Przyjemski target U21 Speedway crown in Torun
Words and images courtesy SGP
Wiktor Przyjemski hopes a partisan Polish crowd can roar him to victory as he bids to become the nation’s 18th FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion at the DeWalt FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun on Friday.
Przyjemski, who started his career in nearby speedway city Bydgoszcz, heads into the final round of SGP2 leading the way on 38 points after winning the 2024 series opener in Malilla, Sweden on June 14, before taking second place at the DeWalt FIM SGP2 of Latvia – Riga on September 6.
History-maker Nazar Parnitskyi topped the podium in the Latvian capital and is eight points behind in second place on 30 as he bids to achieve the biggest title triumph by a Ukrainian rider.
Danish teenager Mikkel Andersen, placed third on 28, is also bidding to secure a medal in his debut season of 500cc competition, while Poland’s Bartosz Banborand Norway’s Mathias Pollestad are chasing in fifth and sixth place respectively on 23 apiece.
Fourth-placed Sebastian Szostak, who has 25, sits out due to injury, with American star Slater Lightcap making his SGP2 debut in his place.
While a nation will expect as Przyjemski takes to the shale on Friday, he hopes to harness the Polish power and ride a wave of home support to victory at the Marian Rose Motoarena.
He said: “Obviously we have a lot of Polish World Under-21 champions. I hope I will be the next one. We have the final round in Torun and that’s not my favourite track. But I will go there, do my best and hopefully I can win the title. I am eight points ahead of my rivals, but I have to be focused. It is great for me that the final round will be staged in Torun. I think I will get some support from the Polish fans, and that’s really important for me. Hopefully I will make everybody happy.”
Andersen has the opportunity to make it an unforgettable SGP2 debut series – just two years on from winning SGP3 – the FIM Speedway Youth World Championship in Wroclaw in 2022.
The son of 1997 FIM British Speedway GP winner Brian Andersen is thriving in the SGP2 spotlight as he bids to cement a place on the podium. He said: “I am happy with what I have done this year. I have improved a lot by riding with all the top boys.
“I was just glad that I got into the series. It’s a bit of an opportunity for me to show my talent. Even though it is my first year, my progress has been good so far. Anything can happen in Torun. I will just keep going. I definitely want to secure a medal, and we will go for that.”
Andersen is one of the SGP2 riders being tipped to one day graduate into the FIM Speedway Grand Prix series. But with the 16-year-old eligible to race in SGP2 for another five seasons yet, he insisted: “I am not thinking too far ahead at the moment. Speedway GP is many years ahead, I think.
“I will take it step by step, although sometimes it is better to jump! I always want to keep both feet on the ground and take it a bit steady. That’s the plan with my family and team around me. We don’t want to rush things, and I’ll take my time.”
DeWALT FIM SGP2 OF POLAND – TORUN STARTING LINE-UP (in FIM ranking order with rider numbers):
785. Nazar Parnitskyi (Ukraine)
28. Slater Lightcap (United States – substitute for 355. Sebastian Szostak)
43. Casper Henriksson (Sweden)
388. Bastian Pedersen (Denmark)
505. Wiktor Przyjemski (Poland)
117. Jesper Knudsen (Denmark)
110. Jakub Krawczyk (Poland)
89. Dan Thompson (Great Britain – substitute for 545. William Drejer)
999. Mathias Pollestad (Norway)
144. Francis Gusts (Latvia)
22. Leon Flint (Great Britain)
243. Philip Hellström-Bängs (Sweden)
137. Bartosz Ba?bor (Poland)
108. Villads Nagel (Denmark)
97. Mikkel Andersen (Denmark)
16. Antoni Kawczynski (Poland – wild card)
17. Oskar Paluch (Poland – first track reserve)
18. Krzysztof Lewandowski (Poland – second track reserve)