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.

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SGP3 CHAMPION KARLSSON SET FOR BAUHAUS ELITSERIEN DEBUT WITH INDIANERNA

FIM SGP3 world champion Rasmus Karlsson is set for his Bauhaus Elitserien debut with boyhood club Indianerna in 2024.The Swedish sensation got the better of a talented field to win an epic FIM SGP3 Final in Malilla last July to clinch the FIM Speedway Youth World Championship for 250cc under-16 riders.Karlsson has learned his trade at the Kumla club and now hopes to make his mark on a 500cc machine next summer.He told the club’s official website: “It will be incredibly fun to continue representing the Indians, my mother club that I have raced for since I started speedway as a five-year-old.“It's an exciting season ahead and I feel ready to step up to 500cc and try to get a place in the A team. I am looking forward to making my debut in the Elitserien and to developing in the A team. At the same time, I am grateful for this opportunity that I get through the Indians and my sponsors. I'm looking forward to the season getting underway and seeing everyone in 2024!”

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SPEEDWAY GP CALENDAR EXPANDS TO 11 ROUNDS FOR 2024 AS MANCHESTER STAGES FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS

- Speedway GP set for 11 rounds for 2024 with Polish city Wroclaw returning and German club Landshut hosting SGP action for the first time since 1997.- The 2024 FIM Speedway of Nations heads to Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium – scene of Great Britain’s 2021 title triumph.- The Speedway GP series launches in Croatia on April 27, before climaxing at Torun’s Marian Rose Motoarena on September 28.- FIM Speedway’s next generation takes the spotlight in a three-round SGP2 series for under-21 riders, with the SGP3 category for under-16s and SGP4 for 11-13-year-olds also returning for 2024. 

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DANISH SENSATION MIKKEL ANDERSEN AGREES VOJENS DEAL

Vojens boss Jacob Olsen hailed FIM SGP3 champion Mikkel Andersen “an historical talent” as he prepares for his first full Danish Speedwayligaen season in 2024.Andersen will line up for Vojens club Sønderjylland Elite Speedway in Denmark's top tier as well as the venue’s First Division team.The 15-year-old, who turns 16 in April, won the 2022 FIM Speedway Youth World Championship in Wroclaw, before winning bronze in the 2023 FIM SGP3 competition in Malilla last July – following that with a gold medal in the European 250cc Championship.The son of former Speedway GP winner Brian Andersen is being tipped to reach the sport’s biggest stage himself one day.And Olsen is determined to ensure he develops his considerable talent in the right way at Vojens Speedway Center.He said: “Mikkel Andersen is an historical talent, which he has already proven, and we want to help develop him in a safe environment.“There is a good chemistry between the Andersen family and my team, and with the right structure, Mikkel Andersen can become a very big asset for Danish speedway. But let’s not go too fast, everyone knows he's good. We don't have to tell him that all the time.”Olsen’s former Coventry teammate Brian Andersen believes starting his professional career at Vojens is the ideal move for Mikkel.He said: “It's important for Mikkel to have the same home ground, both in the Speedwayligaen and in the First Division, and with the fine facilities at Vojens Speedway Center and the staff at SES, I feel like we've ended up in just the right place.”

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MADSEN & ANDERSEN JOIN VOJENS CLUB SES FOR DANISH TITLE RUN-IN

World No.2 Leon Madsen has completed a blockbuster move to Vojens club Sonderjylland Elite Speedway for the rest of 2023 – and he’s joined by 2022 SGP3 champion Mikkel Andersen.Madsen steps into the SES Danish Speedwayligaen side to replace Anders Thomsen, who is sidelined after suffering a hand injury at the OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga last Saturday. The club is also without Nicolai Klindt, who suffered a broken C3 vertebra in his neck in Poland and confirmed he faces around two months on the sidelines.Madsen returns to Danish racing after Brovst club Nordjyske Elite Sport withdrew from the league ahead of the season, leaving the rider with only a job at Polish side Czestochowa.With the FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens fast approaching on September 16, Madsen believes the move could offer him the ideal preparation for the nation’s biggest speedway event.He said: “I am very happy to have the opportunity to ride in the Danish league. At the same time, I also see an opportunity to be better equipped for the three remaining Speedway GP rounds, the penultimate of which will be run at Vojens Speedway Center.”SES director Jacob Olsen believes that Leon Madsen can have a decisive role in the club’s efforts to retain the championship they won in 2022.He said: “We have been looking for a Danish rider as a replacement, and Leon Madsen is the country's best rider, so we are proud to be able to have him on the team for the decisive matches.”Meanwhile, Andersen has been racing for Vojens in the Danish First Division – the nation’s second tier.But the 15-year-old, who won bronze in SGP3 this season, debuts for SES alongside Madsen against Slangerup at Vojens Speedway Center on August 23.

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