FIM SPEEDWAY: THE 2026 SGP2 WILD CARDS CONFIRMED
The starting line-up for the 2026 FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship (SGP2) series has been revealed as Sweden’s Rasmus Karlsson, Slovenia’s Sven Cerjak and USA’s Slater Lightcap all receive permanent wild cards.
Riders from eight different countries will compete in the three-round SGP2 series, which launches with the BST FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla on Friday, July 10 – the night before the Skrotfrag Arena hosts its 20th Speedway GP event on Saturday, July 11. This will be followed by the FIM SGP2 of Poland – Lodz on Friday, July 31 and the Deluxe Homeart FIM SGP2 of Denmark – Vojens on Friday, September 11
Former SGP3 250cc World Champion Karlsson, a graduate of Swedish club Indianerna, joins the series line-up for the first time after finishing on 11 points – just one point short of qualification at Czech track Pardubice last Saturday.
Cerjak raced to second place at the 2025 FIM SGP3 Final – Prague, bringing an army of fans – all dressed in orange – from his home club in Krsko to the Marketa Stadium to celebrate his silver success. This is his first full season on a 500cc bike and Cerjak is rated as his country’s next big prospect. He scored 10 points at his qualifier in Krsko – leaving him just a point short of qualification.
Lightcap finally gets his chance in SGP2 after serving as first substitute rider for the 2024 series. He appeared at the final round in Torun scoring one championship point, but the American will be determined to better that after falling just two points short of qualification and impressing at the round in Fjelsted, Denmark last Saturday.
The top four riders in each of last Saturday’s SGP2 qualifiers in Pardubice, Krsko and Fjelsted automatically take their place in the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship.
Poland has four representatives in the field, including 2024 SGP2 champion and last year’s runner-up Wiktor Przyjemski, who won the Pardubice qualifier. He is joined by 2025 SGP2 stars Kevin Malkiewicz and Antoni Mencel, plus SGP2 debutant Maksymilian Pawelczak – winner of the 2024 SGP3 world title and Saturday’s Krsko qualifier.
Denmark is represented by 2025 SGP2 bronze medallist Mikkel Andersen, winner of the Fjelsted qualifier, plus William Drejer, Villads Nagel and Nicolai Heiselberg – all riders who have previously been full SGP2 series members.
Australia tracks two riders in 2025 SGP2 star Mitch McDiarmid and debutant Beau Bailey, who won SGP3 silver in 2024 and bronze in 2025.
The British challenge is carried by Belle Vue, Poole and Zielona Gora talent Will Cairns, a 2024 SGP3 bronze medallist, while Czech sensation Adam Bubba Bednar bids to better the fourth place he achieved in the 2025 SGP2 series.
Four substitute riders have also been named for SGP2, with Germany’s 2026 FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 bronze medallist Jan Konzack named as first reserve – meaning he will be the first rider called up if an SGP2 regular is forced out of a round due to injury, illness or other reasons. Australian racer Tate Zischke is second on the list, with Great Britain’s Luke Killeen third and Germany’s 2025 SON2 gold medallist Mario Hausl fourth in line for a call-up.
2026 FIM SPEEDWAY UNDER-21 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (SGP2) SERIES LINE-UP (in ranking order with rider numbers):
505. Wiktor Przyjemski (Poland)
97. Mikkel Andersen (Denmark)
121. Maksymilian Pawelczak (Poland)
802. Kevin Malkiewicz (Poland)
108. Villads Nagel (Denmark)
545. William Drejer (Denmark)
145. Will Cairns (Great Britain)
79. Adam Bubba Bednar (Czech Republic)
305. Antoni Mencel (Poland)
27. Mitch McDiarmid (Australia)
173. Beau Bailey (Australia)
63. Nicolai Heiselberg (Denmark)
99. Rasmus Karlsson (Sweden)
138. Sven Cerjak (Slovenia)
28. Slater Lightcap (USA)
SGP2 SUBSTITUTES
911. Janek Konzack (Germany)
131. Tate Zischke (Australia)
54. Luke Killeen (Great Britain)
271. Mario Hausl (Germany)
