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2023 FIM SGP2 LINE-UP CONFIRMED
The line-up for the 2023 FIM SGP2 series has been confirmed with three permanent wild cards joining the 12 FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship qualifiers.As part of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports’ vision to promote speedway’s stars of the future, the sport’s top under-21 riders will compete for the SGP2 title over three rounds – all staged on some of the world’s top race tracks the night before an FIM Speedway Grand Prix event. Round one takes place in Czech capital Prague on Friday, June 2, with round two at Gorzow’s Edward Jancarz Stadium in Poland on Friday, June 23 and the finale at Denmark’s famous Vojens Speedway Center on Friday, September 15.In addition to the 12 riders who qualified for the series via last Saturday’s qualification rounds, which include reigning SGP2 champion Mateusz Cierniak of Poland, Norway’s Mathias Pollestad, Slovenian international Anze Grmek and Czech star Petr Chlupac join the field as permanent wild cards.Pollestad becomes the first Norwegian rider to compete at the final stage of the competition since Bjorn G Hansen raced in the 2001 FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship Final at Peterborough.Grmek, 18, has appeared for Slovenia twice in the 2021 and 2022 FIM Speedway of Nations and now makes his SGP2 debut.Meanwhile, Chlupac joins the line-up after finishing seventh in the 2022 SGP2 series, taking third place at last year’s opening round in Prague. He also helped Czech Republic to the silver medal in the 2022 SON2 event – the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship in Vojens, Denmark on July 29.The three wild cards come up against the 12 riders who made it through the qualifiers at Vojens, Czech track Pardubice and former FIM Slovenian Speedway GP venue Krsko last Saturday.Cierniak is back to chase a second straight SGP2 title after qualifying in Krsko. He won last year’s first two rounds in Prague and Cardiff, before sealing the title with third place at the final round in Torun, Poland.Latvian star Francis Gusts, second at last year’s opener in Prague, and Swedish duo Casper Henriksson and Gustav Grahn all join Cierniak in returning to the SGP2 line-up for 2023, with two of last season’s substitutes Keynan Rew of Australia and Norick Blodorn of Germany both taking their place in the starting line-up this season.Poland’s Bartlomiej Kowalski will be keen to build on an impressive Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw performance, which saw him score four championship points and win a heat at PGE Narodowy on May 13. Damian Ratajczak joins Cierniak and Kowalski in flying the Polish flag in SGP2.Two of the three SGP2 qualifiers were won by Danes, with Emil Breum booking his place in the series with victory in Krsko ahead of Blodorn and Cierniak, while Esben Hjerrild won his home round in Vojens. They are joined in the series by compatriot Nicolai Heiselberg.Swedish racer Philip Hellstrom-Bangs returns to the world stage after lighting up the 2021 FIM Speedway of Nations Final in Manchester with a breathtaking battling performance against some of the world’s top riders.Like Speedway GP, each SGP2 round will feature one wild card rider and two track reserves, with the final three riders for the Prague FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic set to be announced very soon.The substitute riders for SGP2 have also been revealed, with Ukrainian youngster Nazar Parnitskiy first in line for a call-up if any of the main 15 riders are forced out of a round due to injury, illness or other reasons.Great Britain’s Anders Rowe is second reserve, with Ernests Matjusonoks of Latvia third on the list. Denmark’s Bastian Borke is fourth substitute, with Poland’s Kacper Pludra fifth and GB racer Drew Kemp sixth. 2023 FIM SGP2 LINE-UP (in FIM ranking order with rider numbers):161 Emil Breum (Denmark)27 Keynan Rew (Australia)94 Esben Hjerrild (Denmark)33 Norick Blödorn (Germany)243 Philip Hellström-Bängs (Sweden)302 Bartłomiej Kowalski (Poland)842 Mateusz Cierniak (Poland)43 Casper Henriksson (Sweden)140 Francis Gusts (Latvia)63 Nicolai Heiselberg (Denmark)118 Gustav Grahn (Sweden)523 Damian Ratajczak (Poland)999 Mathias Pollestad (Norway)226 Anže Grmek (Slovenia)44 Petr Chlupac (Czech Republic) SUBSTITUTES:785 Nazar Parnitskiy (Ukraine)111 Anders Rowe (Great Britain)38 Ernests Matjusonoks (Latvia)716 Bastian Borke (Denmark)212 Kacper Pludra (Poland)118 Drew Kemp (Great Britain)
SGP2 QUALIFIERS | DANISH YOUNG GUN BREUM FIRES MAX AS CHAMPION CIERNIAK MAKES THE CUT
