Nice Britain skipper Robert Lambert is set to remedy the Lions’ journey illness as he bids to finish the reigning FIM Speedway of Nations world champions’ 41-year seek for a world staff title exterior of the UK.
Fifteen nations compete on the 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations in Polish metropolis Torun, which will get underway with Semi-Closing 1 on Tuesday, as GB takes on Germany, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden.
The final word check of staff driving continues with Semi-Closing 2 on Wednesday, as 2022 SON world champions Australia faces match debutants Argentina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France and Ukraine.
The highest three nations from every Semi-Closing progress to the Closing on Saturday night time, the place they be part of host nation Poland, and Lambert is set to ship a golden end to 2025 on a Torun monitor that he has known as house since 2021.
GB has not received an FIM Speedway world staff title exterior of the UK since Chris Morton and Peter Collins received the 1984 FIM Speedway World Pairs Championship at Italian monitor Lonigo, whereas representing England.
Lambert joined forces with Dan Bewley and Tom Brennan to win FIM SON gold in Manchester in 2021 – the nation’s first world staff title since 1989 – earlier than regaining the crown on the Nationwide Speedway Stadium in 2024. Now they’re decided to finish GB’s quest for abroad gold, and Lambert would like to do it in Torun – the beautiful metropolis the place he lives with spouse Julia.
He stated: “It’s going to be good, being in Torun – a spot the place I’ve been racing for the final 5 seasons. Poland goes to be robust on house territory, however me and Dan know the Torun monitor fairly nicely and principally go nicely there.
“We made historical past by getting the primary gold in 32 years again in 2021 for GB. We now have been rewriting the historical past books since then, so why not attempt to go one higher and win one exterior of the UK as nicely?
“It’s going to be a troublesome one, however we’re up for the problem. We now have the Semi-Closing on Tuesday, so we have to be centered on that, get the bikes dialled in as finest as doable and ensure we get via. We have to get that first hurdle out of the way in which after which transfer on to the Closing. It’s a robust line-up for the Semi-Closing. Anybody can come out, win races and do nicely. We simply have to be on our A recreation – the identical as we at all times are after we get the GB fits on.”
Sweden’s hopes of success have been massively lifted by the late return of their Speedway GP star Fredrik Lindgren to the staff, becoming a member of 2024 accomplice Jacob Thorssell and No.3 Timo Lahti, who makes his Swedish SON debut, having beforehand represented Finland.
Group supervisor Linus Sundstrom, a coach making his debut SON look as Swedish boss this week, is delighted to have his 2015 FIM Speedway World Cup-winning teammate Lindgren again on board.
He stated: “I’m very happy that he’s again and it makes an enormous distinction for the staff – each on and off the monitor. I’d say it additionally makes an enormous distinction as nicely for the Swedish followers on the stadium in Torun or watching at house.
“Freddie has been just a few ranges above the opposite Swedish riders. He has been within the high three or 4 on this planet for a few years now. He’s top-of-the-line riders on this planet and the very best Sweden has.
“Everyone knows what Freddie is like. Freddie and Jacob have additionally achieved many heats collectively in Vastervik. They received the Swedish league collectively; they’ve been teammates there all yr, and so they spend a number of time collectively. Each Jacob and Timo are additionally actually good gaters, and it makes life simpler in case you are fast from the tapes.
“I undoubtedly have excessive hopes for this week. However something can occur in speedway. There are nonetheless many robust nations within the Semi-Finals, so we’ve to be on our toes to even get to the Closing.”
Australian staff supervisor Mark Lemon brings a stellar facet to Torun for Semi-Closing 2, that includes new world No.2 Brady Kurtz, who raced to the very best debut season in Speedway GP historical past this yr, coming inside some extent of the world title and profitable a report 5 straight SGP rounds. He’s partnered by world No.5 Jack Holder, with 2017 Speedway GP world champion Jason Doyle named as reserve at No.3.
Holder and Kurtz, each 29, have competed as teammates and rivals since their youth days Down Beneath and took Australia to FIM SON silver in Manchester final summer time.
Having already received 2022 FIM SON gold with one other childhood competitor in Speedway GP star Max Fricke, Holder says it’s particular to see all three of them starring on the world stage 20 years after they first began racing collectively.
He stated: “It’s fairly loopy. Again in our junior days, Max or Brady went over to Europe first. I needed to keep and end my carpentry apprenticeship, which form of sucked on the time. I assumed I used to be possibly a bit of bit behind, however once I acquired my likelihood, I quickly caught up and it’s cool to see we’re all racing on the highest stage. We began collectively at 9 or 10 years previous.
