FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion Wiktor Przyjemski launches his bid for a second SGP2 title when he lines up in Saturday’s qualifying round at Czech track Pardubice.
Przyjemski became the 18th Pole to lift junior speedway’s biggest prize when he won last year’s three-round SGP2 series.
This year’s championship will be contested over three rounds – each raced on the Friday night before a Speedway GP event. The Virkvarn Jord och Skog AB FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla launches the series on July 4, before the DeWalt FIM SGP2 of Latvia – Riga takes place on August 1.
The championship concludes with the Deluxe Homeart FIM SGP2 of Denmark – Vojens on September 12 – the opening night of an incredible Weekend of Champions, which also sees the Speedway GP and SGP4 world champions crowned at the iconic venue during its 50th anniversary event.
Przyjemski bids for one of four SGP2 spots in Pardubice and he comes up against last year’s bronze medallist Mathias Pollestad of Norway.
They are joined by the likes of Danish racer William Drejer, double British Under-21 champion Sam Hagon, Australia’s James Pearson, Slovenia’s former SGP2 star Anze Grmek, Czech chargers Matous Kamenik and Jaroslav Vanicek, Latvia’s Nikita Kaulins and Sweden’s Sammy van Dyck.
Another qualifier takes place at British track Glasgow, featuring Danish shooting star, 2022 SGP3 champion and 2024 SGP2 rider Mikkel Andersen – son of former Speedway GP winner Brian Andersen.
Last year’s fourth-place finisher in SGP2 is joined by compatriot Villads Nagel, who was second to him in the 2022 SGP3 Final in Wroclaw and also raced in SGP2 last season.
Also in action at Ashfield are British racers Ashton Boughen, Jake Mulford and Joe Thompson, who replaces his injured twin brother Dan Thompson. Australian Under-21 champion Michael West competes in Scotland, along with compatriot Tate Zischke, American talent Slater Lightcap, Sweden’s Noel Wahlquist and Poland’s Antoni Mencel.
The Glasgow field also features 2024 FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy star Patricia Erhart of Germany, who hopes to follow in the tyre treads of history-making compatriot Celina Liebmann, who appeared in the 2022 SGP2 series. “I’m excited to be in Scotland for the first time ever,” Erhart said. “I’ve only raced in England before. The National Speedway Stadium in Manchester is the only UK track I’ve ridden. It’s a huge opportunity to compete in an SGP2 qualifier alongside so many talented riders. I just want to enjoy the experience.”
After Glasgow, Erhart will continue her international calendar by racing in the FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy in Croatia on July 12.
A third SGP2 qualification round takes place in Hungarian city Debrecen on June 7, with the line-up to be confirmed.
PARDUBICE LINE-UP: 1 Mario Häusl (Germany), 2 Wiktor Przyjemski (Poland), 3 Sammy Van Dyck Sweden, 4 Mathias Pollestad (Norway), 5 Alex Martin (United States), 6 Ben Iken (Germany), 7 William Drejer (Denmark), 8 Tino Bouin (France), 9 Pawel Sitek (Poland), 10 Matous Kamenik (Czech Republic), 11 Sam Hagon (Great Britain), 12 James Pearson (Australia), 13 Sebastian Kössler (Austria), 14 Nikita Kaulins (Latvia), 15 Jaroslav Vanicek (Czech Republic), 16 Anze Grmek (Slovenia). RESERVES: 17 Jan Hlacina (Czech Republic), 18 David Hofman (Czech Republic).
GLASGOW LINE-UP: 1 Alex Adamson (Australia), 2 Otto Raak (Finland), 3 Jan Jenicek (Czech Republic), 4 Slater Lightcap (United States), 5 Patricia Erhart (Germany), 6 Noel Wahlquist (Sweden), 7 Ashton Boughen (Great Britain), 8 Antoni Mencel (Poland), 9 Tate Zischke (Australia), 10 Jake Mulford (Great Britain), 11 Timmy Dion (United States), 12 Joe Thompson (Great Britain), 13 Villads Nagel (Denmark), 14 Mikkel Andersen (Denmark), 15 Jan Przanowski (Poland), 16 Michael West (Australia). RESERVES: 17 Luke Harrison (Great Britain), 18 Jody Scott (Great Britain).