Motorcycle speedway, normally referred to as Speedway, is a motorcycle sport that involves usually 4 and sometimes up to 6 riders competing over 4 laps of an oval circuit. // Classic Road Racing Road Racing on (temporary closed) public roads Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all sporting aspects of motorcycling. ...

A variant of Track racing, Speedway is administered internationally by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Track racing is a motorcycle sport where teams or individuals race opponents around an oval track. ... The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ...

A speedway race

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Nature of the sport

Riders sliding their bikes around a bend

Speedway racing takes place on a flat oval track usually consisting of dirt or loosely packed shale, the official definition being "a track with a top surface in granite, shale, brick granules or similar unbound material rolled in on the base ground".^[1] Competitors use this surface to slide their machines sideways (powersliding or broadsiding) into the bends using the rear wheel to scrub-off speed while still providing the drive to power the bike forward and around the bend. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Loess field in Germany Surface-water-gley developed in glacial till, Northern Ireland Technically, soil forms the pedosphere: the interface between the lithosphere (rocky part of the planet) and the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. ... Shale Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. ... Drifting refers to the difference in slip angle between the front and rear tires of a car. ... Riders sliding their bikes around a bend Broadsiding is the method used in motorcycle speedway for the method of travelling round the bends on the speedway track. ...

Originating in New South Wales, Australia in the 1920s, there are now both domestic and international competitions in a number of countries including the Speedway World Cup whilst the highest overall scoring individual in the Speedway Grand Prix events is pronounced the Speedway world champion. “NSW” redirects here. ... The Speedway World Cup is an annual motorcycle speedway event held each year in different countries. ... Speedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. ...

FIM regulations state that the motorcycles used must have no brakes, run on methanol, use only one gear and weigh a minimum of 77 kg. By using engine and rear wheel sprockets the gear ratio can be changed as required.^[2] Races consist of between 4 and 6 riders competing over 4 laps. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naptha or wood spirits, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH. It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, poisonous liquid with a distinctive odor that is somewhat milder and sweeter than ethanol (ethyl alcohol). ... Spur gears found on a piece of farm equipment A gear is a wheel with teeth around its circumference, the purpose of the teeth being to mesh with similar teeth on another mechanical device -- possibly another gear wheel -- so that force can be transmitted between the two devices in a...

The use of methanol allows for an increased compression ratio to the engine producing higher power and resulting in higher speeds (approx 130 km/h when cornering) although the skill of Speedway lies in the overall ability of the rider to control his motorcycle when cornering and thus avoid losing places through deceleration. Bold text The compression ratio is a single number that can be used to predict the performance of any engine (such as an internal-combustion engine or a Stirling Engine). ... Acceleration is the time rate of change of velocity, and at any point on a v-t graph, it is given by the gradient of the tangent to that point In physics, acceleration (symbol: a) is defined as the rate of change (or time derivative) of velocity. ...

The only quick way to stop a speedway bike is to pull a cut-off switch which is tied around the riders' wrists so if they come off the bike the engine will deactivate. The high compression ratio of the speedway engine also can assist in slowing down a machine if the throttle is closed the engine may also stop. Riders can stop the bike by deliberately laying down the bike on the track and this technique is used to avoid riders who fall in front of a pursuing colleague. Before cut outs were fitted an engine could be stopped by removing the plug lead from the sparking plug or shutting off the fuel supply. In an engine, the throttle is the mechanism by which the engines power is increased or decreased. ...

There is a fence on the outside in case a rider falls off which prevent rider and bike from crashing into the fans. In the Grands prix and British and Polish elite leagues inflated air-fences are mandatory and have saved lives and reduced injury significantly since their arrival. This article is about the country in Europe. ...

Speedway is presently most popular in Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and to a lesser extent these days Australia and New Zealand; there are also over a dozen tracks operating in the United States with sites in upstate New York, Indiana and California. There are also 3 tracks operating in Canada on a regular basis. Central Europe The Alpine Countries and the Visegrád Group (Political map, 2004) Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe. ... Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ...

Speedway is also raced on ice with specially adapted machines.

