The 2025 FIM Speedway calendar will feature four individual world championships after the entry-level SGP4 series for the sport’s 11-13-year-old stars was granted world-championship status by motorcycling’s global governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).
Now known as the FIM SGP4 World Championship, the competition was launched in partnership with the FIM in 2023, offering the first step on the FIM Speedway pyramid as riders progress to SGP3 for under-16s, SGP2 for under-21s and Speedway GP.
Previously known as the FIM Speedway Youth World Cup (SGP4), the championship has attracted riders from 12 different countries and four different continents for its first two editions, with 15 countries applying to participate in the 2025 edition.
Youngsters race on the 190cc bikes designed by six-time FIM Speedway world champion Tony Rickardsson, who also coaches the sport’s stars of the future as part of an unforgettable weekend.
The inaugural event in Malilla, Sweden was won by Denmark’s Elias Jamil in 2023, with American shooting star Brady Landon lifting the trophy in 2024.
After two successful stagings at the Skrotfrag Arena, the home of the FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla, both of which attracted unprecedented crowds for youth speedway events – the first-ever FIM SGP4 World Championship takes place at Denmark’s legendary Vojens Speedway Center on Saturday, September 13.
The Speedway GP series finale takes place on the same day as part of an unmissable Weekend of Champions, also featuring the final round of the SGP2 series – the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship on Friday, September 12. The triple-header celebrates 50 years of racing at Vojens.
After its elevation to world-championship status was ratified at the FIM General Assembly in Mallorca, where the FIM Awards take place on Saturday, SGP4 is set to be bigger and better than ever in 2025 and Rickardsson can’t wait for its third staging – its first as a full world championship.
He said: “It has been a real pleasure to develop the FIM SGP4 World Championship in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and the FIM.
“We were determined to offer young riders from around the world the chance to compete on a bike that looks like a big bike, sounds like a big bike and rides like a big bike, but in a smaller package and at a reasonable cost. We believe we have achieved this aim and our elevation to world-championship status is testament to this.
“Hopefully SGP4 will provide riders taking their first steps into international racing with the ideal platform to gain experience on the world stage, while developing their skills and, most importantly, having fun.
“I would like to thank all of the riders and their families who played a part in developing the SGP4 bike and the championship. We would not have achieved this without you, and we look forward to welcoming more young riders from as many countries as possible into the competition in the years ahead.”
FIM Track Racing Commission director Armando Castagna commented: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in developing the SGP4 project for their role in taking the competition to the next level.
“SGP4 has offered an incredible opportunity for our youngest riders to gain coaching from some of the best riders in the world, including Tony Rickardsson and Greg Hancock. The fact they can race and train as part of a Speedway GP weekend, rubbing shoulders with their heroes, will hopefully make them even hungrier to progress in the sport and race at SGP3 and SGP2 level, and ultimately in Speedway GP.
“We look forward to crowning our first-ever SGP4 world champion in Vojens in September 2025.”
FIM Speedway World Championships director Laura Manciet said: “As part of our vision for FIM Speedway, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports was determined to strengthen the sport’s pyramid structure, in partnership with the FIM.
“The addition of SGP4 has been one of our proudest accomplishments as a group since we took over as global promoter ahead of the 2022 season. We say a big thank you to Tony Rickardsson for his invaluable input in launching the championship and all the riders, families and officials who have joined forces with us to deliver two successful SGP4 events in 2023 and 2024.
“We were already in for an historic weekend at Vojens on September 12 and 13 when the Speedway GP and SGP2 series reach their climax. The fact we will now crown three world champions in Denmark only raises the stakes for what I am sure will be an unforgettable couple of days.”
Words by SpeedwayGP – Feature Image by Jarek Pabijan
