medal – <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/german-hero-liebmann-lands-first-ever-fim-womens-speedway-gold-trophy">adding to her historic victory at the inaugural Gold Trophy in Teterow, Germany last season.</a>She said: “I am still vice world champion. Of course, I wanted to defend my title, but I also didn’t want to put myself in the position where I said, ‘I will win.’ I am injured and I didn’t race for two and a half months. Hannah did, and she did really well.“I have had a really bad cold for a few days, so for me, this is still a good result. You can’t always be first. This year it is second place, and next year, it’s a new chance and a new race.”There is no doubt that the standard of the sport’s female stars has again increased significantly since the 2024 competition in Teterow, and Liebmann would love to see the Gold Trophy upgraded to full world-championship status.She said: “I think we are getting closer. I think everyone sees now that the girls are really fast. It’s not just one or two girls who are fast; there are a few girls who are really fast. They have learned and continued to learn and get better. I think there is a good chance for it to be a World Championship next year. We have the numbers.”&nbsp;<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480379/conversions/IMG_2906-large.jpg"/>Third-placed Apfelbeck won the last-chance qualifier to take her place in the final and was pleased to complete the top three.She said: “I am feeling really great. My team and I worked really hard, and it was awesome. I learned a few new things at the academy, and it was amazing to have three German riders on the podium. We have a lot of races in Germany and that clearly helps us.”While 13 riders took part in the 500cc FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy, which was open to riders aged 16 or over, four young stars also competed in the Youth Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy of Croatia for 250cc riders under 16.The class was won by British sensation Demi Blu Harris, with the 14-year-old, who trains regularly at Ipswich, roaring to a 12-point maximum.“I am really happy,” she said. “It’s probably the best thing I have ever done. I think I have got faster as the days have gone on. I was just enjoying myself out there. Hopefully I can come back next year.”<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480380/conversions/AB1W3447-large.jpg"/>American legend Hancock was elated with the progress his students made over an intense two days of training at the FIM Women’s Speedway Academy, and paid tribute to winner Grunwald. He said: “Hannah has shown so much improvement and determination over the last year. You could see that she wanted this.&nbsp;“Every race she did was like a rinse and repeat. She didn’t make a mistake, and she rode the same lines. I noticed she shut the throttle off at the same time at the finish line. She had played this over and over in her head. Then she did what she came here to do.&nbsp;“The event was really exciting to watch. You wouldn’t know if we were looking at women or men on the track in some cases. Some of those races were insane.“You can still see there is a gap in the level overall, but this gap is starting to get closer and closer, and the racing was awesome. Every single one of them has made improvements. You noticed it when they went to the tapes. All of those improvements were amplified because of the adrenaline. They have all raised their level.“It was great to be here. It was awesome to see the enthusiasm and the growth. These girls are showing they want a league of their own and they want to have titles. They are driven just as much as anyone else.”&nbsp;<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480381/conversions/AB1W3476-large.jpg"/>The FIM Women’s Speedway event was organised in partnership between the FIM Track Racing Commission (CCP) and the FIM Women’s Commission (CFM). FIM Track Racing Commission director Armando Castagna is pleased to see the sport’s female stars raise the bar again.He said: “It was extremely positive; the level is much higher than it was last year, and everything went really well. I am really happy. The support we were given by our experts like Greg and Glen was great, as well as the support we got from WBD Sports and the CFM. I am really happy, and I hope we can continue this in the future.“We now have a decent line-up. I am really happy about it and I hope for the future that we can continue to improve this.”&nbsp;Full results from the FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy can be found <a href="https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/953/fim-women-s-speedway-gold-trophy-donji-kraljevec.html">HERE</a>, with Youth Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy of Croatia results <a href="https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/1067/youth-women-speedway-trophy-of-croatia-donji-kraljevec.html">HERE</a>.

