The starting line-ups for FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 have been revealed as the sport’s top eight under-21 teams battle it out in Manchester this Friday.
Hosts Great Britain take on 16-time winners and defending champions Poland, Denmark, Latvia, Australia, Germany, Czech Republic and Sweden in a marathon 28-heat showdown at the National Speedway Stadium.
FIM SON2 is the third event of FIM Speedway of Nations week in Manchester, which also sees 15 countries compete for the SON senior world title, starting with FIM SON Semi-Finals 1 and 2 on Tuesday and Wednesday (July 9-10).
The action climaxes with the FIM SON Final on Saturday (July 13) which sees hosts Great Britain take on the top three sides from each of the two Semi-Finals in a bid to regain the FIM SON trophy they lifted at the National Speedway Stadium in 2021.
As with the senior FIM SON, each under-21 team manager selects two starters at No.1 and No.2, with a reserve rider at No.3, who can replace either of his teammates at any time.
GB’s under-21s take centre stage on Friday night (July 12) and their challenge is led by SGP2 rider Leon Flint, who doubles up with Birmingham in the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership and Glasgow in the Cab Direct Championship. He is also gaining experience in Poland with Czestochowa in the Under-24 Ekstraliga.
He is partnered by in-form Ipswich and Plymouth star Dan Thompson, with Leicester, Poole and Belle Vue Colts racer Sam Hagon lining up on his WSRA National Development League home track at No.3.
Poland goes into FIM SON2 seeking an astonishing 11th straight team under-21 world title with Wiktor Przyjemski leading their challenge as he bids to win his third gold medal in as many years.
Przyjemski won the 3P Logistics FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla – the opening round of the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship – and he is partnered by Bartosz Banbor, the 17-year-old sensation who finished second to him at the Skrotfrag Arena on June 14. Their SGP2 rival Jakub Krawczyk takes the No.3 spot.
Denmark bid to swap the 2023 silver medals they won in Latvian capital Riga last August for gold, and they track a team of three SGP2 riders – featuring captain Jesper Knudsen and Bastian Pedersen – nephew of triple Speedway GP world champion and Danish national boss Nicki Pedersen, as well as No.3 Villads Nagel.
The German team is led by skipper Norick Blodorn, who lines up on his British home track, where he has raced for the Belle Vue Aces since 2022, helping them to their first league title since 1993 in his debut season. He teams up with Jonny Wynant, with Patrick Hyjek at No.3.
SGP2 rider Francis Gusts is back to spearhead the Latvian challenge after leading them to an historic bronze medal on home soil in Riga last year – the country’s first FIM Speedway team medal of any kind. He joins forces with Nikita Kaulins at No.2 and No.3 reserve Artjoms Juhno.
The Australian side features captain Keynan Rew, who finished fourth in the 2023 SGP2 series. He is partnered by James Pearson, with Aussie Under-21 champion Michael West named in the No.3 role.
Sweden steps back into the FIM SON2 event for the first time since 2022 with a strong side, featuring SGP2 rider Casper Henriksson and his series rival Philip Hellstrom-Bangs, who famously represented the Swedish side alone for almost two days of the 2021 FIM SON Final after teammates Jacob Thorssell and Pontus Aspgren crashed out of the two-day event early. Rasmus Karlsson, who won the 2023 FIM Speedway Youth World Championship (SGP3), is picked at No.3.
The Friday-night line-up is completed by Czech Republic, who track a new-look side led by talented 17-year-old Adam Bubba Bednar. He is joined by Jan Jenicek at No.2, with Matous Kamenik named at No.3.
With no Grand Final Qualifier or Grand Final in FIM SON2 this year, the top-scoring nation after 28 heats will be crowned champion.
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FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS – SON2 STARTING LINE-UPS
FRIDAY, JULY 12
Team A – POLAND
1. Wiktor Przyjemski ©
2. Bartosz Banbor
3. Jakub Krawczyk
Team manager: Rafal Dobrucki
Team B – GERMANY
1. Norick Blödorn ©
2. Jonny Wynant
3. Patrick Hyjek
Team manager: Sascha Dörner
Team C – GREAT BRITAIN
1. Leon Flint ©
2. Dan Thompson
3. Sam Hagon
Team manager: Neil Vatcher
Team D – LATVIA
1. Francis Gusts ©
2. Nikita Kaulins
3. Artjoms Juhno
Team manager: Vladimirs Ribnikovs
Team E – CZECH REPUBLIC
1. Adam Bubba Bednar ©
2. Jan Jenicek
3. Matous Kamenik
Team manager: Evzen Erban
Team F – SWEDEN
1. Casper Henriksson ©
2. Philip Hellström-Bängs
3. Rasmus Karlsson
Team manager: Alexander Edberg
Team G – AUSTRALIA
1. Keynan Rew ©
2. James Pearson
3. Michael West
Team manager: Mark Lemon
Team H – DENMARK
1. Jesper Knudsen ©
2. Bastian Pedersen
3. Villads Nagel
Team managers: Nicki Pedersen / Hans Andersen
Words by Speedway GP – Feature Image by Taylor Lanning