“All three of us have been good riders. Again within the junior days, we have been fairly dominant. It was at all times us three within the finals. All of us had our objectives to recover from right here and do what we’re doing. It’s loopy whenever you assume again and have a look at what number of finals we’ve been in collectively.”
The Aussies have proven an actual expertise for staff driving, and Holder admits their potential to place egos to the facet makes all of the distinction in a format the place avoiding final locations is essential.
“We’re simply not too fearful concerning the scoresheet,” he stated. “No matter is finest for the staff is what issues – whether or not we’re first or second, it doesn’t matter who wins the race. We’re simply as comfortable as one another. We’re racing for our nation and don’t actually look into who beats who – so long as we’re first and second. That’s the primary objective.”
Danish champion Michael Jepsen Jensen makes his first FIM SON look since he partnered Kenneth Bjerre in 2018 – the competitors’s inaugural yr. The Danes haven’t received a world staff title since they topped the FIM Speedway World Cup podium at Bydgoszcz in 2014 – over 11 years in the past.
However MJJ, who groups up with fellow 2026 Speedway GP qualifier Leon Madsen and triple European champion Mikkel Michelsen, believes the Danes have what it takes to land their first FIM SON world title.
“100% we are able to do it,” he stated. “We now have robust riders. I believe it’s like all the opposite groups; we have to do the work collectively and that’s the one manner we are able to win it.
“A couple of of the opposite squads can even be very robust. We have to put within the work, and something can occur. There’s a positive line between failure and this week being excellent. What we do collectively can be essential to the result. Hopefully we are going to all be on the identical web page. I imagine we are going to, and we are able to obtain one thing nice.”
Tickets for FIM Speedway of Nations week in Torun are nonetheless accessible on-line. Safe your seat for speedway’s largest staff occasion of 2025 on the iconic Marian Rose Motoarena HERE now.
FIM SON SEMI-FINAL STARTING LINE-UPS
SEMI-FINAL 1 – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
TEAM A – ITALY: 1. Nicolas Covatti (captain), 2. Nicolas Vicentin, 3. Nicolo Percotti. Group Supervisor: Alessandro Dalla Valle.
TEAM B – GERMANY: 1. Norick Blodorn, 2. Kai Huckenbeck (captain), 3. Valentin Grobauer. Group Supervisor: Mathias Bartz / Sascha Dorner
TEAM C – NORWAY: 1. Mathias Pollestad (captain), 2. Glenn Moi, 3. Lasse Fredriksen. Group Supervisor: Kenneth Klipper Smith.
TEAM D – LATVIA: 1. Andzejs Lebedevs (captain), 2. Jevgenijs Kostigovs, 3. Daniils Kolodinskis. Group Supervisor: Vladimirs Vagels.
TEAM E – SWEDEN: 1. Jacob Thorssell, 2. Fredrik Lindgren (captain), 3. Timo Lahti. Group Supervisor: Linus Sundstrom.
TEAM F – GREAT BRITAIN: 1. Robert Lambert (captain), 2. Dan Bewley, 3. Tom Brennan. Group Supervisor: Simon Stead / Oliver Allen.
TEAM G – SLOVENIA: 1. Matic Ivacic (captain), 2. Anze Grmek, 3. Luka Omerzel. Group Supervisor: Gregor Arnsek.
SEMI-FINAL 2 – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
TEAM A – CZECH REPUBLIC: 1. Vaclav Milik, 2. Jan Kvech (captain), 3. Adam Bubba Bednar. Group Supervisor: Zdenek Schneiderwind.
TEAM B – DENMARK: 1. Leon Madsen, 2. Michael Jepsen Jensen, 3. Mikkel Michelsen (captain). Group Supervisor: Nicki Pedersen.
TEAM C – ARGENTINA: 1. Fernando Garcia (captain), 2. Cristian Zubillaga, 3. Facundo Albin. Group Supervisor: Claudio Schmit.
TEAM D – AUSTRALIA: 1. Brady Kurtz, 2. Jack Holder (captain), 3. Jason Doyle. Group Supervisor: Mark Lemon.
TEAM E – UKRAINE: 1. Nazar Parnitskyi, 2. Marko Levishyn (captain), 3. Roman Kapustin. Group Supervisor: Sergii Golovnia.
TEAM F – FRANCE: 1. Dimitri Berge, 2. David Bellego (captain), 3. Mathias Tresarrieu. Group Supervisor: Laurent Sambarrey.
TEAM G – FINLAND: 1. Jesse Mustonen (captain), 2. Antti Vuolas, 3. Tero Aarnio. Group Supervisor: Aki-Pekka Mustonen.
Phrases by FIM Speedway – Characteristic Picture courtesy of Jarek Pabijan
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