With the current pandemic causing travel difficulties and limiting spectator attendance changes have had to be made to most of the Track Racing calendars. One result of this has been a busy weekend with important meetings in several disciplines.
Slovakia hosted its biggest meeting for many years when the Speedway Grand Prix Challenge was raced at Zarnovica on Saturday. From the 16 competitors only the top three claimed a place in the 2022 World Championship Grand Prix and it was Pawel Przedpelski who took gold after a race off with Australian Max Fricke. Fellow Pole Patryk Dudek was third and will return to the championship after a year’s absence. Przedpelski who became a father earlier this week will be making his debut as a permanent GP rider next year.
Earlier in the day in Germany the Diedenbergen track had organised the FIM Track Racing Youth Gold Trophy for riders between the ages of 12 and 16 and riding 125cc machines. The winner, unbeaten in his four races, was 12 year old Lester Matthijssen from The Netherlands. Although he took up speedway only two years ago, he is the son of 7 times European Sidecar Champion William Matthijssen a pedigree that will surely secure a bright future on the track.
Due to Covid 19 restrictions this years FIM Flat Track World Championship will be limited to four rounds. The first was held as part of the Diedenbergen event and was won by current champion Finland’s Lasse Kurvinen. A surprise second was Germany’s Marcus Jell better known for his success on the ice and a former German Ice Speedway Champion. Italy’s Francesco Cocchini, runner up last year finished in 10th position.
The other major meeting of the weekend was the FIM Long Track World Championship Challenge to decide the qualifiers for next years competition. Held in Pardubice, Czech Republic, 25 riders raced for the top four places to guarantee them a place in 2022. After 25 heats it was Max Dilger from Germany who headed the qualifiers, Britain’s Zach Wajtknecht was second, Stanislaw Burza from Poland third and home favourite Martin Malek fourth. Romano Hummel missed the cut by just one point with Frenchman Gaetan Stella a further point behind.
FIM Communications