DANISH HERO MADSEN SEEKS SPEEDWAY GP TITLE-RACE BOOST IN VOJENS

Danish racer Leon Madsen bids to set up an epic finish to the FIM Speedway Grand Prix world title race as the sport’s top stars line up in the FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens, sponsored by ECCO this Saturday.

Round eight of the Speedway GP series comes to the legendary Vojens Speedway Center as the fight for the sport’s biggest prizes reaches its climax with three SGP rounds set for the next four weekends.

The championship battle picks up pace in Denmark this weekend, with Poland’s Bartosz Zmarzlik leading the charge on 108 points – 16 clear of Madsen, who has 92 in second place.

Zmarzlik topped the Vojens podium in 2019, before taking second spot in the Danish event here last year. He will be determined to deliver a big performance on a track where Madsen is fighting for his first-ever final appearance.

Denmark’s former European champion finished second at the Betard FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw on August 27 to narrow Zmarzlik’s lead from 22 points to 16.

But he will need another big performance to pile the pressure on the Pole ahead of the final two rounds at Swedish track Malilla on September 17 and Polish venue Torun on October 1.

Madsen could also come under pressure from in-form Great Britain racer Dan Bewley, who has surged from 11^th place to third in the standings after back-to-back victories in Cardiff (August 13) and Wroclaw. Bewley has 84 points – 40 of them won in the last two rounds – putting him just eight behind Madsen in the battle for silver and 24 short of Zmarzlik. If he can take his red-hot summer form into the autumn, he could end his debut season on the sport’s biggest stage with a medal – possibly even silver or gold.

DENMARK’S HOME OF SPEEDWAY

The FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens, sponsored by ECCO takes place at Vojens Speedway Center – one of the nation’s most storied motorsport venues.

Built by triple world champion Ole Olsen to give speedway a grand stage in his homeland, Vojens has established itself as Denmark’s national speedway stadium.

It was the venue for the last-ever FIM Speedway World Final in 1994, won by Swedish icon Tony Rickardsson, before the Speedway GP series was launched in 1995. This will be the 16^th SGP event to be staged at Vojens.

Some of the sport’s biggest team events have also been hosted at the South Jutland circuit.

From July 27-30, Vojens played host to the 2022 FIM Speedway of Nations – the sport’s team world championship. That week saw Australia carry off their first team world title since 2002, but it will be every rider for himself in this weekend’s FIM Danish Speedway GP, sponsored by ECCO.

HOME HEROES

Madsen is joined in the FIM Danish Speedway GP, sponsored by ECCO by fellow countrymen Mikkel Michelsen and Rasmus Jensen.

Reigning European champion Michelsen is currently ninth in the Speedway GP World Championship on 61 points – nine short of Sweden’s Fredrik Lindgren, who holds the sixth and final automatic qualifying place for the 2023 series.

Michelsen’s qualification quest suffered a sizeable setback last Friday. During the warm-up for his Polish club Lublin’s PGE Ekstraliga semi-final, first leg, Michelsen’s machine picked up drive unexpectedly with the bike landing hard on his left ankle.

Incredibly, Michelsen still raced Friday, Saturday and Sunday that weekend, but will hope a few days of intense rehabilitation ahead of the FIM Danish Speedway GP, sponsored by ECCO will leave him in better shape for Vojens.

Meanwhile, wild card Jensen makes his Speedway GP debut in Vojens this weekend, crowning a fine season which saw him become Danish champion in June and reach the FIM GP Challenge in Glasgow on August 20 – the final qualifying round for the 2023 Speedway GP series.

Jensen took sixth place with 10 points there and will bid to deliver an even bigger performance in what is undoubtedly the biggest meeting of his career so far.

QUALIFICATION RACE

The battle for places in the 2023 Speedway GP series could not be closer with just 19 points separating fourth-placed Polish star Patryk Dudek on 76 and 11^th placed Aussie ace Jason Doyle, who has 57.

The top six riders in the Speedway GP World Championship all secure qualification for next season, with those places currently held by Zmarzlik (108 points), Madsen (92), Bewley (84), Dudek (76), Maciej Janowski (74) and Fredrik Lindgren (70).