History

The first Speedway meeting, as reported in the Maitland Mercury newspaper on 17 December 1923, took place on 15 December 1923 at Maitland Showground in the Lower Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, though there is now much evidence to suggest that there were earlier meetings both in the USA and Australia. Indeed, broadsiding on small dirt tracks had been practised in America since before the First World War. A rider by the name of Don Johns was known to have done this before 1914. It was said that he would ride the entire race course wide open, throwing great showers of dirt into the air at each turn. His style of taking corners was followed in America by riders such as Albert 'Shrimp' Burns, Maldwyn Jones and Eddie Brinck well before 1923. The first meeting in the United Kingdom is generally acknowledged to have taken place at High Beech on 19 February 1928. There are, however, also claims to have held meetings in 1927 from Camberley in Surrey and Droylsden in Manchester. Despite being described as 'the first British Dirt Track meeting' at the time, the meeting at Camberley on 7 May 1927 differed in that the races were held in a clockwise direction. Races at Droylsden were held in an anti-clockwise direction and this meeting appears to have a strong claim to be the first Speedway meeting in the UK, but it is generally accepted that the sport properly arrived in the UK when Australians Billy Galloway and Keith McKay arrived with the intention of introducing Speedway to the Northern Hemisphere. Both featured in the 1928 High Beech meeting. It is probable however that the first speedway meeting in this country to feature bikes with no brakes and broadsiding round corners on loose dirt, probably the main tests of real speedway, was the second meeting held at High Beech on 9 April 1928, where Colin Watson, Alf Medcalf and 'Digger' Pugh demonstrated the art for the first time in Britain. December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “NSW” redirects here. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... [[Media:Italic text]]{| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... , Camberley is a town in Surrey, England, situated southwest of central London, in the corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways. ... This article is about the English county. ... Droylsden is a town within the Tameside borough of Greater Manchester, England. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Clockwise direction A clockwise motion is one that proceeds like the clocks hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top. ... A clockwise motion is one that proceeds like the clocks hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top. ... Northern hemisphere highlighted in yellow. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Col Stewart races his speedway motorcycle wearing a wooden helmet. Photo taken around 1930.

In the late 1920's, Australian Colin Stewart of Colac, Victoria won the prestigious Silver Gauntlet. He also achieved success at an international level, racing for Southampton in 1929 and captained the Glasgow in the Northern League in 1930 before moving to Wembley in 1931, for whom he rode in just four matches, averaging 4.00 per match. He also raced in the 1930 Scottish Championship which was won by Wembley's Harry Whitfield. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 525 pixelsFull resolution (1119 × 735 pixel, file size: 292 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo provided by Colins wife, Ida Stewart Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 525 pixelsFull resolution (1119 × 735 pixel, file size: 292 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo provided by Colins wife, Ida Stewart Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free... Colac is a town in the western district of Victoria, Australia, situated approximately 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne on the southern shore of Lake Colac. ... The Wembley Lions were a Speedway team which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1971. ... The Wembley Lions were a Speedway team which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1971. ...

The forerunner of the World Championship, the Star Riders' Championship, was inaugurated in Great Britain in 1929 but was split in to two sections as it was felt that the British riders were not yet the equal of the Australians and Americans. Frank Arthur won the Overseas Section and Roger Frogley the British. The following year, 1930, the two sections were amalgamated and Vic Huxley proved to be the winner. Huxley was probably the best rider of these early pioneer days. He won the Star Championship once and was runner-up three times. He was also the first British Match Race champion when that competition was started in 1931. Star Riders Championship The Star Riders Championship was the forerunner of the Speedway World Championship and was inaugurated in 1929. ... Roger Frogley was a Speedway rider from Britain, who rode mostly on the Crystal Palace team. ... Vic Huxley Victor Nelson Vic Huxley (born 23 September 1906 Brisbane, Australia)[1] was a Speedway who won the Star Riders Championship, the forerunner of the Speedway World Championship, in 1930 and finished runner-up in 1931 and 1932. ...

Speed in speedway

All 4 riders leaning into the first corner - note the elbows.

It takes about a minute to complete four laps, each 260 to 400 metres long. For example, Leigh Adams set a record time of 59 seconds on a 342-metre track, which gives the average speed of 83 km/h (49 mph). As the limited speed on curves lowers the average, one may assume that the speed on straight sections of the track reaches 110 km/h (70 mph), or more on longer tracks. That is all achieved on a motorcycle without a gearbox. Image File history File links Speedway_start_1. ... Image File history File links Speedway_start_1. ... Leigh Scott Adams (born April 28, 1971 in Mildura, Australia) - an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. ... For other uses, see Motorcycle (disambiguation). ...

At start, it takes between a second and two seconds for the motorcycle to reach the "curve speed" (somewhat lower than the average), which can be roughly estimated to be the equivalent of 2.5 to 3 seconds to reach 100 km/h (or "nought to sixty") The start of the race is an important aspect of the race overall, "gating" correctly can help a rider gain an initial advantage over other riders, however speed advantages can be made as a race progresses. Those riders willing to take a risk and opt for finding the grippy parts of the track rather than the race line, are sometimes rewarded with extra speed allowing them to pass other riders either on the outside or the inside. List of street legal cars available for sale to the public in any country, with acceleration times from 0-100 km/h or 0-60 mph of less than 4 seconds. ...

