Heading into the 2020 FIM Ice Speedway of Nations, Russia boasted thirty-seven wins in the forty years since the event was first run and there were no huge surprises this year as the Russian trio raced to a thirty-eighth title – although they were pushed hard on the opening day in Berlin by 2019 runners up Sweden.
• All the 2020 FIM World champions
There was one change to the Russian team that won in 2019 and 2018 with Igor Kononov replacing Dmitry Koltakov, but other than that it was business as usual for the powerhouse nation of the sport that flexed its considerable muscles to come out on top of the seven countries competing.
With the individual FIM Ice Speedway World Championship already secured for the fourth time, Daniil Ivanov was his team’s top scorer on both days.
Leading ahead of Sweden, the home nation and Austria following the first day’s racing, Russia comfortably cruised into the four-man Grand Final where Sweden – having narrowly defeated Germany – awaited, desperate to reverse the 2019 outcome.
However, the Russian pair led into the opening bend and despite a brave effort by Sweden it was effectively game over. In the race-off for third, Austria’s Harald Simon and Franky Zorn fell in the first turn and with Zorn unable to make the restart Germany delighted the home fans by coasting around the track unchallenged to take the Bronze Medal.
Of the remaining teams, Kazakhstan made a welcome return to the competition in fifth ahead of the Czech Republic and Finland.
PALMARES
FIM Ice Speedway of Nations: x 38