The two Semi-Finals of the Team Speedway Under 21 Championship take place this weekend in Germany and Poland to determine which countries will be represented in the Final to be held in Australia in October.
The cream of young talent from European speedway will be present and as this is the first time that the competition has ventured to the Southern Hemisphere there is a special incentive for teams to qualify for this historic event.
The winners of each Semi Final along with the highest scoring second placed team will qualify for the Final which will be held in Mildura on 31st October, one week after the last Speedway Grand Prix in Melbourne.
In Gustrow, Germany the host nation will entertain teams from Great Britain, Finland and a Danish squad which would seem to have the greatest experience. All four of their riders are currently in contention for the Under 21 Individual Championship and it would be a major surprise if they fail to qualify for the Final.
Germany will have strong support from their home fans but may rely too heavily on Long Track champion Erik Riss and brother Mark. Great Britain, weakened by the withdrawal of Robert Lambert through injury have limited experience at this level but remain enthusiastic and are growing in confidence whilst the Finns may need some good fortune to make any further mark in this competition.
The teams and the Start Position Draw for this meeting:
Germany (red)
1 Michael Härtel (captain)
2 Erik Riss
3 Valentin Grobauer
4 Mark Riss
Team Manager: Herbert Rudolph
Great Britain (blue)
1 Kyle Howarth (captain)
2 Stefan Nielsen
3 Adam Ellis
4 Josh Bates
Team Manager: Neil Vatcher
Finland (white)
1 Nike Lunna (captain)
2 Jiri Nieminen
3 Jere Lehtonen
4 Jooa Partanan
Team Manager: Jyri Palomäki
Denmark (yellow)
1 Anders Thomsen
2 Mikkel Bech Jensen
3 Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen
4 Mikkel Michelsen (captain)
Team Manager: Anders Secher
Peter Ondrasik from Czech Republic is FIM Jury President wit Poland’s Piotr Lis the Referee. Racing in Gustrow starts at 20.10 local time.
The other Semi Final will be held in Opole, Poland and features teams from Russia Czech Republic, Sweden and Poland who are the current holders of the title having beaten the Danes on their own soil in 2014.
Three of the Polish team retain their places from last year and with their experience and current form will also start as favourites for this meeting. None of the remaining teams seem to have the strength in depth that the host nation possesses but the battle for the minor places should prove interesting.
The riders declared and start positions will be:
Russia (Red)
1 Sergei Logachev
2 Victor Kulakov (captain)
3 Arslan Fayzulin
4 Gleb Shevchenkko
Team Manager: Andrei Savin
Czech Republic (Blue)
1 Zdenek Holub (captain)
2 Eduard Krcmar
3 Ondrej Smetana
4 Michal Skurla
Team Manager: Milan Spinka
Poland (white)
1 Maksym Drabik
2 Bartosz Zmarzlik
3 Pawel Przedpelski
4 Piotr Pawlicki (captain)
Team Manager: Rafal Dobrucki
Sweden (yellow)
1 Victor Palovaara (captain)
2 Fredrik Engman
3 Joel Andersson
4 Kenny Wennerstam
Team Manager: Anders Fröjd
A team of FIM Officials from Great Britain will represent FIM at the Opole meeting with Mick Bates Jury President and Christina Turnbukll referee. First race will start at 14.00.
Graham Brodie
News
Youngsters aim for Australian glory