Rules

Tracks

Generic Speedway track layout

All tracks using for professional Speedway racing are regulated by the FIM who lay out the rules concerning construction, size and safety requirements.^[3] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 404 pixelsFull resolution (1003 × 506 pixel, file size: 19 KB, MIME type: image/png) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Motorcycle speedway ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 404 pixelsFull resolution (1003 × 506 pixel, file size: 19 KB, MIME type: image/png) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Motorcycle speedway ...

Stadion Polonii Bydgoszcz in Poland, a track using an air-fence

Tracks must be between 260 and 450 metres in length, this is measured at a distance of 1 metre from the inner boundary. Start lines must either be in the centre of a straight or no closer than 35 metres from a corner entrance. Additional rules govern the placement of warning systems such as lights and also the construction of the starting mechanism. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Polonia Stadium (pl. ...

The track itself must be made up of 4 layers of grading; the topmost of which must be of shale, granite, brick granules or other loose material of which no individual piece can be over 7 mm in size. The use of asphalt, concrete and tarmac for any layer is prohibited. Shale Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. ... For other uses, see granite (disambiguation). ... Asphalt As shown in this cross-section, many older roadways are smoothed by applying a thin layer of asphalt concrete to the existing portland cement concrete. ... This article is about the construction material. ... A close-up view of some freshly-laid tarmac. ...

The top layer must be levelled at intervals in each event to evenly re-distribute the surface, Tractors that have been modified to tow rakes are used for this. The track is also watered regularly during meetings to minimize the amount of dust lifted by motorcycles as they race.

Air-fence close-up

There is a minimum track width of 10 metres, but no maximum. The minimum width is to give each rider adequate space to safely navigate the track at all points. There is no stated maximum due to the potential for tracks to be used for other sports such as Speedway Sidecar racing. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 262 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Zezwolenie File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 262 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Zezwolenie File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

The start line and starting gate assembly is normally located halfway along one of the two straight sections of the track but some tracks have adopted alternative locations on the straight. Starting gates are usually simple mechanisms that raise two or three strands of tape to start the race. The FIM regulations also require licensed tracks to provide a garage/pit area for motorcycles as well as medical and press facilities.

Safety requirements include the use of suspended wire fences, air fences or wooden fences (for temporary tracks). The FIM recommends the use of air fences in venues if possible, these are now mandatory for tracks of teams competing in the British Elite League and Polish Ekstraliga. Neutral zones are also added for temporary tracks, giving safe run-off areas for riders without the potential to injure spectators. The Elite League is the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. ... The Speedway Ekstraliga (pl. ...

The majority of FIM licensed tracks are dedicated to Speedway or other sports such as Greyhound racing. For larger events, the FIM occasionally sanctions the use of stadiums that install temporary tracks such as the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and other Speedway Grand Prix venues. Several greyhounds before a race. ... The Millennium Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm y Mileniwm), is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital Cardiff, and is used primarily for rugby union and football home internationals. ... This article is about the capital city of Wales. ... Speedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. ...

Motorcycles

The sport of Speedway uses a unique type of motorcycle, governed by the FIM's "Track Racing Technical Rules".^[2]

A dirt deflector fitted to a Speedway motorcycle

Machines used must: Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 779 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Zezwolenie File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 779 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Zezwolenie File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

• Weigh greater than 77 kg
• Use a four-stroke single cylinder engine
• Have guards fitted over moving engine parts where reasonable
• Use an additional chain guard to prevent a hand or finger/s being cut by a chain
• Have a peg (Dutch Peg) fitted to prevent a broken chain flailing and injuring a rider or a fellow competitor
• Use shatter resistant plastics where reasonable
• Be fitted with a dirt deflector
• Be fuelled by methanol

Machines used cannot: A single cylinder engine, colloquially known as a one-lunger, is an engine configuration consisting of just one cylinder. ... Roller chain and sprocket Roller chain or bush roller chain is the type of chain most commonly used for transmission of mechanical power on bicycles, motorcycles, and in industrial and agricultural machinery. ... Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naptha or wood spirits, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH. It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, poisonous liquid with a distinctive odor that is somewhat milder and sweeter than ethanol (ethyl alcohol). ...

