FRENCH RACER BERGE BAGS ROSPIGGARNA DEAL

Rospiggarna boss Peter Jansson hailed French international Dimitri Berge as “one of the best motorcycle riders I have seen in track racing” after bringing him to Hallstavik for 2023.

Berge is a regular for France in the FIM Speedway of Nations, helping them reach their first-ever team world final in Manchester in 2021, before they took fourth place in FIM SON Semi-Final 2 at Vojens Speedway Center last summer.

That result means the French will line up in the FIM Speedway World Cup for the first time in their history when the competition relaunches at Wroclaw’s Olympic Stadium in July 2023.

Away from speedway, Berge also won the FIM Long Track World Championship in 2019 and his all-round racing abilities have certainly caught Jansson’s eye as the rider makes the move from Lejonen.

Jansson said: “Dimitri Berge is one of the best motorcycle riders I have seen in track racing. I have been lucky enough to see him ride both in long track and grass track.

“If he gets into the team and gains good self-confidence, he can be as good as he wants. Berge is a fighter who is also a serious and easy guy to work with. He is investing hard in next year’s season and will fit well into the group.”

Berge is joined in the team by Speedway GP newcomer Kim Nilsson, German racer Kai Huckenbeck and Swedish international Victor Palovaara.

Elsewhere, Indianerna has completed their 2023 squad with the signature of Finnish international Tero Aarnio. He teams up with the likes of Speedway GP duo Jason Doyle and Max Fricke in Kumla.

And Malilla side Dackarna has added German rider Max Dilger to their squad as a back-up rider. He links up with the likes of Speedway GP duo Maciej Janowski and Dan Bewley at the Skrotfrag Arena.