Danish racer Emil Breum powered into the 2023 SGP2 series with a 15-point maximum in today’s qualifying round at Slovenian track Krsko.Breum, a track reserve at last year’s FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens, booked his place in the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship series, which was rebranded as SGP2 in 2022 as part of global promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports’ vision to elevate the stars of tomorrow.He was the only rider to defeat German talent Norick Blodorn, who also qualified in second on 14.Reigning champion Mateusz Cierniak of Poland earned a shot at defending his SGP2 crown by finishing third in Krsko on 13, beaten only by Breum and Blodorn, while Sweden’s Gustav Grahn secured a return to the SGP2 series by finishing fourth on 11.Danish youngster Bastian Borke just missed the qualification cut on 10 along with Slovenian prospect Anze Grmek. Czech racer Petr Chlupac missed out on a return to SGP2 on nine, while France’s Mathias Tressarieu and Britain’s Leon Flint exited on seven.Australian star Keynan Rew, first reserve for the 2022 SGP2 series, will not have to wait for a call-up this year after winning his qualifier at Czech track Pardubice on 13 points.Poland’s Bartlomiej Kowalski followed up an impressive performance at the Orlen FIM Warsaw Speedway GP last Saturday by qualifying in second place on 12 points.Sweden’s Casper Henriksson and Denmark’s Nicolai Heiselberg claimed the final two qualification places on 11 points apiece, with Henriksson – a member of the 2022 series – winning a run-off for third.Ukrainian rider Nazar Parnitskiy and Latvia’s Ernests Matjusonoks both fell just short on 10 points each, while Drew Kemp notched nine and his fellow British racer Dan Gilkes scored eight.Danish shooting star Esben Hjerrild showed his class against a stellar field to win the Vojens qualifier on 13 points, beating Swedish racer Philip Hellstrom-Bangs in a run-off for first place.Both men qualify for SGP2 along with Latvian racer Francis Gusts and Poland’s Damian Ratajczak. They survived an epic five-rider run-off after tying on 11 points with Norway’s Mathias Pollestad, Poland’s Kacper Pludra and Great Britain rider Anders Rowe.In the four-heat run-off for the last two qualification places, Ratajczak beat Rowe and Pludra in the first race to book his spot in the final run-off, before Pollestad beat Gusts to join Ratajczak.Pludra then won the elimination heat ahead of Gusts and Rowe, with the Brit knocked out of the qualification race.A final run-off then took place between the remaining four riders and Gusts prevailed ahead of Ratajczak. They made the qualification cut, with Pollestad and Pludra denied.But those riders who fell short still have one last chance to take their place in SGP2 as three permanent wild cards for the series are yet to be allocated by the SGP2 Commission, with the names to be revealed soon.The series gets underway with the Prague FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic on Friday, June 2, before the FIM SGP2 of Poland – Gorzow takes place on Friday, June 23. The SGP2 champion will then be crowned at the FIM SGP2 of Denmark – Vojens on Friday, September 15.SGP2 LINE-UP SO FAR (in no particular order): Emil Breum (Denmark), Norick Blodorn (Germany), Mateusz Cierniak (Poland), Gustav Grahn (Sweden), Keynan Rew (Australia), Bartlomiej Kowalski (Poland), Casper Henriksson (Sweden), Nicolai Heiselberg (Denmark), Esben Hjerrild (Denmark), Philip Hellstrom-Bangs (Sweden), Francis Gusts (Latvia), Damian Ratajczak (Poland).KRSKO SCORES: 1. Emil Breum (Denmark) 15, 2. Norick Blodorn (Germany) 14, 3. Mateusz Cierniak (Poland) 13, 4. Gustav Grahn (Sweden) 11, 5. Bastian Borke (Denmark) 10, 6. Anze Grmek (Slovenia) 10, 7. Petr Chlupac (Czech Republic) 9, 8. Mathias Tresarrieu (France) 7, 9. Leon Flint (Great Britain) 7, 10. Maurice Brown (Australia) 6, 11. Jacob Hook (Australia) 5, 12. Richard Fuzesi (Hungary) 3, 13. Matteo Boncinelli (Italy) 3, 14. Mykhailo Tymoshchuk (Ukraine) 3, 15. Julian Kuny (Slovenia) 2, 16. Roman Kapustin (Ukraine) 1, 17. Patricia Erhart (Germany) 1.PARDUBICE SCORES: 1. Keynan Rew (Australia) 13, 2. Bartlomiej Kowalski (Poland) 12, 3. Casper Henriksson (Sweden) 11+3, 4. Nicolai Heiselberg (Denmark) 11+2, 5. Nazar Parnitskiy (Ukraine) 10, 6. Ernests Matjusonoks (Latvia) 10, 7. Drew Kemp (Great Britain) 9, 8. Dan Gilkes (Great Britain) 8, 9. Daniel Klima (Czech Republic) 7, 10. Sebastian Kossler (Austria) 6, 11. Ricards Ansviesulis (Latvia) 6, 12. Erik Bachhuber (Germany) 5, 13. Jan Jenicek (Czech Republic) 4, 14. Tino Bouin (France) 3, 15. Matous Kamenik (Czech Republic) 3, 16. Bruno Belan (Czech Republic) 1, 17. Matej Fryza (Czech Republic) 1, 18. Maksym Sereda (Ukraine).VOJENS SCORES: 1. Esben Hjerrild (Denmark) 13+3, 2. Philip Hellstrom-Bangs (Sweden) 13+2, 3. Francis Gusts (Latvia) 11, 4. Damian Ratajczak (Poland) 11, 5. Mathias Pollestad (Norway) 11, 6. Kacper Pludra (Poland) 11, 7. Anders Rowe (Great Britain) 11, 8. Jaroslav Vanicek (Czech Republic) 9, 9. Jesper Knudsen (Denmark) 8, 10. Ludvig Selvin (Sweden) 7, 11. Espen Sola (Norway) 5, 12. James Pearson (Australia) 4, 13. Alex Martin (USA) 2, 14. Marlon Hegener (Germany) 2, 15. Artjams Juhno (Latvia) 2, 16. Jonny Wynant (Germany) 0.
