Details
Date | Tapes Up | Competition | Season | Additional Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, July 12, 2024 | 7:00 pm | FIM Speedway of Nations - SON2 | 2024 | 2nd Sweden, 3rd Australia |
Report
POLAND were crowned World Under-21 team champions for an incredible 11th successive season – as Great Britain were left to rue their misfortune in Manchester.
GB made a sensational start to the Speedway of Nations 2 event at Belle Vue as Dan Thompson and Leon Flint raced to maximum points in their opening two rides.
But Thompson crashed out in his third outing, suffering a dislocated shoulder, and GB finished just three points outside the rostrum places despite the sterling efforts of Flint and Sam Hagon.
Meanwhile Poland duo Wiktor Przyjemski and Bartosz Banbor clinched the title three points ahead of Sweden, who were left fuming by a controversial exclusion for Philip Hellstrom-Bangs when the two sides met.
The Swedes edged out Australia for silver on a tie-break with Ipswich’s Keynan Rew outstanding for the Roos as he scored 27 of a possible 28 points.
Thompson said: “I was gutted the way it ended. We had such a positive start with two maximums, and me and Leon were both riding really well and making good starts.
“It was my first go in this competition and I couldn’t have started any better. I’m really grateful to Rob (Painter) and Vicky (Blackwell) and everyone for giving me the opportunity, and Steve (Williams) the physio and everyone for helping me.
“I’ve still got that recovery time now, but my season’s not over. I’m not going to throw the towel in, I want to get back for my clubs and be back pushing for the play-offs.”
SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS 2 FINAL, Belle Vue
1. POLAND 41: Bartosz Banbor 22, Nikita Kaulins 19, Jakub Krawczyk DNR
2. SWEDEN 38: Philip Hellström-Bängs 23, Casper Henriksson 15, Rasmus Karlsson DNR
3. AUSTRALIA 38: Keynon Rew 27, James Pearson 11, Michael West DNR
Other scores:
4. GREAT BRITAIN 35: Leon Flint 22, Dan Thompson 8, Sam Hagon 5
5. DENMARK 31: Bastian Pedersen 20, Villads Nagel 11, Jesper Knudsen 0
6. GERMANY 29: Norick Blodorn 25, Patrick Hyjek 4, Jonny Wynant 0,
7. CZECH REPUBLIC 21: Adam Bubba Bednar 14, Jan Jenicek 5, Matous Kamenik 2
8. LATVIA 17: Artjoms Juhno 10, Nikita Kaulins 7
Photo credit: IAN CHARLES