Latvian racer Jevgenijs Kostigovs makes his long-awaited FIM Speedway Grand Prix debut when he lines up as OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga wild card on Saturday, August 2.
After serving as a non-riding track reserve at the 2015 and 2017 Latvian rounds in Daugavpils, Kostigovs finally takes on the best riders in the world over at least five rides in Latvia’s biggest speedway event.
Kostigovs is no stranger to World Championship competition, having represented Latvia in both the FIM Speedway World Cup and FIM Speedway of Nations. He was part of last year’s historic side, which raced to the country’s second world team final in three years at the 2024 FIM SON in Manchester.
The 29-year-old is enjoying a fine campaign for Latvian club Lokomotiv Daugavpils, which races in Poland’s National League. With an average of over two points per race, he is the team’s top performer so far this season.
His appearance in the OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga is undoubtedly the biggest meeting of his career so far. He will be determined to join Latvia’s European champion and former Daugavpils teammate Andzejs Lebedevs in turning up the volume at Bikernieki.
The Speedway GP line-up is completed by track reserves Francis Gusts and Olegs Mihailovs, who wear the No.17 and No.18 race jackets respectively.
Latvia’s biggest weekend of racing also features the DeWalt FIM SGP2 of Latvia – Riga on Friday, August 1, and the host nation will be represented by wild card Nikita Kaulins.
The 20-year-old takes the No.16 race jacket for round two of the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship series. Like Kostigovs, he competes for Daugavpils in the Polish National League. He also represented Latvia in FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 – the world under-21 team championship – in Manchester last summer.
Kaulins is joined in the Riga SGP2 line-up by track reserves Damirs Filimonovs and Artjoms Juhno, who don the No.17 and No.18 race jackets respectively.
Limited tickets for a huge weekend of racing in the Latvian capital are still available online. Book your tickets HERE now.
Words by Speedway GP – Images by Jarek Pabijan
