The squad lists for the 2026 FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 – Prague have been revealed as Ukraine makes its competition debut on Friday, May 22.
Eight of the sport’s top nations compete over an epic 28 heats at the storied Marketa Stadium, with the highest-scoring country carrying off this year’s FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship.
Last year’s SON2 champions Germany raced to the country’s first world team title of any kind when they topped the podium in dramatic style at Torun’s Marian Rose Motoarena on October 3.
They defend that title against hosts Czech Republic, Denmark, Australia, Poland, Sweden, Great Britain and a history-making Ukrainian side, skippered by Speedway GP newcomer and 2025 SGP2 world champion Nazar Parnitskyi.
Ukraine steps into the line-up in place of Latvia for what will be the country’s first FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship Final since they won the bronze medal in Balakovo, Russia in 2011.
Every national coach has named a squad of up to five riders for the competition and, six days before racing, they will narrow this down to a team of three – two starters at No.1 and No.2 and one substitute at No.3.
Czech Republic’s squad is captained by 2025 SGP2 star Adam Bubba Bednar. He is joined by 17-year-old Adam Nejezchleba, who was recently part of the senior team’s FIM Speedway World Cup squad. Bruno Belan, Jaroslav Vanicek and Jan Jenicek complete the squad.
Germany’s title defence is led by Bavarian racer Mario Hausl, who partnered Norick Blodorn to victory in Torun last season. Blodorn is now too old for under-21 competition, but their teammate Hannah Grunwald – the 2025 FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy winner – returns, with Patrick Hyjek, Ben Iken and Janek Konzack also named in the squad.
Last season saw Poland fail to make the podium for only the second time since the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship was launched in 2005. They bid to bounce back with 2024 SGP2 world champion Wiktor Przyjemski and 2024 SGP3 world champion Maksymilian Pawelczak leading their squad. The Bydgoszcz teammates are joined by former SGP2 riders Bartosz Banbor and Kevin Malkiewicz, as well as 2021 FIM Speedway Youth world champion Oskar Paluch.
Last year’s SON2 runners-up Denmark name five riders with SGP2 experience in their squad, with Villads Nagel as captain. He is joined by Bastian Pedersen, Mikkel Andersen, William Drejer and Nicolai Heiselberg.
Australian boss Mark Lemon led his side to bronze in 2025 and keeps faith with Mitchell McDiarmid and Tate Zischke. They are joined by captain James Pearson, Alex Adamson and former SGP3 silver and bronze medallist Beau Bailey.
The Swedish side features 2023 SGP3 world champion Rasmus Karlsson. He is joined by skipper Erik Persson, Sammy van Dyck, Leon Klasson and Harry Lundahl in boss Linus Sundstrom’s squad.
Great Britain’s squad features former SGP3 bronze medallist Will Cairns and his fellow 16-year-old sensation Cooper Rushen, who finished fifth at the 2025 FIM SGP3 Final – Prague. They are joined by captain Luke Harrison, plus Luke Killeen and Jody Scott.
Ukraine completes field in Prague, with Parnitskyi bidding to add SON2 gold to his SGP2 triumph in 2025. He teams up with Roman Kapustin, who was also part of their starting line-up for 2026 WWK Schwaiger & Partner FIM SWC Semi-Final 1 – Landshut last Friday. A four-rider squad is completed by Danko Hlakovskyi and Volodymyr Zlaman.
Tickets are available online HERE for SON2 on Friday, May 22, with tickets for the FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague on Saturday, May 23 on sale HERE now.
2026 FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS – SON2 – PRAGUE SQUADS (in draw order):
TEAM A – GREAT BRITAIN
1. Luke Harrison ©
2. Luke Killeen
3. Will Cairns
4. Jody Scott
5. Cooper Rushen
Team manager: Neil Vatcher
TEAM B – CZECH REPUBLIC
1. Adam Bubba Bednar ©
2. Adam Nejezchleba
3. Bruno Belan
4. Jan Jenicek
5. Jaroslav Vanicek
Team manager: Zdenek Schneiderwind
TEAM C – GERMANY
1. Patrick Hyjek
2. Hannah Grunwald
3. Mario Häusl ©
4. Ben Iken
5. Janek Konzack
Team managers: Mathias Bartz & Sascha Dörner
TEAM D – DENMARK
1. Villads Nagel ©
2. Bastian Pedersen
3. Mikkel Andersen
4. William Drejer
5. Nicolai Heiselberg
Team manager: Nicki Pedersen
TEAM E – UKRAINE
1. Nazar Parnitskyi ©
2. Roman Kapustin
3. Danko Hladkovskyi
4. Volodymyr Zlaman
Team manager: Sergii Golovnia
TEAM F – POLAND
1. Wiktor Przyjemski ©
2. Bartosz Bańbor
3. Maksymilian Pawełczak
4. Kevin Małkiewicz
5. Oskar Paluch
Team manager: Stanisław Chomski
TEAM G – SWEDEN
1. Rasmus Karlsson
2. Sammy Van Dyck
3. Erik Persson ©
4. Leo Klasson
5. Harry Lundahl
Team manager: Linus Sundström
TEAM H – AUSTRALIA
1. Alex Adamson
2. Beau Bailey
3. Mitchell McDiarmid
4. James Pearson ©
5. Tate Zischke
Team manager: Mark Lemon
Words by FIM Speedway – Marcin Karczewski
