Former Speedway GP winner Antonio Lindback makes a shock racing return when he lines up for Vargarna in their Bauhaus Elitserien play-off quarter final, second leg away to Smederna on Tuesday evening.
Lindback, 41, has not competed since 2024, but after coaching Vargarna youngsters Ludvig Selvin and Leo Klasson, the Rio Rocket was invited to race in the first leg of the play-off tie, which the Wolves lost 48-42. The 2015 FIM Speedway World Cup winner was unavailable due to family reasons, but he will line up at reserve for the return leg as they bid to overturn their six-point aggregate deficit.
He joins forces with former world No.3 Martin Vaculik, German champion Norick Blodorn, Danish Championship runner-up Frederik Jakobsen, Polish sensation Maksymilian Pawelczak, former World Under-21 champion Jakub Miskowiak and Filip Hjelmland.
Lindback told the Vargarna club website: “This is not a comeback, but a one-off thing. Hopefully it can be a fun competition.
“I'm not nervous yet. Maybe if you ask me on Monday night or Tuesday, it's a different matter. I have nothing to prove, but I'm there to first and foremost push and encourage. Then I can come out and steal a few points.
“I'm a competitive person and it's fun to win. But at the same time, I have to reduce the pressure on myself that I have to perform. I have to work on not getting in the way too much and being honest with myself. Actually, it's about getting there and supporting as much as I can and helping.”
Lindback admits he was persuaded by the chance to work with coach Peter Jansson. He said: “It was the right time and the right person who asked. Peter and I have a good relationship, and we help each other a lot. It could be fun to give back a little favour. The young people I coached are talented. I gave them a few tips and it's fun that they felt they got it.
“On Tuesday, they will see me as an extra experienced rider. We'll see. I haven't competed in two years and have only been on the bike eight times and have made six starts with a gate in two years against juniors.
“Now we're talking about the Bauhaus league and the play-offs. I can't go there and expect to take a lot of points. Hopefully it can be a couple of points, where I help some riders to improve a little bit more first and foremost.
“I've lived with speedway for so many years and somewhere, I wanted to get to the hot air of speedway again. That's how it happened.”