• Use a Supercharger in any form
• Be constructed in any part from Titanium
• Use uncoated ceramic parts
• Use telemetry during a race except for timing purposes
• Use any electronic components to control the engine
• Use brakes of any form

In addition all motorcycles must have a safety cut out device fitted, this is defined as a switch that "must cut off the circuit of the electrical supply by the simple action of pulling a lanyard or a non-elastic string (with a maximum length of 30 cm) attached to the rider's right wrist."^[2] A supercharger (also known as a blower) is an air compressor used to force more air (and hence more oxygen) into the combustion chamber(s) of an internal combustion engine than can be achieved at ambient atmospheric pressure (natural aspiration). ... General Name, symbol, number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 47. ... Telemetry is a technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of information of interest to the system designer or operator. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

As Speedway bikes do not use brakes, the clutch is used as a release mechanism for starts. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... For other uses, see Clutch (disambiguation). ...

Races

Riders preparing at the Start Line

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ...

Starting

Riders must be able to get their bikes to the start line under their own power (that is, without any external assistance and not by pushing the machine) and line up in parallel. The race is started with the raising or lowering of the tape depending on the individual mechanism used, riders then must proceed around the track in an anti-clockwise direction without both wheels illegally leaving the riding area. A clockwise motion is one that proceeds like the clocks hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top. ...

Two minute time allowance

A rider who is not at the start line within a reasonable period of time is also liable to be disqualified (League matches in Great Britain allow teams to elect to start the disqualified rider fifteen metres back from the tapes or replace the disqualified rider with a team reserve).

This period of time is standardised to two minutes from a time determined by the match referee and usually indicated by a flashing or rotating orange lamp or a digital clock readout. All riders must be at the tapes under their own power before the two minutes have elapsed. Additional time between races will be allowed by, and at the discretion of, the referee if a rider has two consecutive rides, to allow the rider time to prepare.

Tapes infringements

A starting gate consisting of two or more tapes is erected across the start line, riders must situate themselves not more than 10 cm from this and not touch it at any time. These are collectively known as Tape infringements and can result in a false start being recorded and the rider disqualified (League matches in Great Britain allow teams to elect to start the disqualified rider fifteen metres back from the tapes or replace the disqualified rider with a team reserve). This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Track boundaries

Marked by white lines or barriers on the inside and outside of the track, any rider who crosses this boundary with both wheels will be disqualified unless they only did so in the interest of safety or were forced to by another competitor.

Outside assistance

Once a race is underway, no rider can receive outside assistance (including push-starts) from others. Historically, pushers were allowed at the start of the race. A white line at the 30 metre mark used to designate the extent to which a push was allowed; due to safety concerns, assistance is now illegal. Bump starting also known as push starting is the process of starting an internal combustion engine - typically in a motor vehicle - with out the use of the starter motor. ...

The winner is the rider that completes all of the required laps first.

Scoring

Speedway operates a sliding scale for scoring (known as the 3-2-1-0 method), with points awarded to all but the final placed competitor. These points accumulate over the competition, with riders points either counting towards individual or team placings. In the event of a tie, another heat is run between those on level points. Teams can now use the TS (Tactical Substitute) rule once only for each team in the meeting if that team is 8 or more points in arrears and that rider is denoted by a Black/White helmet colour as against the 4 normal coloured helmets (Red and Blue denote home team riders whilst Green and Yellow colours denote visiting riders). If that rider remains unbeaten by either opposition rider his scored points are doubled (ie 3 = 6, 2 = 4 or 1 = 2) and also count towards the rider's C.M.A.

The sport also produces Calculated Match Averages (CMAs or averages) for every rider, these are calculated from the following:

CMAs scale from 3.00 to 12.00, any rider scoring above or below these values will be awarded the maximum. These averages are used in leagues such as the British Elite League to identify heat-leaders for the purposes of choosing which riders to enter for each race. The Elite League is the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. ...

At the start of a season, a rider retains their last recorded CMA (or assessed CMA if they have never previously established one) until they have competed in six home and six away matches. A new CMA is then issued that comes into effect seven days later. These are subsequently updated on the 15th of every month from May onwards, and come into effect on the 1st of the next month.

These CMA's are used in most professional leagues and are altered or weighted depending on the league the rider gained the CMA in. A rider that has no recorded average will receive an indicative CMA for the start of the season that is assessed on their prior experience in the sport.

Competitions

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ... The Union Européenne de Motocyclisme (UEM) or European Motorcycle Union is the FIM affiliated federation responsible for Motorcycle sport within Europe. ... The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. ... Speedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. ... Current World Champion Emil Saifutdinov (photo 2006). ... UEM logo The Individual Speedway European Championship is an annual speedway event held each year organized by the European Motorcycle Union (UEM) since 2001. ... UEM logo The Individual Speedway Junior European Championship (also referred to as the Speedway European Under 19 Championship) is an annual speedway event held each year organized by the European Motorcycle Union (UEM) since 1998. ... The Speedway World Pairs Championship was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. ... The European Pairs Speedway Championship is an annual speedway event held each year in different countries organized by the European Motorcycle Union (UEM) since 2004. ... The Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. ... The Speedway World Cup is an annual motorcycle speedway event held each year in different countries. ... The Team Speedway Junior World Championship is an annual speedway event held each year in different countries (U-21). ...

