Hosts Great Britain have named all four of their 2021 world title-winning heroes in their five-rider 2024 FIM Speedway of Nations (SON) squad as the competition returns to Manchester from July 9-13.
The competition last visited the National Speedway Stadium in October 2021, when GB stars Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Tom Brennan defied the loss of three-time Speedway GP world champion Tai Woffinden to injury to end the nation’s 32-year wait for a world team championship.
Poles picked for semi-final 1
Polish team manager Rafal Dobrucki names a squad featuring five current or former Speedway GP riders ahead of Semi-Final 1, led by four-time SGP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik. He is joined by Speedway GP rival Dominik Kubera, former world No.2 Patryk Dudek, 2022 SGP bronze medallist Maciej Janowski and former Speedway GP winner Piotr Pawlicki.
The Swedish squad is led by world No.2 Fredrik Lindgren, with former SGP riders Kim Nilsson and Oliver Berntzon in selection contention, along with double Swedish champion Jacob Thorssell.
Former Finnish international Timo Lahti switches to Swedish colours for this year’s competition – taking on the country he led to an historic seventh place in the 2022 FIM SON. In his absence, the Finns are captained by Jesse Mustonen for 2024, with Antti Vuolas, Tero Aarnio, Niclas Säyriö and Otto Raak all named in the squad.
Germany will be spearheaded by Speedway GP star Kai Huckenbeck as they bid to make their first Final since 2019. He is joined by Norick Blodorn, who races regularly in Manchester for the Belle Vue Aces. Double FIM Long Track world champion Erik Riss, Kevin Wolbert and Valentin Grobauer complete the list.
The French team is led by David Bellego, with former FIM Long Track world champion Mathieu Tresarrieu, Steven Goret, Tino Bouin and Jordan Dubernard also in starting contention.
Italy is captained by Paco Castagna – son of former Speedway GP rider and current FIM Track Racing Commission director Armando Castagna. He links up with Nicolas Covatti, Nicolas Vicentin and Matteo Boncinelli in a squad of four.
The Ukrainian challenge is led by captain Andryi Karpov and SGP2 star Nazar Parnitskyi, who has impressed with Polish club Leszno this season. Marko Levishyn, Stanislav Melnychuk and Stanislav Ohorodnik also make the squad.
Reigning Champions in semi-final 2
Australia launches their FIM SON title defence in Semi-Final 2, with Jack Holder and Max Fricke named in the squad and bidding to repeat their heroics from the 2022 Final in Vojens, Denmark. They are joined in team manager Mark Lemon’s line-up by two Belle Vue riders – former World Under-21 champion Jaimon Lidsey and former Australian champion Brady Kurtz. Leicester and Dackarna racer Ryan Douglas completes the squad.
The Danes are spearheaded by triple Speedway European Championship winner Mikkel Michelsen, who is joined in boss Nicki Pedersen’s quintet by former Speedway GP rival Anders Thomsen, 2022 Danish champion Rasmus Jensen, former World Under-21 Championship runner-up Mads Hansen and Andreas Lyager.
Czech chargers Jan Kvech and Vaclav Milik are named in their national squad, with Adam Bednar, Daniel Klima and Eduard Krcmar listed alongside them as they bid to better their fifth-place finish from 2022.
Speedway GP star Andzejs Lebedevs captains Latvia, with SGP2 rider Francis Gusts, SEC rider Jevgenijs Kostigovs, Daniils Kolodinskis and Olegs Mihailovs completing the list.
The USA challenge is led by FIM North America champion Luke Becker, with Gino Manzares, Broc Nicol, Alex Martin and SGP2 first substitute star Slater Lightcap taking their place in the squad.
Norway will be led into the tournament by SGP2 rider Mathias Pollestad, who has emerged as his country's next big star on the world stage. He is joined by Edinburgh rider Lasse Madland Fredriksen, as well as Glenn Moi, Truls Kamhaug and Magnus Klipper.
The three-rider Slovenian squad features 2023 SGP2 rider Anze Grmek, as well as Matic Ivacic and Denis Stojs.
The starting line-ups for the FIM SON Semi-Finals will be announced in the week ahead of the tournament.
The top two nations in each Semi-Final gain automatic Final qualification, with the third and fourth-placed countries competing in a Final Qualifier for one last spot in the Saturday showdown.
National bosses can name a squad of up to five riders, which must be reduced to two starters at No.1 and No.2 and a reserve at No.3, who can replace a teammate at any time.
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe