GOLDEN HELMET WEEKEND FINALE IN PARDUBICE FOR SPEEDWAY GP QUALIFIERS

The race to qualify for the 2025 FIM Speedway Grand Prix series will climax on the iconic Golden Helmet weekend in Pardubice, with the FIM GP Challenge heading to the famous Czech circuit on Friday, October 4, 2024.

The top three riders will guarantee their places in the 2025 Speedway GP series, with one of speedway’s most hard-fought contests – raced over a nail-biting 20 heats with no semi-finals or finals – coming just six days after the final round of the 2024 Speedway GP series in Torun.

Normally, the FIM GP Challenge takes place in the middle of summer – meaning some of the riders involved may have the chance to secure Speedway GP qualification by finishing in the SGP World Championship’s top six or by winning the Speedway European Championship, even if they miss out on the Challenge podium.

But with the FIM GP Challenge at the end of the season next year, it means the final confirmed Speedway GP places will be up for grabs in Pardubice – ensuring it will truly be the last-chance saloon for those seeking to guarantee their spot in the 2025 series.

The FIM GP Challenge is set to be the opening event of Pardubice’s always-popular Golden Helmet weekend, which sees riders from all over the world compete for the Golden Helmet on Sunday, October 6. 

The prize, won by a who’s who of speedway legends, is one of the most sought-after trophies in the sport beyond the FIM Speedway championships and always attracts a stellar line-up of riders.

There will be two more speedway events in Pardubice on Saturday, October 5, as the Golden Ribbon for the sport’s junior stars and round five of the FIM Flat Track World Championship also take place.

There will be four qualifying rounds for the FIM GP Challenge, which take place in May. German track Abensberg and Hungarian circuit Debrecen host rounds on May 20, with Italian venue Lonigo and Slovak track Zarnovica staging the final two on May 25.

The battles for places in the 2024 FIM SGP2 series – the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship – will be staged in Ludwigslust (Germany), Terenzano (Italy) and Macon (France) on Saturday, June 8. All riders must requalify for the series, regardless of where they finished in the 2023 championship.

The qualifiers are just six days before the series-opening FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla on Friday, June 14, on a weekend with also features the FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla and the 2024 FIM Speedway Youth World Cup (SGP4), which both take place on Saturday, June 15.

The two FIM SGP3 Semi-Finals will be raced at Teterow’s Bergring Arena on Saturday, June 22, with the top riders advancing to the FIM SGP3 Final at Gorzow’s Edward Jancarz Stadium on Friday, June 28 – the night before the FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow on June 29.

And the FIM Track Racing Youth Gold Trophy for the sport’s youngest talents will be staged in Zarnovica on July 21.