GERMAN SENSATION GRUNWALD GRABS FIM WOMEN’S SPEEDWAY GOLD TROPHY IN CROATIA

Polish star Patryk Dudek took a step closer to securing an FIM Speedway Grand Prix return with victory in the Speedway European Championship opener in Bydgoszcz on Saturday.Dudek cruised straight through to the final on 12 points, before winning the rostrum race ahead of reigning champion Andzejs Lebedevs in second, Poland’s Kacper Woryna in third and former Speedway GP rider Szymon Wozniak in fourth place.Dudek scored 15 championship points, but Woryna leaves the Polonia Stadium level at the top of the championship after scoring 14 points in the heats, before adding a point in the final.Both Lebedevs and Danish star Michael Jepsen Jensen left Bydgoszcz with 12 championship points, putting them both in the running, with Wozniak tallying 10 points.French international Dimitri Berge scored nine, with double SGP2 champion Mateusz Cierniak and double SEC champion Leon Madsen scoring eight points apiece.For full results from Bydgoszcz, click <a href="https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/962/individual-speedway-euro-championship-final-1-bydgoszcz.html">HERE</a>.

DUDEK WINS SEC OPENER IN BYDGOSZCZ

German trailblazer Celina Liebmann admits the competition is only getting tougher as she prepares to defend her FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy in Croatia on Saturday.The Bavarian star is taking part in the two-day FIM Women’s Speedway Academy at Speedway Stadion Milenium in Donji Kraljevec, which got underway on Thursday and continues today, where four-time Speedway GP world champion Greg Hancock and British former FIM Long Track world team champion Glen Phillips are giving 17 women a masterclass on the track.The riders will also take part in classroom sessions covering topics including bike setup and maintenance, fitness and nutrition, the rules and anti-doping, rider welfare and media training.A total of 13 riders aged 16 or over, including stars from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Great Britain, Australia, Slovakia and the Netherlands, will then compete on 500cc bikes in the second edition of the FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy on Saturday, with <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/german-hero-liebmann-lands-first-ever-fim-womens-speedway-gold-trophy">Liebmann defending the title she won on home soil in Teterow, Germany last summer</a>.Courtesy of FIM Speedway global promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, this year’s winner will be invited to attend the <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/rounds/olybet-fim-speedway-gp-of-latvia-riga">OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga on August 2</a> and the <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/rounds/dewalt-fim-sgp2-of-latvia-riga">DeWalt FIM SGP2 of Latvia – Riga for the sport’s top under-21 stars on August 1</a>.Liebmann has competed with some of the sport’s top male riders and featured in two FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship rounds in Czech capital Prague and Polish city Torun in 2022.While she has established herself as the sport’s No.1 female rider, she admits the competition is only getting tougher in an event that it is hoped will gain full FIM world-championship status in the near future.&nbsp;She said: “There are a few girls, and especially the girls from Germany, who have learned a lot in the last year. They are pretty fast, and I am happy that everyone here has improved.“Obviously we want to see a full world championship someday, so it’s good that everyone is improving. The FIM is working and needs to push the women, but it is also on the women to ride and show that we are good enough and that women can ride speedway. I think everybody is really excited and keen for the Gold Trophy and I will give it a go.”<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/396570/conversions/AB1W8790-large.jpg"/>Liebmann admits she must overcome an injury if she is to lift the title again. But there was no way she was missing her biggest event of the season.&nbsp;The 23-year-old revealed: “I have a muscle problem in my left hip, so I can’t really lift the left leg. Every corner entrance is a big struggle.“I haven’t ridden for two and a half months because I wanted to be fit for this event. I want to defend my title. I would love to win it again and it will be hard with the injury, but it’s the most important event of the year.“It would mean everything to lift the trophy because the injury is really big, and I can’t really ride like I do normally. It would mean a lot to me.”<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/396500/conversions/AB1W8779-large.jpg"/>Liebmann is joined on track by Dutch star Nynke Sijbesma, who finished second in last year’s FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy. It was a bittersweet night for the student nurse, who crashed out of the final, suffering a broken elbow. This year, she hopes to get a second chance to stand on the podium.She said: “It was really sad that after that achievement, I couldn’t really celebrate it on the podium. But I am definitely trying to get that kind of result again and hopefully I will be able to celebrate it.”Sijbesma says her 2024 result has inspired her to continue pushing herself on the track, even if her injury still hampers her at times.She added: “Being second last year pushed me in the sense that I know I am able to do it. I absolutely didn’t expect it at first. Going into the meeting, I was very open-minded. I knew I was capable of doing something, but after that achievement, I was amazingly happy.“But I got an injury at the end of last year’s Gold Trophy – I broke my elbow in four places. That was the end of my season, and I couldn’t race again in 2024.