The starting line-ups for 2026 FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 – Prague on Friday, May 22 have been confirmed.
Eight countries compete for the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship on the weekend that Prague’s storied Marketa Stadium also hosts Speedway GP action for the 30th straight season on Saturday, May 23.
Hosts Czech Republic face off with reigning champions Germany, Denmark, Australia, Poland, Sweden and Great Britain, with Ukraine completing the line-up for its first World Under-21 team final since 2011 – led by Speedway GP rider Nazar Parnitskyi.
All eight nations will battle it out over an epic 28 heats of pairs racing, with the highest-scoring country crowned 2026 SON2 world champions. Each team manager has selected two starters at No.1 and No.2 with a substitute rider at No.3, who can replace either of their teammates at any time.
The Czech challenge is led by Prague hero Adam Bubba Bednar, who skippers a team also featuring former SGP3 rider Adam Nejezchleba. Bruno Belan is named in the substitute role.
Germany’s title defence is spearheaded by skipper Mario Hausl, who partnered national senior champion Norick Blodorn to 2025 SON2 gold in Torun, Poland on October 3. Hausl joins forces with Janek Konzack for 2026, with 2025 FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy winner Hannah Grunwald named at No.3 for the second straight season.
Last season’s runner-up Denmark tracks three riders with SGP2 experience as the in-form Villads Nagel teams up with Bastian Pedersen in the starting positions, while 2022 SGP3 champion Mikkel Andersen takes the No.3 spot for team manager Nicki Pedersen.
Australia bids to better the bronze medal they won in 2025 by selecting an unchanged starting pair in skipper Mitchell McDiarmid and Tate Zischke. Beau Bailey is named at No.3 on the Marketa Stadium track where he won SGP3 bronze in 2025.
Poland’s SGP2 world champion Wiktor Przyjemski missed 2025 SON2 due to injury, and he leads his country into action as they bid to improve on last season’s fourth place. He joins forces with former Lublin teammate and SGP2 rival Bartosz Banbor, with Kevin Malkiewicz at No.3.
Swedish boss Linus Sundstrom selects former SGP3 champion Rasmus Karlsson and Sammy Van Dyck as his starting pair, with skipper Erik Persson named at No.3.
Great Britain’s side features captain Luke Harrison and Luke Killeen, who race for Northampton and Sheffield respectively in Britain’s Rowe Motor Oil Premiership. They are joined by Belle Vue star Will Cairns, with the former SGP3 bronze medallist listed at No.3.
Ukraine makes its first appearance in SON2 since the competition was rebranded in 2022, with Speedway GP star Parnitskyi captaining the side just 24 hours before he competes in the FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague. Roman Kapustin partners him, with Danko Hladkovskyi named as the team’s substitute star.
Tickets for SON2 on Friday, May 22 and the FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague on Saturday, May 23 are available online now. Secure your spot at SON2 HERE, with Speedway GP tickets on sale HERE.
2026 FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS – SON2 – PRAGUE STARTING LINE-UPS (in draw order):
TEAM A – GREAT BRITAIN
1. Luke Harrison ©
2. Luke Killeen
3. Will Cairns
Team manager: Neil Vatcher
TEAM B – CZECH REPUBLIC
1. Adam Bubba Bednar ©
2. Adam Nejezchleba
3. Bruno Belan
Team manager: Zdenek Schneiderwind
TEAM C – GERMANY
1. Janek Konzack
2. Mario Hausl ©
3. Hannah Grunwald
Team managers: Mathias Bartz & Sascha Dorner
TEAM D – DENMARK
1. Villads Nagel ©
2. Bastian Pedersen
3. Mikkel Andersen
Team manager: Nicki Pedersen
TEAM E – UKRAINE
1. Roman Kapustin
2. Nazar Parnitskyi ©
3. Danko Hladkovskyi
Team manager: Sergii Golovnia
TEAM F – POLAND
1. Wiktor Przyjemski ©
2. Bartosz Banbor
3. Kevin Malkiewicz
Team manager: Stanislaw Chomski
TEAM G – SWEDEN
1. Rasmus Karlsson
2. Sammy Van Dyck
3. Erik Persson ©
Team manager: Linus Sundstrom
TEAM H – AUSTRALIA
1. Mitchell McDiarmid ©
2. Tate Zischke
3. Beau Bailey
Team manager: Mark Lemon