World Championship

Main articles: Speedway World Championship, Speedway World Cup, Speedway World Team Cup, and Speedway World Pairs Championship

An international individual speedway championship has taken various forms since its beginnings in the 1930s. The present FIM Speedway Grand Prix championship organised by Speedway Grand Prix (IMG since 2007) has taken place since 1995. SGP uses a different scoring system, based on overall final position. The rider who has gained the most points at the end of the tournament is declared the World Champion. Nicki Pedersen (Denmark) has just won his second World Championship, the first coming in 2003 (2007). The annual British Grand Prix is currently held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. ... The Speedway World Cup is an annual motorcycle speedway event held each year in different countries. ... The Speedway World Team Cup was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. ... The Speedway World Pairs Championship was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. ... Speedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. ... The abbreviation IMG has several different meanings: IMG, a leading talent agency originally known as the International Management Group A political organisation: International Marxist Group An International Medical Graduate Abbreviation for image Internet Media Guide: an evolving IETF standard . ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. ... Nicki Pedersen (born 2 April 1977 in Odense, Denmark) is a Danish motorcycle speedway rider. ... The Millennium Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm y Mileniwm), is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital Cardiff, and is used primarily for rugby union and football home internationals. ... This article is about the capital city of Wales. ...

A speedway racer is waiting for his 3 opponents

Scoring in GP events changed 2005 with riders scoring 3-2-1-0 in their races and these points being carried forward to decide the winner of each GP. At the end of the series the highest scorer will become the world champion. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

World Speedway Champions include Ivan Mauger (6-time World Champion), Ove Fundin (5-time world champion), Lionel Van Praag (Inaugural World Champion in 1936), Hans Nielsen (nicknamed "The Professor", 4-times World Champion), Tony Rickardsson (6-time World Champion), Jason Crump, and Nicki Pedersen, the 2007 World Champion. The last British World Champion, in long line which includes Tommy Price, Freddie Williams (2 times), Peter Craven (2 times), Peter Collins, Michael Lee and Gary Havelock, was Mark Loram in 2000. Ivan Mauger, OBE, MBE , (born 4 October 1939 in Christchurch, New Zealand ) is a Motorcycle speedway rider. ... Ove Fundin was born in Tranas, Sweden in 1933. ... Lionel Maurice Van Praag, GM (17 December 1908 – 1987) was an Australian motorcycle speedway champion, who won the inaugural Speedway World Championship in London on 10 September 1936. ... Hans Nielsen (born 26 December 1959) in Brørup, Denmark was a prominent Speedway rider active from the 1970s to the late 1990s. ... Tony Rickardsson Tony Rickardsson is a retired Swedish motorcycle speedway rider, born on 17 August 1970 in Avesta in Dalarna County. ... Jason Crump Jason Crump (born 6 August 1975 in Bristol, England) is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. ... Nicki Pedersen (born 2 April 1977 in Odense, Denmark) is a Danish motorcycle speedway rider. ... Mark LORAM The Speedway World Champion in 2000, Mark competed in the Speedway Grand Prix Series from its start in 1995 until he missed out in 2003. ...

The Speedway World Cup event is also held each year, featuring teams from the major speedway countries, usually in a series of meetings over the space of a week in the summer. The current Champions are Poland (2007). The Speedway World Cup is an annual motorcycle speedway event held each year in different countries. ...

The Speedway World Pairs Championship was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. Competing countries picked their top two riders to represent them. The first competition was held in 1970 and the final competition was held in 1993. From 1994 it was merged with the World Team Cup. The Speedway World Pairs Championship was an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. ...

Domestic events

See also: Speedway in the United Kingdom

Most European countries run their own domestic speedway leagues. A team speedway meeting usually features 15 heats but in a team oriented format, and each rider is scheduled to ride 4 or 5 times. In team races, there is a set order that riders will race in, although after the first 5 races, these orders are regularly adjusted. There are currently 3 levels of competition in the United Kingdom (Elite League, Premier League and Conference League) and Poland (Ekstraliga, Pierwsza Liga, Druga Liga). There are 2 leagues in Sweden. Poland is reputed to have the strongest league in the world, especially after lifting the limitation of number of foreign riders allowed per team. The sport of Speedway in the United Kingdom has changed little since the first meetings in the 1920s. ... The Elite League is the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. ... The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom, the Elite League is the highest attainable. ... The Conference League is the lower division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. ...