“I have a lot of screws and plates in my elbow right now. It was quite a long journey to be able to recover. The injury has been holding me back a little. I have been racing grasstrack a little and on the tougher tracks, my elbow still hurts. But in speedway, it’s fine.”&nbsp;<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480299/conversions/469456415_9068539463198421_4993571713619757503_n-large.jpg"/>Rachel Hellowell finished fifth in Teterow last year and the Yorkshire-born, Scottish-based star is delighted to fly the British flag once again.She said: “Every time people say I am representing Great Britain, it gives me shivers. That’s a crazy statement to hear! It’s absolutely great to be back. The track is fantastic, and they have done a fantastic job of putting everything on so far. It’s great to be a part of it.“There are a lot of strong contenders out there and it’s so exciting to see. People have obviously progressed from last year and that’s what this is all about.“I will certainly try to improve on last year. I don’t want to do any worse – let’s put it that way. I’ll take what I can get and just enjoy the experience.”&nbsp;<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/382542/conversions/2023_0714_004_Armando-Castagna-large.JPG"/>FIM Track Racing Commission (CCP) director Armando Castagna is pleased with the FIM Women’s Speedway Academy so far and expects a higher standard of competition in the FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy on Saturday. The Italian hopes it will be the next step in moves to transform the event into speedway’s first full world championship for women.He said: “Working together, the FIM Track Racing Commission and the FIM Women's Commission (CFM) will ask the FIM board if we can deliver an FIM Women’s Speedway World Championship. We will also ask them to implement a 250cc FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy to ensure our under-16 riders have the opportunity to be part of this project.“First of all, we wanted to be sure that we had the numbers. I always said that when we have at least 12 good riders - and I think it looks like we have that - in my opinion, we are ready.“When you run a Gold Trophy, of course it is prestigious, but when you upgrade the competition to a World Championship, that’s another level. It always attracts more people and riders because everyone wants to be a world champion – that is the dream of every rider.“I am really proud and happy with how the academy went on the first day. The FIM and our hosts in Croatia, the Pavlic family and their team, are working perfectly together.“The good riders we had last year … We can see they have lifted their level. But the best thing is we have seen a big improvement from some of the beginners from last year. I’m really happy because I think we are starting a scenario with the women in speedway, which is looking bright.“Celina will have some competition on Saturday. We know she has been a pioneer; she is the best and I am sure she is the favourite. But considering that she hasn’t been on the bike for a couple of months, it could be an open competition.”&nbsp;<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/361370/conversions/liebmann_44_8605-ok-large.jpg"/>FIM Women’s Commission (CFM) director Janika Judeika is pleased to see the sport’s top female stars show their skills on the track once again as the FIM Women’s Speedway Academy continues to grow three years on from the first edition in Diedenbergen, Germany in 2022.She said: “Starting this project was a clear message to the world that there are women who want to race, and we need to find a place for them to do that.“In organising these FIM Women’s Speedway Academies, it was a chance to start to work with national federations to encourage them to look for women who want to ride, so that they could send them to the academies.“With every academy and every year, we see the riders’ level improve. What we are seeing is the fruits of their work. We give the women as much as we can over the two days – on and off the track. Then the job has to be done by them, and they need to work over the whole year.&nbsp;“It’s super good to see their performance compared to last year. Now the gap between the fastest and the slowest is reduced. I think this is proof of what this academy can bring to the sport.”Laura Manciet, FIM Speedway World Championships director for Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, is pleased to be in attendance in Croatia and underlined the FIM Speedway global promoter’s desire to raise the profile of the sport’s female stars.She said: “It’s fantastic to be back in Croatia for the FIM Women’s Speedway Academy and I am really looking forward to the second edition of the FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy on Saturday.“Warner Bros. Discovery Sports is delighted to join forces with our partners at the FIM to shine a spotlight on this event because it would be fantastic to see it grow and become a full world championship in the near future.“Last year’s first Gold Trophy was historic – the first event of its kind in our sport. The standard of competition is improving and it’s clear all of the women involved have put in a lot of hard work. I can’t wait to see them compete on Saturday afternoon. I also look forward to welcoming the winner as our guest to Riga in August.”&nbsp;FIM WOMEN’S SPEEDWAY GOLD TROPHY LINE-UP: 179. Jenny Apfelbeck (Germany) 13. Alina Sassenhagen (Germany) 838. Katja Stoffer Jorgensen (Denmark) 272. Martyna Mróz (Poland) 887. Hannah Grunwald (Germany) 202. Anna Hajková (Slovakia) 15. Mascha Schwend (Germany) 36. Rachel Hellowell (Great Britain) 324. Patricia Erhart (Germany) 289. Celina Liebmann (Germany) 81. Nynke Sijbesma (Netherlands) 208. Louise Funch Larsen (Denmark) 89. Tayla Street (Australia)&nbsp;

