The national squads for 2026 11.lv FIM Speedway World Cup Semi-Final 2 – Riga on Friday, August 7 have been confirmed.
Hosts Latvia face off with former SWC winners Denmark and Sweden, with Norway making their SWC Semi-Final debut at Bikernieki in an event that takes place 24 hours before the 2026 DEWALT FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga on Saturday, August 8.
The winners of Semi-Final 2 claim the last available spot at the BOLL FIM SWC Final – Warsaw at PGE Narodowy on August 29, where they face off with reigning champions Poland, 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations world champions Australia and Semi-Final 1 winners Great Britain.
Team managers can select up to 10 riders as part of their wider squad, before narrowing down the list to five – four starters and one substitute at No.5 – six days before racing.
Latvia’s squad for their first-ever home SWC event is led by Speedway GP star Andzejs Lebedevs. He is joined by SON teammates Daniils Kolodinskis, Jevgenijs Kostigovs, Olegs Mihailovs and former SGP2 star Francis Gusts.
Damirs Filimonovs, Nikita Kaulins, Artjoms Juhno, Emils Rimicans and Dmitrijs Reuka complete the list for team manager Vladimirs Vagels.
Danish boss Nicki Pedersen selects 2012 SWC-winning teammates Michael Jepsen Jensen and Leon Madsen, as well as BST FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla winner Anders Thomsen and triple European champion Mikkel Michelsen.
Danish Championship runner-up Frederik Jakobsen joins them, along with Mads Hansen, Benjamin Basso, Rasmus Jensen and SGP2 stars Mikkel Andersen and Villads Nagel.
Swedish team manager Linus Sundstrom names the nation’s Speedway GP star Fredrik Lindgren in the squad as he hopes the world No.4 can return from injury in time.
Swedish champion Kim Nilsson, double Swedish champion Jacob Thorssell, Timo Lahti and former SGP riders Oliver Berntzon and Tomas H Jonasson are also listed, along with former SGP2 star Casper Henriksson, Victor Palovaara, Filip Hjelmland and Jonathan Ejnermark.
Norway’s squad is led by former SGP2 bronze medallist Mathias Pollestad. He is joined in boss Kenneth Klipper Smith’s line-up by skipper Truls Kamhaug, Glenn Moi, Lasse Fredriksen, Magnus Klipper, Jorgen Lystad and Imre Vigre.
Tickets for 11.lv FIM SWC Semi-Final 2 – Riga are now available online, along with DEWALT FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga seats. Secure your spot at Bikernieki – book HERE now.
2026 11.lv FIM SPEEDWAY WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL 2 – RIGA SQUADS:
LATVIA: Andzejs Lebedevs (captain), Daniils Kolodinskis, Jevgenijs Kostigovs, Olegs Mihailovs, Francis Gusts, Damirs Filimonovs, Nikita Kaulins, Artjoms Juhno, Emils Rimicans, Dmitrijs Reuka. Team Manager: Vladimirs Vagels.
DENMARK: Michael Jepsen Jensen (captain), Leon Madsen, Anders Thomsen, Mikkel Michelsen, Frederik Jakobsen, Mads Hansen, Benjamin Basso, Villads Nagel, Mikkel Andersen, Rasmus Jensen. Team Manager: Nicki Pedersen.
SWEDEN: Casper Henriksson, Filip Hjelmland, Fredrik Lindgren (captain), Jacob Thorssell, Jonathan Ejnermark, Kim Nilsson, Oliver Berntzon, Timo Lahti, Tomas H Jonasson, Victor Palovaara. Team Manager: Linus Sundstrom.
NORWAY: Mathias Pollestad, Truls Kamhaug (captain), Glenn Moi, Lasse Fredriksen, Magnus Klipper, Jorgen Lystad, Imre Vigre. Team Manager: Kenneth Klipper Smith.
Words by FIM Speedway – Feature Image courtesy of Taylor Lanning