Team races use traditional scoring (3-2-1-0), except in a 5-team event, where it is 4 for first and one point less for every place afterwards. In addition, a tactical rider - a substitute - is allowed for teams trailing by a certain margin to use. Or (in British speedway only) --a rider's score is doubled when nominated as a tactical ride. However, they have to beat an opponent to have their score doubled. You have to be 10 points behind to use a tactical ride although if 8 points behind you may use a tactical substitute where a chosen rider starts 15 m back.

Poland

See also: Speedway in Poland

Tomasz Gollob - the most popular Polish speedway rider.

Speedway is one of the most popular sports in Poland. The Polish Extraleague has the highest average attendances for any sport in Poland. The first speedway meetings in Poland were held in the 1930's.^[4] Speedway is one of the most popular sports in Poland. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Tomasz Gollob in Bydgoszcz, 2006 Tomasz Gollob (born April 11, 1971 in Bydgoszcz, Poland) - a Polish motorcycle speedway rider who most recently took part in the 2006 Speedway Grand Prix season. ... The Speedway Ekstraliga (pl. ... The table below lists domestic professional sports leagues from around the world by total attendances for the last completed season for which data is available. ...

Speedway in Poland is governed by the Main Commission for Speedway Sport (Główna Komisja Sportu Żużlowego, GKSŻ) which is a part of the Polish Motor Union (Polski Związek Motorowy, PZM). PZM is a member of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and the Union Européenne de Motocyclisme (UEM). PZM logo. ... The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ... The Union Européenne de Motocyclisme (UEM) or European Motorcycle Union is the FIM affiliated federation responsible for Motorcycle sport within Europe. ...

There are three championships in Poland: individual (IMP), pairs (MPPK) and team (DMP, three leagues). The Junior U-21 championships also has three championships: individual (MIMP), pairs (MMPPK) and team (MDMP). There are three leagues: Speedway Extraleague, First League and Second League. In the 2007 season, the Extraleague and First League have eight teams competing. The second League has seven teams. GKSŻ organizes the Golden Helmet, Silver Helmet (U-21) and Bronze Helmet (U-19) competitions.

The individual meetings are most popular in Poland, for example: Criterium of Polish Speedway League Aces - Mieczysław Połukard Memorial, Alfred Smoczyk Memorial and Edward Jancarz Memorial.

The Polish National team are the current World Champions. Poland has produced one Individual World Champion - Jerzy Szczakiel who won in 1973. Polish junior riders are among the best in the world. The Polish National junior team won the Under 21 World Championship in 2005 and 2006. Besides, since 2003 Polish juniors won Under 21 Individual World Championship. Polish riders have been World Champions seven times at Under 21 level. The 2007 Speedway World Cup (SWC). ... The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. ... Jerzy Szczakiel (born 29 January 1949, Grudzicach, Poland ) is a Speedway rider. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... The Team Speedway Junior World Championship is an annual speedway event held each year in different countries (U-21). ... The Team Speedway Junior World Championship is an annual speedway event held each year in different countries (U-21). ... The 2006 Team Speedway Junior World Championship. ... Current World Champion Emil Saifutdinov (photo 2006). ...

Poland hosts the Speedway Grand Prix of Poland in the Polonia Bydgoszcz Stadium and the Speedway Grand Prix of Europe in the Olimpic Stadium in Wrocław. The Speedway Grand Prix of Poland is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series. ... Polonia Stadium (pl. ... The Speedway Grand Prix of Europe is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series. ... Olympic Stadium in WrocÅ‚aw (Polish: ) is a multi-use stadium in WrocÅ‚aw, Poland. ...

Sweden

League competitions

There are three leagues in Sweden:

• Elite League (Elitserien)
• National League (Allsvenskan)
• Division One

Speedway meetings in Sweden are normally held between May and September. Swedish teams are generally known by nicknames rather than club or city names. These nicknames usually have some sort of local connection.^[5] Elitserien (literally, The Elite League) is the highest league in the league system of Swedish speedway and comprises the top 10 Swedish speedway teams. ...

The Elite League was established in 1982 and has ten teams with meetings usually held on Tuesday evenings. At the end of each season the top four teams ride in the Play Offs in semi-finals and a final. The winner of the final are the Elite League champions. The team finishing bottom are relegated to the National league.

The National league has seven teams and before the introduction of the Elite league in 1982 was the top flight speedway league in Sweden. Meetings are held usually on Thursday evenings. As with the National league, the top four teams at the end of each season ride in the Play Offs in semi-finals and a final. The winner of the final are the National League champions and are promoted to the National league.

