FIM SPEEDWAY TOP 5 MOMENTS | MALILLA

19/03/2023

FIM SPEEDWAY TOP 5 MOMENTS | MALILLAFIM SPEEDWAY TOP 5 MOMENTS | MALILLA

As speedway toasts its 100th anniversary season, FIMSpeedway.com looks back at the top five moments celebrated at each of our 2023 FIM Speedway venues.

Today, we feature the storied Skrotfrag Arena – stage for the FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla on July 15, as well as the FIM SGP3 Final on July 14.

 

1. ZMARZLIK ZOOMS TO NO.3 IN 2022

Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik wrote more Speedway GP history on September 17, 2022, as he celebrated his third world title in the forests of Malilla.

With Zmarzlik and rival Leon Madsen both in the semi-finals, the Dane needed to progress from semi-final one to keep the title race alive. But when his engine gave up on him, it was game over – handing the Pole his third SGP crown in just four seasons.

Camera crews rushed to Zmarzlik’s pit area as the team celebrated, but it was back to business within minutes as Zmarzlik cruised to victory in semi-final two, before capping off an unforgettable night by winning the FIM Swedish Speedway GP – his third Malilla win after victories in 2017 and 2021.

 

2. FAST FREDDIE’S HOME HEROICS IN 2019

Nothing raises the noise level in Malilla more than Freddie Lindgren in full flight in his home event.

He truly was in full flight in heat six, when Polish rival Patryk Dudek crashed on the back straight, leaving man and machine prone across the circuit.

Lindgren had nowhere to go but produced an Evil Knievel-style jump over Dudek’s stranded bike, rocketing over it before crashing into the third-bend fence. It was a fall that left Lindgren with a visible limp, but it didn’t slow him down on the bike.

Not only did he spare the Pole from serious injury, he went on to win the final ahead of Leon Madsen, Maciej Janowski and Artem Laguta.

It was an emotional win for Lindgren – seven years after his first home victory at Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium in 2012. Few events bring out his best more than Malilla’s Speedway GP.

 

3. HANCOCK ENDS SWEDISH VICTORY SEARCH IN 2016

Having made his European home in Sweden with wife Jennie, the nation where they raised sons Wilbur, Bill and Karl, the country holds a special place in American legend Greg Hancock’s affections.

But for some crazy reason, the Californian – who has raced more Speedway GPs than any other rider – had been unable to top the podium in his adopted homeland.

That all changed on a glorious Sunday afternoon in 2016. The FIM Swedish Speedway GP was pushed back by a day due to rain, but the final was more than worth the wait.

Hancock duelled with title rival Jason Doyle over first place, before getting the better of him to win his first Swedish round at the 36th attempt. Good things come to those who wait, and he wasn’t waiting long for his fourth world title after spraying the Malilla champagne.

 

4. AJ ON TOP IN 2006

The Malilla crowd loves a home winner, and it was Andreas Jonsson who delivered an unforgettable victory at the second Speedway GP round staged in Malilla in 2006.

With six-time world champion Tony Rickardsson announcing his retirement halfway through the season, an expectant nation was looking for a new hero to keep the yellow and blue flag flying high.

And it was Jonsson who stepped up to the mark, winning the Malilla final ahead of Hans Andersen, Leigh Adams and Jason Crump on his way to fourth place in the Speedway GP World Championship.

That Malilla victory was the first of nine Speedway GP wins for a man who went on to win World Championship silver in 2011, and he remains one of Sweden’s heroes of the SGP era.

 

5. DANISH YOUNG GUNS FIRE IN 2012 FIM SWC

Malilla hasn’t only hosted Speedway GP action – the 2012 FIM Speedway World Cup Race Off and Final came to the Skrotfrag Arena, with hosts Sweden facing off with Denmark, Russia and Australia.

Danish boss Anders Secher took a sizeable gamble in naming talented but inexperienced duo Michael Jepsen Jensen and Mikkel Bech in his starting line-up, dropping Leon Madsen after the opening round in Vojens.

But starring alongside Niels-Kristian Iversen and Nicki Pedersen, Denmark’s young guns fired – with MJJ matching NKI’s 11 points, Pedersen picking up nine and Bech bagging eight to seal a famous win.

Australia fell three points short of gold in second spot, despite a 16-point salvo from eventual Speedway GP world champion Chris Holder. Meanwhile, Russia won their first FIM SWC medal in third.

 

Join us for more magical Malilla moments. Tickets covering entry to both the 2023 FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla on Saturday, July 15 and the FIM SGP3 Final for the sport’s brightest under-16 stars on Friday, July 14 are on sale now.

Secure your spot at the Skrotfrag Arena here: https://secure.tickster.com/sv/27pj8wpgxzj1va9/selectproductgroup