The FIM Speedway Under 21 World Championship is long established as a stepping stone to the top level of senior speedway and numbers many famous riders in its honours list since it was first held in 1988. This year the competition will once again be held over three rounds with the first commencing in Straslund, Germany on 4th September.
Selecting the likely winners from this list is not an easy task as many are not well known outside their home country but those who have previously ridden in this competition can be expected to have the advantage of the experience.
Lukas Baumann, the current German Junior Champion has been awarded a permanent 3- meeting Wild Card and cannot be overlooked as a contender. Wild Card for the first Final will be Norick Blödorn currently scoring well for the Landshut team in the German league
Wiktor Lampart is a former European champion who has already ridden for the Polish national team and will be strongly fancied for this championship. His fellow Pole Jakub Miskowiak was 7th in last years one round Final and is clearly one of the favourites for the title. Mateusz Świdnicki is another who has been given a permanent Wild card and will be looking to justify his inclusion with a good performance.
Jan Kvech winner of the prestigious Golden Helmet meeting recently in Zarnovice, Slovakia against more fancied opposition is on good form at present and will be hoping to collect as many points as he can ahead of the last event on his home track in Pardubice.
Denmark has two representatives in Mads Hansen 5th in 2020 and Jonas Seifert-Salk who took third place in the qualifying round in Gustrow. Seifert-Salk rides for the Poznan team in Poland as well as his home team Slangerup in Denmark and his confidence is high. Hansen, in his last year at under 21 level also rides in both Polish and Danish leagues and is looking for at least a top three place in the championship.
Latvia continues to demonstrate its status as an emerging speedway nation with three representatives. Of these Francis Gusts, at 18 one of the youngest competitors, is considered to be the best prospect although he says that he plans to use the series as experience for the future. However, his success in winning the European under 19 series this year suggests that a medal position is not out of his reach. Ernest Matjusonoks, 5th in the European race must also be a contender and Daniils Kolodinski is considered to be one of Latvia’s best prospects for future success.
Matthew Gilmore who has also gained a permanent Wild Card for this year is a young Australian who is currently making a career on the European tracks with Polish team Rawicz. Steven Goret is the only French rider on parade and is another who is working hard to gain experience at this level. An early season experience in Britain was not successful due to travel and covid issues but the rider is still hopeful of getting a position in Poland because of the limited opportunities in France. He was a member of the French team which won the European Pairs this year.
The first round at the newly modified 385m track in Straslund is on 4th September. Petr Moravec from Czech Republic will be the FIM Jury President and Poland’s Pavel Slupski the Referee. Racing is due to start at 19.00 local time and will be covered live by Eurosport.
The second final takes place on 25th September in Krosno, Poland with the Final 3 in Pardubice, Czech Republic on 1st October
FIM Communications