MADSEN: RIGA CRASH COSTLY

Danish racer Leon Madsen believes his Riga crash proved extremely costly as he fell short of the Speedway GP World Championship’s top six.

Madsen raced to a season-best second place at the DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun last Saturday, scoring 18 championship points to leave him ninth in the final standings on 94 – 12 short of the top-six automatic qualifying places.

The Dane’s season has been blighted by some personal problems away from the sport. He also suffered a heavy crash at the OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga on September 7.  This left him with concussion, which forced him to sit out his home event – the Deluxe Homeart FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens, which he won in 2023.

Madsen feels he could have fired himself into the top six, had he raced in his homeland. But he admitted: “Riga was a nasty crash. I had a big head concussion. On the Monday night after Riga, I went to A&E because I was feeling very bad. I was not ready to race in Vojens.

“That was unlucky because I think if I had a good result in Vojens, like I had in Torun, I think I could have ended up in the top six. If I didn’t have that crash in Riga and I had been racing in Vojens, I think I would have been in the top six. But it is what it is. 

“It has just been a very tough and unlucky season for me with everything going on. I just hope to be back next year. I know I have what it takes to be up there and fight for the medals.

“A lot of people are talking about wild cards because this rider and that rider are injured. But I think people have forgotten what I have been going through this year in my private life. That’s also a bit like being injured. That I managed to race is a big thing.

“On Saturday, I showed everybody that I have still got it, and I can be at the top and race fast. The private situation will be resolved before next season. That’s why I hope for the wild card. Then I can come back much stronger next year.”

Madsen didn’t have an entirely smooth night in Torun, catching the air fence in his fourth ride and crashing heavily on the back straight. Mercifully, he walked away without issue this time.

But Madsen said: “I feel like the bad luck continues to chase me in GPs. I managed to bounce back from that crash, and I am very happy about that.

“I am very happy to finish off the GP season on a high. I would have liked to win it on Saturday, but I didn’t want to go to that fence one more time and have another crash. A second place is a little bit like a win for me in this one.”