FIM Speedway

SUNDSTROM: SON DOOR STILL OPEN FOR LINDGREN

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. “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.”

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THOMPSON: INTO THE UNKNOWN

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.”

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MADSEN'S CHALLENGE CALL-UP

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).  

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ZMARZLIK READY FOR RIGA TEST

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.”

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EKSTRALIGA | LAGUTA UNBEATEN AS WROCLAW TAKES WIN

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, CLICK HERE.

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SUNDSTROM: SON DOOR STILL OPEN FOR LINDGREN

THOMPSON: INTO THE UNKNOWN

MADSEN'S CHALLENGE CALL-UP

ZMARZLIK READY FOR RIGA TEST

EKSTRALIGA | LAGUTA UNBEATEN AS WROCLAW TAKES WIN