SGP2 QUALIFIERS | CHAMPION CIERNIAK LAUNCHES TITLE QUEST IN KRSKO
SGP2 champion Mateusz Cierniak launches his FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship defence at Slovenian track Krsko on Saturday.Cierniak may have lifted the first SGP2 title of the Warner Bros. Discovery Sports era as the new global promoter rebranded the sport’s junior world championship in 2022. But the Polish star still has to qualify for the 2023 competition.The Lublin rider bids for 2023 SGP2 qualification at the former Speedway GP venue as he takes on the likes of Czech rising star Petr Chlupac, German talent Norick Blodorn, British racer Leon Flint, 2022 SGP2 star Gustav Grahn of Sweden, Danish star Emil Breum and Slovenian prospect Anze Grmek.All three qualifiers take place on Saturday and Orlen FIM Warsaw Speedway GP surprise package Bartlomiej Kowalski will hope to earn a 2023 SGP2 spot in the round at Czech track Pardubice.Kowalski raced to a very impressive four championship points after replacing injured wild card Dominik Kubera at PGE Narodowy last Saturday and the Wroclaw young gun could be among the frontrunners in SGP2 if he makes the top four in Pardubice.He comes up against Australian star Keynan Rew, Czech duo Daniel Klima and Matous Kamenik, Sweden’s Casper Henriksson, Latvian contenders Ricards Ansviesulis and Ernests Matjusonoks and British riders Drew Kemp and Dan Gilkes.Latvian racer Francis Gusts is among the contenders in the qualifier at Vojens Speedway Center in Denmark, which is also the stage for the SGP2 title decider on Friday, September 15.He comes up against Danish racer Jesper Knudsen – brother of 2022 SGP2 star Jonas – plus Polish riders Kacper Pludra and Damian Ratajczak, Swedish star Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, Britain’s Anders Rowe, Australia’s James Pearson and Norwegian talent Mathias Pollestad.The top four riders at each of the three qualifiers book their place in the 2023 SGP2 series, which launches with the Prague FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic on Friday, June 2 – 24 hours before the Prague FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic on Saturday, June 3. Round two takes place at Polish track Gorzow on Friday, June 23, with the title decider at Vojens on Friday, September 15 – with both rounds also followed by Speedway GP action on the Saturday night.The 2023 SGP2 field will be completed by three wild cards, which will be confirmed by the SGP2 Commission very soon.KRSKO LINE-UP: 1 Leon Flint (Great Britain), 2 Emil Breum (Denmark), 3 Norick Blödorn (Germany), 4 Mathias Tresarrieu (France), 5 Roman Kapustin (Ukraine), 6 Julian Kuny (Slovenia), 7 Jacob Hook (Australia), 8 Gustav Grahn (Sweden), 9 Matteo Boncinelli (Italy), 10 Anže Grmek (Slovenia), 11 Mateusz Cierniak (Poland), 12 Richard Füzesi (Hungary), 13 Petr Chlupac (Czech Republic), 14 Bastian Borke (Denmark), 15 Maurice Brown (Australia), 16 Mykhailo Tymoshchuk (Ukraine). RESERVES: 17 Mario Häusl (Germany), 18 Patricia Erhart (Germany).PARDUBICE LINE-UP: 1 Nicolai Heiselberg (Denmark), 2 Ricards Ansviesulis (Latvia), 3 Maksym Sereda (Ukraine), 4 Matous Kamenik (Czech Republic), 5 Jan Jenicek (Czech Republic), 6 Bartłomiej Kowalski (Poland), 7 Casper Henriksson (Sweden), 8 Dan Gilkes (Great Britain), 9 Ernests Matjusonoks (Latvia), 10 Tino Bouin (France), 11 Daniel Klima (Czech Republic), 12 Drew Kemp (Great Britain), 13 Keynan Rew (Australia), 14 Sebastian Kössler (Austria), 15 Nazar Parnitskiy (Ukraine), 16 Erik Bachhuber (Germany). RESERVES: 17 Bruno Belan (Czech Republic), 18 Matj Frýza (Czech Republic).VOJENS LINE-UP: 1 Jonny Wynant (Germany), 2 Anders Rowe (Great Britain), 3 Artjoms Juhno (Latvia), 4 Kacper Pludra (Poland), 5 Jesper Knudsen (Denmark), 6 Ludvig Selvin (Sweden), 7 Francis Gusts (Latvia), 8 James Pearson (Australia), 9 Espen Sola (Norway), 10 Mathias Pollestad (Norway), 11 Esben Hjerrild (Denmark), 12 Philip Hellström-Bängs (Sweden), 13 Alex Martin (USA), 14 Marlon Hegener (Germany), 15 Jaroslav Vanicek (Czech Republic), 16 Damian Ratajczak (Poland). RESERVES: 17 Rune Thorst (Denmark), 18 William Drejer (Denmark).