Great Britain star Robert Lambert stepped up his qualification bid by reaching his first-ever podium in Wroclaw. He is seventh on 68 points, with compatriot Tai Woffinden eighth on 64. Michelsen is ninth on 61, with Slovak star Martin Vaculik 10^th on 58.

Three riders have already guaranteed their spots for 2023 – Kim Nilsson of Sweden, GB shooting star Bewley and Australia’s Jack Holder all booked qualification at the FIM GP Challenge.

They will be joined by the winner of the Speedway European Championship. The lead is currently led by Poland’s Janusz Kolodziej going into the final round in Pardubice, Czech Republic on September 23.

The 2023 Speedway GP line-up will be completed by five wild cards, chosen by the SGP Commission.

2022 FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF DENMARK – VOJENS, SPONSORED BY ECCO LINE-UP (in FIM ranking order with rider numbers): 95. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland), 71. Maciej Janowski (Poland), 66. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden), 108. Tai Woffinden (Great Britain), 30. Leon Madsen (Denmark), 46. Max Fricke (Australia), 69. Jason Doyle (Australia), 505. Robert Lambert (Great Britain), 29. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia – substitute for 105. Anders Thomsen), 54. Martin Vaculik (Slovakia), 323. Pawel Przedpelski (Poland), 155. Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark), 692. Patryk Dudek (Poland), 25. Jack Holder (Australia), 99. Dan Bewley (Great Britain), 16. Rasmus Jensen (Denmark – wild card), 17. Benjamin Basso (Denmark – first track reserve), 18. Emil Breum (Denmark – second track reserve).

VOJENS FANZONE

Fans can enjoy a full day of action and entertainment on and off the track at Vojens Speedway Center with the FIM Danish Speedway GP – Vojens, sponsored by ECCO fanzone from 14:00 CET.

After Qualifying Practice at 13:00 CET, the focus switches to the Vojens training track, which hosts the fanzone.

All of the Speedway GP riders will be taking part in an autograph session from 16:30 – the perfect opportunity to pick up a signature or a speedway selfie.

Fans can meet the Monster Energy athletes and grab some hero cards in the Monster Zone from 16:00. Monster Energy will be on hand with free drinks and lots of photo opportunities throughout the afternoon.

Fans can also enjoy mountain biking demonstration races at 15:30, 17:10 and 18:10 as well as visit the UCI promotional booth.

Visitors can pose with one of Denmark’s F16 fighter jets throughout the day – or grab a photo with the FIM Speedway trophies and the brand-new We Love Speedway sign. There’s also the chance to sit on a speedway bike and some vintage bikes on display.

There will also be quizzes and games on the big screen from 17:30 and face painting for kids throughout the afternoon, as well as the chance to meet Vojens club mascot Felix.

Fans can pick up their brand-new SGP merchandise and food and drink will be available for purchase.

WHERE TO WATCH

• Qualifying Practice: Saturday, September 10 – 13:00 CET
• FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens, sponsored by ECCO: Saturday, September 10 – 19:00 CET

Fans with access to Discovery+ or the Eurosport App, available in selected countries, can enjoy full live coverage of all the FIM Speedway action this year, featuring qualifying practice, a documentary series and other innovative features, including live data such as rider heartbeat.

Linear coverage is also available in selected countries – see below for more details of where to watch. 

ACROSS EUROPE: Live on the Eurosport App

BRITAIN: Live on Discovery+ and Eurosport 2

POLAND: Live on Eurosport Extra

SWEDEN: Live on Discovery+

DENMARK: Live on 6’eren and Discovery+

AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox Sports

NEW ZEALAND: Live on Sky Sport

USA: Live on beIN SPORTS

GERMANY: Live on the Eurosport App

CZECH REP: Live on the Eurosport App

CROATIA: Live on the Eurosport App

NORWAY: Live on Discovery+

FINLAND: Live on Discovery+

ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on Discovery+ and Go3

SELECTED ASIAN MARKETS: Coverage on beIN SPORTS

2022 FIM SPEEDWAY GP CALENDAR

The 2022 FIM Speedway World Championship includes:

April 30: Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia – Donji Kraljevec

May 14: Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw

May 28: Prague FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague

June 4: Wölk FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Teterow

June 25: 3W FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow

August 13: FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff

August 27: Betard FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw

September 10: FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens, sponsored by ECCO

September 17: Kaeser FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla

October 1: FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun