TEURNBERG BACKS 'BADASS' LEBEDEVS TO STAR FOR DACKARNA

Dackarna boss Mikael Teurnberg is backing “badass” Latvian star Andzejs Lebedevs to impress in Malilla after drafting him in for 2023.

The Latvian racer spent the past season with the Malilla club’s Bauhaus Elitserien rivals Rospiggarna, but makes the move to the Skrotfrag Arena, where he joins Danish star Rasmus Jensen, Filip Hjelmland and Ludvig Lindgren so far.

Lebedevs reached the semi-final of the For Nature Solutions FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun on October 1 and, after being named as the series’ third substitute rider for this year, he has been upgraded to first reserve for 2023.

The 2017 Speedway European Championship winner is being tipped to thrive in Malilla by Dackarna boss Mikael Teurnberg.

He told the club’s website: “This is a guy who rides quite hard, who has a bit of a badass in him.

“Before the 2014 season, I took him to Rospiggarna. After that, he has raced several seasons in Rospiggarna and in Smederna. Especially in Smederna, he was very consistent for a few seasons and helped win league-title gold.

“It’s great that he will race for Dackarna. It feels good to get him into the team.”

Elsewhere, champions Smederna have extended Polish international Kacper Woryna’s deal for next season. After helping the Eskilstuna outfit to Bauhaus Elitserien gold alongside Speedway GP duo Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley this year, Woryna can’t wait to be part of Smederna’s title defence.

He said: “I am really happy to stay in Eskilstuna Smederna. Since I came to the club in 2021, the only goal has been to win gold and as a rider, gold is the only thing I want.

“I am overjoyed with the silver medal in 2021 and gold in 2022, but it does not change our attitude and hunger to take another gold. We are starting from scratch next season, and I am happy to be part of the team on another journey.”