LINE-UPS CONFIRMED FOR SGP2 QUALIFIERS

The starting line-ups have been confirmed for Saturday’s SGP2 qualifiers as the battle to become the sport’s next FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion gets underway.

With two-time SGP2 champion Mateusz Cierniak now too old to compete in the junior championship, a new winner will definitely be crowned over this year’s three-round series.

The championship launches with the 3P Logistics FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla on Friday, June 14 – the night before the 3P Logistics FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla at the Skrotfrag Arena on Saturday, June 15. 

Round two takes place in Latvian capital Riga on Friday, September 6 ahead of the OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga on Saturday, September 7, with the SGP2 finale at Polish track Torun on Friday, September 27 – the night before the senior world champion is crowned at the DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun on Saturday, September 28.

With no riders seeded into the 2024 championship, every rider must qualify for the series – even those who competed in 2023.

Two-time SON2 gold medallist and 2022 SGP2 star Wiktor Przyjemski will be among the favourites to carry off the title and he bids to qualify at French track Macon. But he faces stiff competition from Swedish prospect Casper Henriksson, who was second in the 2023 FIM SGP2 of Denmark – Vojens and fifth in the final championship standings.

Danish racer William Drejer claimed a shock third place in Vojens, despite starting the night as a track reserve. He also competes in Macon, along with British shooting stars Leon Flint and Ashton Boughen.

Denmark will also be represented by 2022 SGP3 champion Mikkel Andersen as the former under-16 world champion bids to take the step up into SGP2. Aussie racer Tate Zischke, who rides for Workington in Britain’s Cab Direct Championship and has been coached by former Speedway GP winner Darcy Ward, is also among the qualification contenders.

Latvian racer Francis Gusts bids to return to the SGP2 series in the qualifier at former FIM Italian Speedway GP venue Terenzano.

He faces off with Denmark’s Bastian Pedersen – nephew of Speedway GP legend Nicki Pedersen – and 2022 SGP3 runner-up Villads Nagel. Brothers Dan and Joe Thompson fly the flag for Great Britain, while Slovenian shooting star Anze Grmek will hope to requalify after racing in the 2023 series.

Norwegian talent Mathias Pollestad lines up in the qualifier at German track Ludwigslust, where he faces Swedish racer Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, who was fourth in this year’s Swedish Final.

Polish duo Bartosz Banbor and Kacper Lobodzinski represent Poland, while Ukrainian young gun Nazar Parnitskyi – first reserve in the 2023 competition – bids to upgrade to a full-time berth for 2024.

Newly-crowned British Under-21 champion Sam Hagon rides in Germany, while Denmark’s Jesper Knudsen bids to follow his brother Jonas, who rode in the 2022 championship, in reaching the series. Czech prospect Adam Bubba Bednar is also in action.

The top four riders from each round qualify for the SGP2 series, with the SGP2 Commission set to name three permanent wild cards for the championship.

MACON LINE-UP: 1 Alex Martin (USA), 2 Magnus Klipper (Norway), 3 Mikkel Andersen (Denmark), 4 Erik Bachhuber (Germany), 5 Tino Bouin (France), 6 Marlon Hegener (Germany), 7 William Drejer (Denmark), 8 Sebastian Kössler (Austria), 9 Tate Zischke (Australia), 10 Casper Henriksson (Sweden), 11 Ashton Boughen (Great Britain), 12 Antoine Desserprix (France), 13 Nikita Kaulins (Latvia), 14 Leon Flint (Great Britain), 15 Wiktor Przyjemski (Poland), 16 Matous Kamenik (Czech Republic). RESERVES: 17 Téo Tauzin (France), 18 Théo Bernard (France).

TERENZANO LINE-UP: 1 Bastian Pedersen (Denmark), 2 Dan Thompson (Great Britain), 3 Mattia Santinelli (Italy), 4 Milton Besagonil (Argentina), 5 Joe Thompson (Great Britain), 6 Patrick Hyjek (Germany), 7 Richárd Füzesi (Hungary), 8 Matteo Boncinelli (Italy), 9 Ludvig Selvin (Sweden), 10 Jakub Krawczyk (Poland), 11 Anze Grmek (Slovenia), 12 Sebastian Szostak (Poland), 13 Villads Nagel (Denmark), 14 Jaroslav Vanicek (Czech Republic), 15 Francis Gusts (Latvia), 16 Harrison Ryan (Australia). RESERVE: 17 Julian Kuny (Germany).

LUDWIGSLUST LINE-UP: 1 Nazar Parnitskyi (Ukraine), 2 Jonny Wynant (Germany), 3 Jan Jenicek (Czech Republic), 4 Anton Jansson (Sweden), 5 Jesper Knudsen (Denmark), 6 Bartosz Bańbor (Poland), 7 Philip Hellström-Bängs (Sweden), 8 Otto Raak (Finland), 9 Artjom Juhno (Latvia). 10 Michael West (Australia), 11 Kacper Łobodziński (Poland), 12 Adam Bubba Bednar (Czech Republic), 13 Slater Lightcap (United States), 14 Ben Iken (Germany), 15 Mathias Pollestad (Norway), 16 Sam Hagon (Great Britain). RESERVES: 17 Hannah Grunwald (Germany), 18 Tom Meyer (Germany).