CIERNIAK: NO RUSH IN SPEEDWAY GP QUALIFYING QUEST

Double SGP2 champion Mateusz Cierniak admits he isn’t putting a date on his dream of making it into the FIM Speedway Grand Prix series as he leaves the under-21 ranks.Cierniak signed off his junior career in 2023 by winning a second straight FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship, defying a nail-biting final round in Vojens to confirm his dominance of the under-21 category, in which he has won four of the six SGP2 rounds staged over the past two years.This season sees Cierniak compete for Polish PGE Ekstraliga champions Lublin, as well as Lejonen in Sweden’s Bauhaus Elitserien and Fjelsted in the Danish Speedwayligaen, and the 21-year-old is keen to continue his rapid development in his league programme this year.The Tarnow-born young gun is being hotly tipped as a Speedway GP star of the future. While it’s a prophecy Cierniak is determined to convert into a reality, he’s not setting a target as to when he expects to line up on the sport’s biggest senior stage.He told SpeedwayEkstraliga.pl: “This is definitely my goal for the coming seasons. I don't know when exactly I will be ready to start fighting for entry into Speedway GP. “For now, I will do everything I can to collect as much experience as possible from all the competitions in which I take part. This will help me create opportunities to be a full-fledged competitor in the series.“I want to ride at the highest level possible and be a top competitor in the leagues I am participating in. I always want to improve and never rest on my laurels. My dream of becoming an ‘adult’ world champion is certainly the one I am striving for the most.”

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TUNGATE SNAPPED UP BY SMEDERNA

Australian champion Rohan Tungate has added Sweden’s Bauhaus Elitserien to his schedule after agreeing terms with Smederna.Tungate has already signed for Metalkas 2. Ekstraliga side Rybnik and makes a full-time UK comeback with Sports Insure Premiership team, the Oxford Spires.Now he will head to Eskilstuna too, where he joins the likes of former Speedway GP rider Kim Nilsson, double FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion Maksym Drabik, Vadim Tarasenko, Grzegorz Zengota and Patryk Wojdylo, plus Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, Joel Andersson and Anton Jansson.Tungate also competes in the Speedway GP qualifiers this season after winning his second Australian Championship in January.And he looks forward to lining up for the Blacksmiths in Sweden. He told the Smederna official website: “I am happy to come to Eskilstuna and look forward to a new challenge at a new club. It is a club with a strong history of success. If we look at the team, I think it will be a good season.”

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AMERICANS DEFEAT REST OF THE WORLD IN CALIFORNIA TEST

American racer Max Ruml starred as the United States scored a 61-52 victory over the Rest of the World in a test match at Kern County Raceway in Bakersfield, California on Saturday.Ruml led the charge on 13 paid 15 points from five rides, scoring four in heat 15, where double points were up for grabs.FIM North America champion Luke Becker also impressed with 12 points as he went unbeaten in his first four rides, before failing to finish the final race, heat 17.Gino Manzares notched nine from four races as he pushes for a return to European racing, while Billy Janniro and Broc Nicol both scored seven paid eight from four.Triple British champion Chris Harris was the star for the tourists on 18 points from five races, including two six-point wins.GB international Tom Brennan weighed in with a very useful 17 points from six, doubling two points to four in heat 11. His compatriot Leon Flint collected six paid eight, with Italian star Paco Castagna scoring six.

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BELLEGO HAILS MALILLA TRACK AFTER COMPLETING DACKARNA DEAL

French racer David Bellego believes he is heading to “one of the best tracks in Sweden” after joining Bauhaus Elitserien champions Dackarna for 2024.Bellego is the last rider to join the Malilla club for this year, teaming up with Speedway GP duo Dan Bewley and Andzejs Lebedevs, plus Danish racer Rasmus Jensen, Aussie stars Brady Kurtz and Ryan Douglas, Timo Lahti, Filip Hjelmland, Avon Van Dyck and Noel Wahlqvist.Bellego, who will also compete for Tarnow in the Polish National Speedway League – formerly known as the Second Division – hopes his move to Malilla will boost his chances of chasing Speedway European Championship qualification this year.He said: “I am very happy to represent the reigning Swedish champions. In my eyes, the Dackarna home track is one of the best tracks in Sweden. I have always enjoyed riding on the track in Målilla. I am looking forward to the season with a new club and hopefully fighting for the medals. “My goal for 2024 is to re-qualify for SEC, having raced there for four seasons as a regular SEC rider. At the same time, I want to take as many points as possible for my club teams.”Dackarna boss Mikael Teurnberg is backing Bellego and his 2024 squad to live up to their potential this season. He said: “David has all the conditions to blossom into a world-class rider. David is a rider that I have followed for several years, and he has a very high highest level.“We have put together a balanced, good team with great development opportunities for all riders, and it will be especially interesting to follow our three new acquisitions Timo, Ryan and David, who all have high potential and great opportunities to send their averages rocketing in 2024.“Dan, Brady, Andzejs and Rasmus are at their best age between 26 - 30 years and are constantly developing step by step. They will pick up lots of points for us during the season.“Filip Hjelmland is facing a season that can become his big breakthrough year. After a successful season in 2023, it feels like Filip is now mature enough to take the next big step in his career.“Youngsters Avon van Dyck and Noel Wahlqvist are on the way up in their careers and will now try to establish themselves seriously in the Bauhaus League in 2024.”

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ENJOY EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS ON CARDIFF HOTELS FOR FIM BRITISH SPEEDWAY GP

Searching for accommodation for the 2024 FIM Speedway GP of Britain – Cardiff on August 17? Look no further!In partnership with Cardiff City Council, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports has secured a limited number of Cardiff hotels, available to fans at affordable prices for the weekend of Britain’s biggest indoor motorsport event.The rates are available from Wednesday, August 14 until Tuesday, August 20 and fans can select the number of nights they wish to stay in the Welsh capital.Whether you are just planning on staying for one night to enjoy the racing and the city centre fanzone, you’re making a weekend of it with family and friends, or you fancy a week enjoying everything Wales has to offer, don’t miss out on these exclusive deals!Visit the booking portal and secure your FIM British Speedway GP rooms – CLICK HERE now!To secure your FIM British Speedway GP tickets and catch the likes of Great Britain trio Tai Woffinden, Dan Bewley and Robert Lambert in action, buy online HERE now.

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