COMPETITION FIERCE AS GERMAN PIONEER LIEBMANN DEFENDS FIM WOMEN’S SPEEDWAY GOLD TROPHY IN CROATIA

Coaches Tony Rickardsson, Greg Hancock and Linus Sundstrom were delighted with their latest class of FIM SGP Academy stars after 18 riders from eight different countries took part in the event at Swedish club Malilla last week.The second FIM SGP Academy of 2025 saw riders aged 11-15, riding youth bikes ranging from 85cc to the 190cc SGP4 bike under the guidance of six-time FIM Speedway world champion Rickardsson and four-time Speedway GP world champion Hancock, as well as Swedish national coach Sundstrom, who won the 2015 FIM Speedway World Cup.As well as on-track coaching in areas like cornering, starting and passing, riders took part in classroom sessions covering aspects of the sport including regulations, bike preparation, media and social media, sponsorship, fitness and health.Riders representing host nation Sweden, the United States, Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Romania and Finland all took part in an event staged in partnership between FIM Speedway global promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, the FIM and Swedish governing body SVEMO.Rickardsson was delighted with the progress his students made and looks forward to continuing to develop the FIM SGP Academy project ahead of <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/rounds/fim-sgp-academy-torun-date-tbc">the third and final event in Torun, Poland</a>, which is part of <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/son">FIM Speedway of Nations week, which runs from September 30 until October 4</a>.<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480214/conversions/4891-large.jpg"/>The Swedish legend said: “We had some very hectic days. We mostly spent time on the racetrack. Everybody did a lot of laps. We went through corner techniques, sliding techniques, starting techniques and also tactics – how to pass people and set up for a pass. The track time was fantastic. We also had some good hours in the classroom. It was a full and hectic weekend.“We had eight different nationalities and 18 kids riding the bikes. It was a super good feeling that we had so many languages in the pits.“The help from Greg and Linus was fantastic. Getting one-on-one time with each rider is so important. It’s not straightforward to coach these young kids. All of them are unique and need to have special guidance.“We are learning a lot by running these academies. We are keeping all the parts that have been successful, and we keep adding new parts to the programme all the time. This is a programme that will continually be better. That’s our aim. This has been the best one so far, and hopefully the next one will be even better.“I really hope we will have as many young and enthusiastic families at the next FIM SGP Academy in Torun, so bring it on!”<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480215/conversions/5454-large.jpg"/>Hancock’s youngest son Karl, 12, was among the riders, and the Californian icon is pleased with how the FIM SGP Academy project has developed since he coached at the very first one in Prague last year.&nbsp;He’s also glad to see more riders honing their skills on the 190cc bike, designed by Rickardsson for <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/sgp4">SGP4, a competition for 11-13-year-olds, which was launched in 2023 and has gained world-championship status for this season</a>.&nbsp;He said: “It’s amazing. From the first academy that I was part of, it’s incredible to see how much this has advanced, how much they are building up and how many more kids are coming – all with different ideas and riding styles.“I think what Tony is doing with WBD and the FIM is the key to the future. We are starting to see more of these 190cc SGP4 bikes coming into play, and I think it’s going to continue to spread and become a mark of the future – with every federation having 190cc bikes, 250cc bikes, 500cc bikes simultaneously.“It has been a great few days and I have really been impressed with how it has grown. The level is moving up all the time. All I would say to the youngsters coming into it is ‘tell your friends – we want more!’”<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480216/conversions/hancock4963-large.jpg"/>Sundstrom runs the <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/sundstroms-swedish-speedway-academy-steps-up-for-2025">Swedish Speedway Academy</a> as he bids to inspire the next generation of riders to follow him into the sport, and he was delighted to be part of a much bigger team to deliver the FIM SGP Academy.He said: “It was my first guest appearance at the FIM SGP Academy, and I am overwhelmed with the progress the riders made, how much respect they show each other and how hungry they are to get out on the track. It seems like you can’t tire them out; they just want to keep going and going and going. It was a brilliant few days.“When I run the Swedish Speedway Academy, I am responsible for all the food, the ambulances, the track staff and making sure everything is working. I am doing all of that on my own. Here I just turned up and coached!“It was fun to help out the smaller kids. You can see such big steps forward in a short timeframe. I enjoyed every second of it.”&nbsp;<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480217/conversions/rickardsson6942-large.jpg"/><img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480218/conversions/sundstroem6970-large.jpg"/>FIM Track Racing Commission (CCP) director Armando Castagna commented: “It was great to see so many talented young riders on track in Malilla and I thank everyone involved in making the latest edition of the FIM SGP Academy possible – WBD Sports, SVEMO and our coaches Tony, Greg and Linus.“The FIM SGP Academies continue to evolve and grow, and we look forward to seeing more riders from more nations taking part in the coming years.”Laura Manciet, FIM Speedway World Championships director for WBD Sports, added: “It was a real pleasure to see our young riders progress and enjoy themselves over a great few days in Malilla. Hopefully this is only the first time we see them in action at FIM Speedway events and they will compete in SGP4 and SGP3 in the coming years, before one day racing in Speedway GP and SGP2.“I want to thank Tony, Greg and Linus, who worked tirelessly as coaches to deliver a great programme of activities, along with everyone from the FIM, SVEMO and our WBD Sports team who made the FIM SGP Academy possible.“We are already looking forward to the final academy of 2025 at the FIM Speedway of Nations in Torun, and I can’t wait to see our next group of young riders enjoy this hugely valuable experience.”<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480219/conversions/4748-large.jpg"/>

