FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship 2017

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Former Aussie champion Brady Kurtz and Polish racer Maksym Drabik launch their bids for FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship gold in Pardubice.

The race for junior speedway’s biggest prize gets underway this weekend with 48 riders battling for 12 guaranteed places, with the FIM set to complete the line-up with three wild-card picks.

Kurtz didn’t make the finals last year, but has started 2017 in superb form for British club Poole.

He’s joined at the Czech track by the likes of Drabik – one of the pre-season championship favourites – as well as Danish prospect Patrick Hansen, Sweden’s Kenny Wennerstam, Poland’s Dominik Kubera and Czech riders Zdenek Holub and Patrik Mikel.

The remaining two semi-finals take place at Italian track Terenzano and Swedish circuit Eskilstuna.

Reigning champion Max Fricke starts his title defence in Italy, where he’s joined by Jack Holder, who finished fourth last term. In-form Polish star Kacper Woryna and Daniel Kaczmarek are also in contention, along with Czech racer Eduard Krcmar, Germany’s Michael Haertel and British star Josh Bates.

Great Britain rider Robert Lambert bids to build on his 2016 bronze medal, starting in Eskilstuna, where he faces compatriot Adam Ellis, France star Dmitri Berge, Denmark’s Frederik Jakobsen, plus Swedish entrants Joel Andersson and Joel Kling.

PARDUBICE LINE-UP (Fri 19/5/17): 1. Kenny Wennerstam, 2. Dmytro Mostowik, 3. Josef Nowak, 4. Lukas Fienhage, 5. Brady Kurtz, 6. Nick Skorja, 7. Maksym Drabik, 8. Jonas Jeppesen, 9. Patrik Mikel, 10. Dominik Moeser, 11. Cristian Zubillaga, 12. Jan Mihalik, 13. Dominik Kubera, 14. Patrik Hansen, 15. Jake Turner, 16. Zdenek Holub. RESERVES: 17. Filip Hajek, 18. Pavel Cermak.

TERENZANO LINE-UP (Sat 20/5/17): 1. Jack Holder, 2. Broc Nicol, 3. Gaetan Stella, 4. Mattia Lenarduzzi, 5. Andreas Lyager, 6. Daniel Kaczmarek, 7. Mike Jacopetti, 8. Michael Haertel, 9. Lasse Fredriksen, 10. Filip Hjelmland, 11. Eduard Krcmar, 12. Max Fricke, 13. Jordan Dubernard, 14. Sandro Wassermann, 15. Kacper Woryna, 16. Josh Bates. RESERVES: 17. Michele Menani.

ESKILSTUNA LINE-UP (Sat 20/5/17): 1. Robert Lambert, 2. Alexander Woentin, 3. Frederik Jakobsen, 4. Adam Ellis, 5. Dimitri Berge, 6. Gleb Czugunov, 7. Espen Sundvor, 8. Bartosz Smektala, 9. Joel Kling, 10. Tim Sorensen, 11. Jooa Partanen, 12. Jevgenijs Kostigovs, 13. Glenn Moi, 14. Artem Trofimov, 15. Joel Andersson, 16. Nike Lunna. RESERVES: 17. Johan Jensen, 18. William Bjorling.

SGP

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Reigning World Under-21 champion Max Fricke has been handed a huge reprieve in his quest to defend the title after receiving a permanent wild card for the final series.

Fricke joins Danish racer Patrick Hansen and Sweden’s Alexander Woentin in getting a pick.

The Aussie fell a point short of qualification in the semi-final at Terenzano on Sunday, but will now compete in the three-round series, which launches at Polish track Poznan on July 23.

Hansen missed out at Friday’s semi in Pardubice with 10 points, but suffered a mechanical failure while comfortably second in his third ride.

And Woentin will serve as Sweden’s sole representative after missing out on qualification in a run-off at the semi-final in Eskilstuna on Saturday.

Germany’s Michael Haertel, Russian rider Gleb Chugunov and Danish racer Jonas Jeppesen will serve as series reserves, covering in the event of the main 15 missing a round due to injury, illness or other reasons.

After kicking off in Poznan, the series also visits Gustrow on September 8 - the night before the German SGP at nearby Teterow - and concludes at Czech venue Pardubice on September 29.

WORLD UNDER-21 FINAL LINE-UP: Maksym Drabik, Brady Kurtz, Dominik Kubera, Lukas Fienhage, Robert Lambert, Jevgenijs Kostigovs, Dmitri Berge, Bartosz Smektala, Jack Holder, Eduard Krcmar, Kacper Woryna, Andreas Lyager, Max Fricke, Patrick Hansen, Alexander Woentin. RESERVES: Michael Haertel, Gleb Chugunov, Jonas Jeppesen.

