FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS SIDES KEEP FAITH WITH TOP TRIOS FOR FINAL SHOWDOWN IN VOJENS

All seven FIM Speedway of Nations finalists keep faith with their Semi-Final heroes as Speedway GP trio Leon Madsen, Mikkel Michelsen and Anders Thomsen lead hosts Denmark’s quest for world-title gold at the legendary Vojens Speedway Center on Saturday.

Denmark faces off with FIM SON Semi-Final 1 winners Australia, Semi-Final 2 victors Sweden, defending champions Great Britain, Poland, Czech Republic and first-time finalists Finland in the first FIM SON Final of a new era of racing under new global promoter Discovery Sports Events.

The top-scoring nation over 21 heats progresses to the Grand Final and will be joined by the winner of the Grand Final Qualifier between the second and third-placed sides. An epic four nights and 90 heats of speedway then reaches its climax in the Grand Final, where the highest scoring nation will be crowned FIM SON world champions for 2022.

Each team manager selects a starting pair at No.1 and No.2, with a No.3 rider reserve rider, who can be called into action for any race at any time.

Danish boss Hans Nielsen takes charge of his country for the final time on Saturday and names 2019 Speedway GP silver medallist Madsen in the No.1 spot, with Michelsen at No.2 and 3W FIM Gorzow Speedway GP winner Anders Thomsen at No.3.

He also hopes to go out as junior coach with an SON2 gold medal in tonight’s FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship showdown, which sees Denmark’s under-21s face Poland, Great Britain, Australia, Sweden, Latvia and Czech Republic.

In Saturday’s senior showdown, Poland is the only side to make a small change to their riding order with Patryk Dudek promoted into the starting pair at No.2, switching places with Maciej Janowski, who now starts as the reserve at No.3. Double world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik spearheads his country’s quest for their first-ever FIM SON world title.

World champions Great Britain will be spearheaded by skipper Tai Woffinden, who notched an impressive 19 points in Semi-Final 2 on Thursday. His Speedway GP rivals Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley join him at No.2 and No.3 respectively.

The Aussies also select a trio of Speedway GP stars as skipper Jason Doyle, Max Fricke and Jack Holder bid to end the Roos’ 20-year wait for a world team title and win their first-ever FIM SON gold medal.

Sweden sprung a surprise when they won the 2015 FIM Speedway World Cup Final at Vojens and hope to challenge for gold again. They launched their quest in fine style with victory in Semi-Final 2 last night.

World No.5 Fredrik Lindgren captains the side with the in-form Oliver Berntzon, who powered to an outstanding 21 points as they won Semi-Final 2, also in Sweden’s starting pair. Victor Palovaara remains at No.3.

History beckons for shock Semi-Final 2 runners-up Finland as they line up in their first world final of the 21^st century. Timo Lahti and SGP2 shooting star Timi Salonen pair up again at No.1 and No.2 respectively, while Jesse Mustonen joins them at No.3.

The line-up is completed by Czech Republic – a nation which enters its first FIM SON Final by virtue of a top-three finish in the Semi-Finals. Their only previous Final appearance came at Lublin in 2020, when the Czechs were called up by the FIM to replace Germany.

No.1 Vaclav Milik leads the team, with SGP2 prospect Jan Kvech alongside him at No.2. Petr Chlupac is named at No.3 once again.

Tickets for the FIM SON Final on Saturday and tonight’s SON2 event are still available online. Secure your spot at trackside. Visit: https://www.billetlugen.dk/eventseries/3187803/?affiliate=WW2

FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS FINAL STARTING LINE-UPS (IN DRAW ORDER):

A – CZECH REPUBLIC: 1 Vaclav Milik (c), 2 Jan Kvech, 3 Petr Chlupac. Team Manager: Zdenek Schneiderwind.

B – DENMARK: 1 Leon Madsen (c), 2 Mikkel Michelsen, 3 Anders Thomsen. Team Manager: Hans Nielsen

C – FINLAND: 1 Timo Lahti (c), 2 Timi Salonen, 3 Jesse Mustonen. Team Manager: Peter Jansson

D – GREAT BRITAIN: 1 Tai Woffinden (c), 2 Robert Lambert, 3 Dan Bewley. Team Managers: Oliver Allen and Simon Stead.

E – AUSTRALIA: 1 Jason Doyle (c), 2 Max Fricke, 3 Jack Holder. Team Manager: Mark Lemon

F – SWEDEN: 1 Fredrik Lindgren (c), 2 Oliver Berntzon, 3 Victor Palovaara. Team Manager: Morgan Andersson

G – POLAND: 1 Bartosz Zmarzlik (c), 2 Patryk Dudek, 3 Maciej Janowski. Team Manager: Rafal Dobrucki.