Oskar Paluch is the 2021 FIM Speedway Youth World champion after claiming the title in a rain affected Final in Cloppenburg, Germany on Saturday completing a memorable double only seven days after taking the European Championship in Torun.
This competition is run over two days and is restricted to riders up to 16 years of age riding standard speedway frames with a 250cc. engine. Surprisingly this is the first time that it has been won by a Polish rider since its inception in 2010.
Paluch from the Stal Gorzow club in Poland renewed his rivalry with Denmark’s Bastian Pedersen who finished second in Torun but had led the qualifiers after Friday’s elimination races. The Dane, nephew of Nicki Pedersen was favourite to win in Cloppenburg but a fall in his first race damaged his chances and it was another Dane Niklas Aagaard who took the silver medal after inflicting on Paluch his only defeat of the evening.
The track had been in good condition until heavy rain arrived after one hour of racing and the meeting was delayed for two hours as track staff worked hard to repair the damage done by the thunderstorm. By 22.00 the last eight heats were ready to race and two further wins by Paluch secured his place on top of the rostrum.
Despite failing to win the gold medal It was a successful event for the Danish squad supervised and mentored by speedway legend Erik Gundersen who was present to see his riders take 4 of the top six places. A race off between the three other Danes was needed to decide third place and it was Vilads Nagel who took the chequered flag first ahead of Bastian Pedersen and Niklas Jacobsen.
Australian James Pearson was satisfied with his sixth place despite a last in his second race and will have taken much experience from this event.
Graham Broodie