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Official starting list - 1st round of EKO-DIR FIM Speedway U21 World Championship:

1. (#222) Kacper Woryna (Poland)
2. (#73) Alexander Woentin (Sweden)
3. (#113) Jevgenijs Kostigovs (Latvia)
4. (#101) Brady Kurtz (Australia)
5. (#505) Robert Lambert (Great Britain)
6. (#115) Bartosz Smektala (Poland)
7. (#76) Lukas Fienhage (Germany)
8. (#16) Rafał Karczmarz (Poland) - Wild Card
9. (#114) Andreas Lyager Hansen (Denmark)
10. (#133) Maksym Drabik (Poland)
11. (#1) Max Fricke (Australia)
12. (#263) Eduard Krcmar (Czech Republic)
13. (#124) Patrick Hansen (Denmark)
14. (#463) Dominik Kubera (Poland)
15. (#96) Dimitri Bergé (France)
16. (#25) Jack Holder (Australia)
17. Damian Dróżdź (Poland)
18. Alex Zgardziński (Poland)

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Maksym Drabik took charge of the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship after winning the opening round of the final with a 21-point maximum in Poznan on Sunday.

The series continues at German venue Gustrow on September 8 -

before concluding at Czech track Pardubice on September 29.

WORLD U21 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 1 Maksym Drabik 21, 2= Max Fricke 15, Bartosz Smektala 15, 4= Jevgenijs Kostigovs 11, Jack Holder 11, 6 Dominik Kubera 10, 7 Robert Lambert 9, 8 Andreas Lyager 8, 9 Brady Kurtz 6, 10= Kacper Woryna 5, Eduard Krcmar 5, Dmitri Berge 5, 13= Rafal Karczmarz 4, Patrick Hansen 4, 15= Lukas Fienhage 3, Alexander Woentin 3, 17= Damian Drozdz 1, Alex Zgardzinski 1.

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Jul 24, 2017 10:04:04 GMT admin said:

The series continues at German venue Gustrow on September 8 -

before concluding at Czech track Pardubice on September 29.

GUSTROW SCORES: 1 Bartosz Smektala 15, 2 Robert Lambert 15, 3 Brady Kurtz 18, 4 Kacper Woryna 11, 5 Max Fricke 13, 6 Andreas Lyager 11, 7 Maksym Drabik 10, 8 Dimitri Berge 9, 9 Dominik Kubera 7, 10 Eduard Krcmar 6, 11 Jack Holder 6, 12 Alexander Woentin 5, 13 Michael Haertel 4, 14 Jevgenijs Kostigovs 4, 15 Patrick Hansen 3, 16 Lukas Fienhage 1.

WORLD UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1 Maksym Drabik 31
2 Bartosz Smektala 30
3 Max Fricke 28
4= Robert Lambert 24
4=Brady Kurtz 24
6 Andreas Lyager 19
7= Dominik Kubera 17
7=Jack Holder 17
9 Kacper Woryna 16
10 Jevgenijs Kostigovs 15
11 Dimitri Berge 14
12 Eduard Krcmar 11
13 Alexander Woentin 8
14 Patrick Hansen 7
15 Michael Haertel 4
16 Lukas Fienhage 4.

[admin]

May 22, 2017 21:30:14 GMT admin said:

The series concludes at Czech venue Pardubice on September 29.

PARDUBICE SCORES: 1 Maksym Drabik 18, 2 Kacper Woryna 17, 3 Max Fricke 13, 4 Bartosz Smektala 12, 5 Jack Holder 11, 6 Dmitri Berge 11, 7 Eduard Krcmar 9, 8 Jevgenijs Kostigovs 9, 9 Patrick Hansen 8, 10 Brady Kurtz 8, 11 Lukas Fienhage 7, 12 Andreas Lyager 6, 13 Alexander Woentin 4, 14 Robert Lambert 3, 15 Dominik Kubera 2, 16 Patrik Mikel 0.

FINAL WORLD UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1 Maksym Drabik 49
2 Bartosz Smektala 42
3 Max Fricke 41

4 Kacper Woryna 33, 5 Brady Kurtz 32, 6 Jack Holder 28, 7 Robert Lambert 27, 8= Andreas Lyager 25, Dimitri Berge 25, 10 Jevgenijs Kostigovs 24, 11 Eduard Krcmar 20, 12 Dominik Kubera 19, 13 Patrick Hansen 15, 14 Alexander Woentin 12, 15 Lukas Fienhage 11, 16 Michael Haertel 4.