LAGUTA MAKES RACING RETURN WITH WROCLAW IN 2023

Former Speedway GP world champion Artem Laguta’s return to the sport has been confirmed after he was officially named in Wroclaw’s squad for 2023.

The Bydgoszcz-based racer was unable to defend his Speedway GP crown in 2022 after the FIM suspended all riders racing on Russian licences until further notice due to the war in Ukraine.

Laguta was also blocked from competing in the PGE Ekstraliga last year after Polish authorities also banned Russian riders.

But with rider No.222 also holding Polish citizenship, he will now switch to a Polish licence and has been cleared to return to the PGE Ekstraliga, along with fellow Russian-born Polish citizens Emil Sayfutdinov and Andrei Kudriashov.

Laguta led Wroclaw to their first PGE Ekstraliga title for 15 years in 2021, and he re-joins a formidable side, featuring local hero Maciej Janowski, triple world champion Tai Woffinden and double Speedway GP winner Dan Bewley, as well as former SGP regular Piotr Pawlicki.

With Laguta in their ranks, Wroclaw will fancy their chances of dethroning champions Lublin, who have also strengthened their side by recruiting triple world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik, Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren and Aussie ace Jack Holder to join the likes of Dominik Kubera, Jaroslaw Hampel and SGP2 champion Mateusz Cierniak.

Elsewhere, Czestochowa have confirmed former World Under-21 champion Jakub Miskowiak will complete their side for 2023.

Miskowiak was widely expected to return, despite moving out of the club’s junior berths for next season – he will serve as the under-24 rider required in every PGE Ekstraliga team’s top five.

He teams up with the likes of world No.2 Leon Madsen, new signings Mikkel Michelsen and Maksym Drabik, plus For Nature Solutions FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun wild card Kacper Woryna.