COACHES RICKARDSSON, HANCOCK AND SUNDSTROM HAIL SUCCESSFUL FIM SGP ACADEMY IN SWEDEN

Latvian racer Jevgenijs Kostigovs makes his long-awaited FIM Speedway Grand Prix debut when he lines up as OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga wild card on Saturday, August 2.After serving as a non-riding track reserve at the 2015 and 2017 Latvian rounds in Daugavpils, Kostigovs finally takes on the best riders in the world over at least five rides in Latvia’s biggest speedway event.Kostigovs is no stranger to World Championship competition, having represented Latvia in both the FIM Speedway World Cup and FIM Speedway of Nations. He was part of last year’s historic side, which raced to the country’s second world team final in three years at the 2024 FIM SON in Manchester.The 29-year-old is enjoying a fine campaign for Latvian club Lokomotiv Daugavpils, which races in Poland’s National League. With an average of over two points per race, he is the team’s top performer so far this season.His appearance in the OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga is undoubtedly the biggest meeting of his career so far. He will be determined to join Latvia’s European champion and former Daugavpils teammate Andzejs Lebedevs in turning up the volume at Bikernieki.The Speedway GP line-up is completed by track reserves Francis Gusts and Olegs Mihailovs, who wear the No.17 and No.18 race jackets respectively.<img src="https://eventrack-1.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/staging/480211/conversions/kaulins5513-large.jpg"/>Latvia’s biggest weekend of racing also features the <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/rounds/dewalt-fim-sgp2-of-latvia-riga">DeWalt FIM SGP2 of Latvia – Riga on Friday, August 1</a>, and the host nation will be represented by wild card Nikita Kaulins.The 20-year-old takes the No.16 race jacket for round two of the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship series. Like Kostigovs, he competes for Daugavpils in the Polish National League. He also represented Latvia in <a href="https://www.fimspeedway.com/results/2024-fim-speedway-of-nations-son2">FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2</a> – the world under-21 team championship – in Manchester last summer.Kaulins is joined in the Riga SGP2 line-up by track reserves Damirs Filimonovs and Artjoms Juhno, who don the No.17 and No.18 race jackets respectively.Limited tickets for a huge weekend of racing in the Latvian capital are still available online. Book your tickets <a href="https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/en/custompage/4875">HERE</a> now.

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