LIEBMANN SET FOR UNDER-24 EKSTRALIGA DEBUT WITH GORZOW
German racer Celina Liebmann looks set to mix it with the sport’s top young stars in 2023 after signing for Gorzow’s Under-24 Ekstraliga side. The move was announced on International Women’s Day yesterday, which saw the German take over the @SpeedwayGP social media channels for the day, giving fans a glimpse behind the scenes of her preparations for 2023. Liebmann made history in 2022 as the first female rider to appear in an FIM Speedway final series, when she scored three championship points as the FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic – Prague wild card last May. She also featured in the FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun last October. While she is no longer eligible for under-21 competition, the 21-year-old is still set to take a huge step forward in her career, with Gorzow handing her the chance to become the Under-24 Ekstraliga’s first female rider at Edward Jancarz Stadium. Launched in 2022, the Under-24 Ekstraliga has handed young riders from all over the world a golden opportunity to show their class in the world’s biggest speedway nation, with some going on to land senior team places. Finland’s Timi Salonen was one of its biggest success stories last year after starring for Gorzow and then taking the FIM Speedway of Nations by storm to lead his country into the Final at Vojens. Stal Gorzow president Waldemar Sadowski is delighted to add to Liebmann to the squad. He told the club’s website: “Speedway has been known as a typically male sport, which is why we greatly appreciate the fact that there are women who are trying to change this pattern. “The world is moving forward. More and more women are showing interest in motor sports. We don’t have to look far: Wiktor Jasiński’s sister, Karolina, successfully races motocross. At Stal Gorzow, everyone has equal chances, only the form of the rider matters.” Liebmann is joined in Gorzow by the likes of Speedway GP stars Martin Vaculik and Anders Thomsen, who race for the club’s senior side in the PGE Ekstraliga.
DANISH & GERMAN SHOOTING STARS SET FOR VOJENS TRAINING CAMP
FIM Speedway GP of Denmark host club Vojens is staging a cross-border training camp with the sport’s future stars as Danish and German riders train at the legendary venue in March. Around 40 riders have been invited for five days of coaching, culminating in a speedway event on Sunday, March 19 as the stars of tomorrow battle it out, with free admission for spectators. The event will focus on youth riders in the 85cc, 250cc and 500cc classes, with places set to be split evenly between Danish and German riders. It is hoped the event will also feature three to four female riders from Germany. The Danish-German project started in 2022 as speedway roared out of the Covid-19 pandemic, which wiped out racing almost completely in both countries in 2020 and caused major difficulties staging events in 2021. Vojens director Jacob Olsen says the youngsters will gain more than just track time. He said: “The five days offer physical training, sports psychology and healthier dietary guidance. “But at the same time, we will also provide a setting for fun and socialising for the young riders, before they ride a real meeting at Denmark’s national speedway arena on the Sunday.” Vojens Speedway Klub, Talentcenter Haderslev and Danmarks Motor Union are all important partners in the Danish-German collaboration, with final plans for the week still being finalised. It is also hoped the link-up between Vojens Speedway Center and German federation DMSB will become a long-term partnership, extending to gatherings for managers, coaches and volunteers involved in their speedway clubs. The sport’s biggest stars head to the iconic Vojens Speedway Center on September 16 for the FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens. The weekend will also see the 2023 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion crowned in the FIM SGP2 of Denmark on Friday, September 15. Photo: Frank Cilius
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