FIM SPEEDWAY: MADSEN’S CHALLENGE CALL-UP

Danish racer Leon Madsen will have five rides to punch his ticket for the 2026 FIM Speedway Grand Prix series after being named as wild card for the FIM SGP Challenge in Holsted on August 9.

As host nation, Denmark was granted a wild card for the final round of the SGP qualifiers, which sees the top four riders book their places in next season’s Speedway GP World Championship.

Madsen missed out on a spot in this season’s series, being forced to make do with the first substitute role for this term.

He has made one appearance so far, finishing third at the FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague on May 31.

Madsen is determined to feature much more regularly on the sport’s biggest stage in 2026. He said: “I’m happy to get the opportunity to race in the Challenge in Holsted. It’s going to be a big night, and I’m coming with one thing in mind – to qualify for the Grand Prix series.

“My goal is clear. I want to return to the world’s elite. I have proved that I still belong there, not least with the podium place in Prague earlier this year.”

Madsen joins Speedway GP star Anders Thomsen, local hero Rasmus Jensen and the in-form Michael Jepsen Jensen in representing Denmark in the Challenge, where SGP regulars Martin Vaculik, Andzejs Lebedevs, Jan Kvech, Kai Huckenbeck, Jack Holder and Dominik Kubera will also bid to defend their spots in the series.

Danish duo Benjamin Basso and Mikkel Andersen have been named as track reserves for the event.

FIM SGP CHALLENGE LINE-UP: Anders Thomsen (Denmark), Matej Zagar (Slovenia), Kacper Woryna (Poland), Martin Vaculik (Slovakia), Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia), Mateusz Cierniak (Poland), Francis Gusts (Latvia), Rasmus Jensen (Denmark), Jan Kvech (Czechia), Kevin Wolbert (Germany), Kai Huckenbeck (Germany), Michael Jepsen Jensen (Denmark), Jack Holder (Australia), Dominik Kubera (Poland), Erik Riss (Germany), Leon Madsen (Denmark). TRACK RESERVES: Benjamin Basso (Denmark), Mikkel Andersen (Denmark).