Division One is the third tier of Swedish speedway with seven teams. Meetings are usually held on Thursdays. The team finishing the seasn in first place can apply for promotion to the National league, which is subject to having suitable facilities and sufficient finances. No teams are relegated as membership of the league is by application.

Other competitions

Swedish Individual Championship This competition is for Swedish riders only. The riders are usually selected on the basis of their averages, with four riders being seeded directly to the Final. Another 36 riders are drawn into two Semi-finals, with the four lowest ranked riders in each competing in the pre-meeting runoffs. The top nine riders in each Semi-final progress to the Final which is run using a modified Grand Prix format. The winner of the Final is awarded a gold medal and becomes the Swedish Individual Champion. Riders finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals.

Swedish Pairs Championship

Swedish Junior Individual Championship This competition is for Swedish riders under 21 years of age. 36 riders are drawn into two Semi-Finals, with the four lowest-ranked riders in each competing in the pre-meeting runoffs. The top seven riders in each Semi-Final progress to the Final, with the next two riders qualifying for the pre-meeting runoff. The winner of the Final is awarded a gold medal and becomes Swedish Junior Individual Champion. Riders finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively.

See also

• List of speedway teams in Sweden
• Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden in Eskilstuna
• Speedway Grand Prix of Scandinavia in Målilla

This is a list of speedway teams in Sweden. ... The Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series. ... Eskilstuna River and Gamla Stan (Old Town) Klosters church of Eskilstuna. ... The Speedway Grand Prix of Scandinavia is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series. ... Målilla is a small town in Småland, Sweden. ...

Italy

Introduced to Italy by occupying soldiers after World War II, the sport of Speedway currently centres around the north-east of the country. The regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Lombardy and Veneto host race meetings with the latter also hosting the Speedway Grand Prix of Italy in the city of Lonigo. The most representative speedway rider from Italy is Armando Castagna, currently retired from active competition. Castagna was the only Italian professional speedway rider in the history of the sport, and qualified five times for an Individual World Final. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Trentino-Alto Adige or Trentino-South Tyrol (in German: Trentino-Südtirol, in Italian: Trentino-Alto Adige) is an autonomous region in northern Italy. ... For the village of the same name in Ontario, Canada, see Lombardy, Ontario. ... Veneto or Venetia, is one of the 20 regions of Italy. ... The Speedway Grand Prix of Italy is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series. ... Lonigo is a town in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. ...

Denmark

Speedway in Denmark is administrated by the Danmarks Motor Union (DMU). The sport was introduced into Denmark in the 1970s. Notable Danish speedway riders include - Nicki Pedersen, Bjarne Pedersen and Hans Nørgaard Andersen. Former rider, Ole Olsen won the World Championship four times. His victories greatly helped popularise the sport in Denmark. Olsen is currently a FIM Speedway Grand Prix race director. Nicki Pedersen (born 2 April 1977 in Odense, Denmark) is a Danish motorcycle speedway rider. ... Bjarne Pedersen (born 12 July 1978 in Holstebro, Denmark) is a Danish motorcycle speedway rider who most recently took part in the 2006 Speedway Grand Prix season. ... Hans Nørgaard Andersen (born 3 November 1980 in Odense, Denmark)[1] is a Danish motorcycle speedway rider who was part of the Denmark speedway team that won the Speedway World Cup in 2006. ... Ole Olsen (born 1946) is a former Danish motorcycle speedway rider. ... The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ... Speedway Grand Prix are a series of stand-alone speedway events over the course of a season used to determine the Speedway World Champion. ...

League competitions

There are three leagues in Denmark.:

• Danish League (Dansk Speedway Liga)
• Division One
• Division Two

Speedway meetings in Denmark are normally held between April and September.^[6]

Danish League (Dansk Speedway Liga) has six teams with meetings usually held on Wednesday evenings. At the end of each season the top four teams ride in the Play Offs in semi-finals and a final. The winner of the final are the Elite League champions. There is no promotion or relegation in Danish speedway. Membership of the Danish League is by application only.^[6]

At the end of each season the top five teams in the Danish League compete in the Danish Super Cup'; an end-of-season competition, held as a single event. It is hosted by the winning team from the previous season.

Both Division One and Division Two are the second and third tier and are mostly for amateur riders. Meetings are usually held on Saturdays with a mid summer break. Division One can have a maximum of eight teams, with the remaining teams riding in Division Two. Meetings are staged using a four-team format. In principle, the team finishing bottom of Division One is relegated and replaced by the top team in Division Two as long as their parent club does not already have a team in Division One. However, this does not always happen for financial or other reasons. There is also no promotion and relegation if the bottom team in Division One and the top team in Division Two are from the same club.^[6]

Other competitions

Danish Individual Championship This competition is for riders holding a Danish passport and a valid DMU licence. Riders must submit their entries at least four weeks before the first meeting of the competition.

