FIM SPEEDWAY TOP 5 MOMENTS | LATVIA

As speedway toasts its 100th anniversary season, FIMSpeedway.com is looking back at the biggest moments celebrated in each of our 2023 FIM Speedway nations.

As the FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga takes place in the capital for the very first time on Saturday, August 12, with the FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 event on Friday, August 11, FIMSpeedway.com relives the top five moments in Latvian speedway history.

 

1. LATVIA STORMS TO 2021 SON FINAL

Team Latvia had never reached an FIM Speedway world team final before the 2021 FIM Speedway of Nations Semi-Finals came to Daugavpils’ Lokomotiv Stadium.

With a talented trio led by 2023 Speedway GP first reserve Andzejs Lebedevs, plus Olegs Mihailovs and rising star Francis Gusts, the hosts knew they would never have a better chance to make history on September 18, 2021.

It was a chance they took in style as Mihailovs and Lebedevs sealed a 7-2 heat win over Ukraine in their final ride to send Daugavpils wild. Latvia took second place behind Australia in Semi-Final 2 to seal their passage to Manchester for the FIM SON Final.

The team went on to finish sixth at Britain’s National Speedway Stadium, matching their best FIM Speedway World Cup performances from 2013 and 2017, when they were third in the Race Off. They will hope their historic FIM SON Final is the first of many.

 

2. LEBEDEVS CROWNED EUROPEAN CHAMPION IN 2017

While Latvia is waiting for its first FIM Speedway world champion, they have recently delivered a Speedway European Championship winner, with Andzejs Lebedevs topping the podium in 2017.

After a four-round series, he finished seven points clear of future world champion Artem Laguta.

Despite not winning any of the rounds, a third place at the opener in Polish city Torun was followed by three second places at German track Gustrow, Swedish venue Hallstavik and Polish circuit Lublin.

It was a victory that put Lebedevs among the riders tipped for a future Speedway GP spot, although European champions have only received automatic qualification for the following year’s SGP series since the 2020 SEC season, won by Robert Lambert.

 

3. LATVIANS DUMP DENMARK OUT OF 2017 SWC

If ever there was a moment that showed this brave speedway nation’s ability to punch well above its weight, it’s the night Latvia sent Denmark home from the 2017 FIM Speedway World Cup.

After 20 heats at Event 2 in Vastervik, the Danes found themselves fighting for survival as they tied for third place on 28 points with Latvia.

With only one of the teams able to advance to the Race Off in Polish city Leszno, Danish star Niels-Kristian Iversen was pitched into battle with Lebedevs over four tense laps.

And Lebedevs prevailed – sending Hans Nielsen’s Danish team out as Latvia pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.

 

4. POUDZUKS POWERS INTO THE SEMIS IN 2014

Latvian racer Kasts Puodzuks was handed an unexpected chance to shine in the 2014 FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Daugavpils.

Starting the day as first track reserve, he was promoted into the event minutes before tapes up when Aussie racer Darcy Ward was ruled out by the FIM after failing an alcohol test.

Puodzuks may have been a late addition, but he had no intention of merely making up the numbers.

A heat win, two seconds and two thirds fired him through to his first Speedway GP semi-final on nine points, before he picked up another point in the semis to finish on 10 championship points – placing him fifth in his home event.

With only meeting winner Krzysztof Kasprzak, Nicki Pedersen in second, Greg Hancock in third and fourth-placed Kenneth Bjerre taking home more prize money, it’s a moment the local favourite will never forget.

 

5. YOUNG GUNS FIRE IN 2022

The future is bright for Latvian speedway, and the man who looks set to challenge Lebedevs to become the nation’s No.1 rider is Francis Gusts.

Gusts came within half a lap of making history at the FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic – Prague last May, when Poland’s Mateusz Cierniak passed him on the final lap to steal victory away.

While Latvia’s brightest talent missed out on becoming the first winner of an FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship event staged under the SGP2 banner, he certainly underlined his potential to become a Speedway GP star.

Gusts also led Latvia to fourth place in the FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 event in Vojens on July 29, alongside Ricards Ansviesulis and Ernests Matjusonoks.

Finishing on 28 points, they were pipped into the Grand Final Qualifier by Great Britain, who matched that total but won their head-to-head battle.

But with second-placed Czech Republic only beating Latvia by one point on 29, it’s clear Latvia is a nation getting ever closer to its first medal in the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship.