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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SPEEDWAY GP DEBUT FOR LATVIAN RACER KOSTIGOVS IN RIGA

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.

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POLISH STAR PRZYJEMSKI READY FOR SGP2 PRESSURE AFTER MALILLA MAXIMUM

Polish shooting star Wiktor Przyjemski is ready to carry the weight of expectation after storming to a sensational six-ride maximum to win the Virkvarn FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla on Friday.The reigning FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion raced to victory in the 2024 SGP2 series opener in Malilla, and he repeated his triumph in the Swedish forests – this time with an outstanding unbeaten display, defying the wet conditions caused by a heavy rain shower after heat 16.The Lublin star was a class apart as he won all five heats to qualify for the final automatically, before holding his nerve to win SGP2 round one ahead of Denmark’s William Drejer in second place, Poland’s Kevin Malkiewicz in third and Ukrainian star Nazar Parnitskyi in fourth spot.Przyjemski was delighted to deliver another magical moment in Malilla. And while the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship favourite knows the pressure is on him to make it back-to-back SGP2 world titles, he’s ready to use it as a positive. 

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SWEDISH STAR HENRIKSSON: STANDING ON MY OWN TWO FEET IN SGP2

Swedish star Casper Henriksson admits standing alone in the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship has helped his career progress as he prepares for the Virkvarn FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla on Friday.Henriksson flies the home flag in the opening round of the 2025 SGP2 series alongside wild card and Lejonen teammate Sammy van Dyck, as the pair take on the sport’s top under-21 stars – just 24 hours before the Virkvarn FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla also takes place at Skrotfrag Arena on Saturday night.The 2024 SGP2 top four have all re-qualified for the championship as Poland’s reigning champion Wiktor Przyjemski defends his crown, while Ukrainian runner-up Nazar Parnitskyi, Norway’s third-placed Mathias Pollestad and Danish sensation Mikkel Andersen in fourth all bid to improve on last year’s results, along with their fellow returning star William Drejer of Denmark.

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SWEDISH RACER VAN DYCK COMPLETES LINE-UP FOR SGP2 SHOWDOWN IN MALILLA

Swedish talent Sammy van Dyck joins the line-up for Sweden’s biggest speedway weekend after being named as wild card for the Virkvarn FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla on Friday, July 4.The opening round of the 2025 FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship takes place the night before the sport’s elite battle it out in the FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla on Saturday, July 5.Van Dyck, who wears the No.16 race jacket, will be determined to kick a huge weekend off in style as he flies the Swedish flag alongside Lejonen teammate Casper Henriksson, who launches his fourth and final SGP2 campaign in Malilla.Both riders were part of Lejonen’s Bauhaus Elitserien title-winning side in 2024 along with Speedway GP icons Bartosz Zmarzlik and Dominik Kubera.Van Dyck also won bronze in last year’s Swedish Under-21 Championship and was the only Swede to compete in the European Under-19 Championship.He took part in the SGP2 qualifier at Czech track Pardubice on May 25, scoring 10 points, meaning he fell just two points and two places short of full qualification for the series.The 19-year-old is also listed as second substitute rider for this season’s SGP2 series, meaning he could be called up for one of the other two rounds in Latvian capital Riga on August 1 or at iconic Danish venue Vojens on September 12, if two of the championship regulars are forced out of a round due to injury, illness or other reasons.The track reserves for the Virkvarn Jord och Skog AB FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla are 2023 FIM Speedway Youth world champion Rasmus Karlsson and Noel Wahlquist, who wear No.17 and No.18 respectively. The wild card for the FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla will be handed to the winner of the Swedish Championship Final in Norrkoping next Tuesday. If Sweden’s world No.3 Fredrik Lindgren tops the podium, the runner-up will join him in Malilla on July 5.

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