Any riders who competed in the Speedway Grand Prix or World Championship Qualifying rounds during the previous season are seeded directly to the Final. The DMU may also seed other riders directly to the Final at their discretion. Either one or two Semi-Finals are staged depending on the number of riders entering the competition (excluding the seeded riders who go straight through to the Final). Riders are selected for these rounds according to the previous season's Danish averages.If one Semi-Final is held, the highest-placed riders (plus two reserves) qualify the Final. If two Semi-Finals are held, the highest-placed riders (plus one reserve) from each meeting qualify for the Final.

The winner of the Final is awarded a gold medal and declared Danish Individual Champion. The riders finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively. The final classification also determines which riders qualify for the World Individual Speedway Championship.

Danish Junior Individual Championship This competition is for riders holding a Danish passport, a valid DMU licence, and who are under 21 years of age on 1 January in the year of the competition. Riders wishing to compete must submit their entries at least four weeks before the first meeting of the competition. If there are 72 or more entries, four Quarter-Finals are staged. If there are at between 54 and 71 entries, three Quarter-Finals are staged. If there are less than 54 entries, two Semi-Finals are held. Riders are selected for these rounds according to the previous season's averages in Danish matches only. is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

When four Quarter-Finals are staged, the top eight riders (plus one reserve) in each progress to the Semi-Finals. When three Quarter-Finals are staged, the top ten riders (plus two reserves) from one round, and the top eleven riders (plus one reserve) from each of the other rounds, progress to the Semi-Finals. The top eight riders (plus one reserve) from each Semi-Final meet in the Final.

The winner of the Final is awarded a gold medal and declared Danish Junior Individual Champion. Riders finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively. The top five finishers qualify for the World Junior Speedway Championship.

There is a great depth of league speedway for all ages in Denmark. The Youth Leagues are for riders between 8 and 18 years of age. 80cc bikes are used. The Micro Leagues are for riders between three and ten years of age. 50cc bikes are used. And the Old Boys League is for riders over 33 years of age.

National team

Denmark entered a team into the Speedway World Cup, winning in 2006 The 2006 Speedway World Cup (SWC). ...

See also

• Speedway Grand Prix of Denmark held in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen

The Speedway Grand Prix of Denmark is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series. ... Parken Stadium (English: the Park) is a football stadium in the Indre Østerbro (Inner Østerbro) district of Copenhagen, Denmark, built from 1990-1992. ... For other uses, see Copenhagen (disambiguation). ...

Germany

Stadion Haunstetten, a Sandbahn track

Speedway in Germany is overshadowed by its more popular track racing variant Sandbahn (Longtrack). However, the country hosts the Speedway Grand Prix of Germany in the Veltins-Arena and has produced one Speedway World Champion - Egon Mueller who won in 1983. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 183 pixelsFull resolution (6702 × 1535 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 183 pixelsFull resolution (6702 × 1535 pixel, file size: 1. ... Track racing is a motorcycle sport where teams or individuals race opponents around an oval track. ... The Speedway Grand Prix of Germany is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series. ... Veltins Arena during a Pur concert. ...

Notes

1. ^ Appendix 070: General Rules for Track Racing. Track Racing Appendices page 5. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Track Racing Technical Rules. Track Racing Appendices. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
3. ^ Standards for Track Racing Circuits (STRC). Track Racing Appendices. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
4. ^ What is the history of Polish speedway?
5. ^ What are the main competitions held in Sweden?
6. ^ ^{a b c} What are the main competitions held in Denmark?

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Speedway

• Track racing
• Grasstrack
• Auto Race
• Dirt track racing
• Ice speedway

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Track racing is a motorcycle sport where teams or individuals race opponents around an oval track. ... Motorcycle Grasstrack racing takes place on a flat oval track usually constructed in a field. ... Auto racing (also known as automobile racing or autosport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. ... Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. ... Ice racing, with cars, motorcycles or snowmobiles, takes place on frozen lakes or rivers, or on carefully groomed frozen lots. ...

External links

• Speedway in Australia from Motorcycling Australia
• Speedway New Zealand - Association website
• Historic Speedway New Zealand website
• Speedway in Germany

Motorcycling Australia is the governing body for motorcycle racing in Australia, covering road racing, motocross, trials, supercross, dirt track, supermoto and speedway. ...