Danish shooting star Mikkel Andersen is determined to enjoy the home comforts of Vojens Speedway Center as he bids to win his country’s first FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship since 2012.
Andersen lines up in the Deluxe Homeart FIM SGP2 of Denmark – Vojens on Friday with 38 championship points, holding a 10-point lead at the top of the standings over nearest rival Maksymilian Pawelczak of Poland, who has 28.
Victory at round two of the series, the Sportlab Cosmetics FIM SGP2 of Poland – Lodz on July 31, means Andersen needs a top-six finish – 11 championship points or more – to be certain of becoming Denmark’s first FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion since Michael Jepsen Jensen sealed the prize in Argentina in 2012.
Having finished fourth in 2024 and bagged the bronze medal in 2025, 2022 FIM Speedway Youth (SGP3) world champion Andersen would love to add SGP2 gold to his collection. But he’s determined to enjoy the occasion too.
He said: “I am just looking forward to going back to my home crowd and doing a good job. I have been at Vojens for four years now, and it is my Danish club. I just enjoy being there.
“Hopefully I can secure the title there. If not, a podium finish is good. I am always aiming to go one step up and develop as much as I can.
“Two years ago, I was fourth and last year, I was third. I just want to progress as best I can, and I will do everything I can to secure the win there. I won’t think too much about it. I’ll just go out and have fun on the bike.”
Second-placed Pawelczak crashed out of the European Under-19 Final in Krsko, Slovenia last Saturday, but has declared himself fit for Friday’s event.
The 16-year-old, who won the 2024 SGP3 title has only been eligible for 500cc racing for less than a year, and the Bydgoszcz sensation would be elated to reach the rostrum in his full debut season. He said: “Doing well in my first SGP2 season would be pretty special – I’m not going to lie. I am not really expecting anything from myself. I just want to have fun on the bike and on the track, have some good racing and put on a good show.”
The battle for the medals is set to be tense, with Danish talent Villads Nagel third on 24 points – just four behind Pawelczak. Three riders are tied on 23 just behind them in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively – Australia’s Beau Bailey, Danish racer William Drejer and American star Slater Lightcap.
Denmark’s Nicolai Heiselberg is seventh on 22 points, with 2024 SGP2 champion Wiktor Przyjemski still in medal contention in eighth on 20, despite missing round two in Lodz due to injury. Great Britain racer Will Cairns will also hope to force his way into the medal mix – he is ninth on 19, with Poland’s Kevin Malkiewicz in contention in 10th place on 18.
2026 DELUXE HOMEART FIM SGP2 OF DENMARK – VOJENS LINE-UP (in ranking order with rider numbers):
505. Wiktor Przyjemski (Poland)
97. Mikkel Andersen (Denmark)
121. Maksymilian Pawelczak (Poland)
802. Kevin Malkiewicz (Poland)
108. Villads Nagel (Denmark)
545. William Drejer (Denmark)
145. Will Cairns (Great Britain)
79. Adam Bubba Bednar (Czech Republic)
305. Antoni Mencel (Poland)
27. Mitch McDiarmid (Australia)
173. Beau Bailey (Australia)
63. Nicolai Heiselberg (Denmark)
99. Rasmus Karlsson (Sweden)
138. Sven Cerjak (Slovenia)
28. Slater Lightcap (USA)
16. Bastian Pedersen (Denmark – wild card)
17. Dimitri Buch (Denmark – first track reserve)
18. Patrick Kruse (Denmark – second track reserve)
VOJENS FANZONE
Enjoy the build-up to Friday’s racing and visit the Deluxe Homeart FIM SGP2 of Denmark – Vojens fanzone.
The fanzone will be on Vojens Speedway Center’s training track from 14:00 CEST, and it features the official SGP2 autograph session, where fans can meet all 18 riders from 14:30 and get some signatures or selfies.
Win exclusive Speedway GP prizes in our quiz on the big screen at 15:15 CEST. Pose for a photo with the SGP2 trophy throughout the afternoon and grab a selfie with FIM Speedway mascot Speedy at 16:00.
There will be other photo opportunities, the We Love Speedway sign, food and drink stalls, the Speedway GP merchandise shop and much, much more. The fanzone closes at 16:30 ahead of the opening ceremony at 16:45, with racing getting underway at around 17:00.