The starting line-ups for the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup have been revealed.
Defending champions Poland are seeded straight through to the Monster Energy SWC Final in Leszno on July 8 as hosts.
They track all four of their FIM Speedway Grand Prix stars – World Championship contender Patryk Dudek, world No.3 Bartosz Zmarzlik, Leszno home hero Piotr Pawlicki and Saturday’s Kjærgaard Danish SGP winner Maciej Janowski, who captains the team.
For the first time, team managers have the option to call on an under-21 reserve, who can replace any of the four seniors at any time for any reason. Leszno reserve Bartosz Smektala is Poland’s pick for the No.5 position.
The Monster Energy SWC gets underway with Event 1 at King’s Lynn this Saturday, where Great Britain face old rivals Australia, the Czech Republic and the USA.
The Lions are captained by new British champion and Adrian Flux British SGP wild card Craig Cook, with King’s Lynn icon Robert Lambert also selected. Former SGP star Chris Harris and British Championship runner-up Steve Worrall complete the quartet, with Adam Ellis named as reserve.
Australia’s World Championship leader Jason Doyle is selected just 24 hours after riding through the agony of a broken foot to reach the Kjærgaard Danish SGP final in Horsens.
He is joined by 2012 world champion Chris Holder, his King’s Lynn team mate Troy Batchelor and the in-form Nick Morris, with World Under-21 champion Max Fricke named as No.5.
The Czech challenge is spearheaded by Mitas Czech SGP bronze medallist and national hero Vaclav Milik. He joins forces with Josef Franc, Matej Kus and Hynek Stichauer, with Eduard Krcmar the reserve.
USA boss Lance King selects a young side, led by skipper Ricky Wells. He teams up with Gino Manzares, Luke Becker, Dillon Ruml and reserve Broc Nicol.
The action then moves to Vastervik, Sweden for Event 2 on July 4, where the hosts face Denmark, Russia and qualification round winners Latvia.
The Swedes are skippered by in-form Fredrik Lindgren, with his SGP rival Antonio Lindback joining him on the team sheet. Former world No.2 Andreas Jonsson and Linus Sundstrom complete the senior four, with Joel Kling named as No.5.
Danish champion Niels-Kristian Iversen skippers his side as they cross the border to tackle their neighbours, with GP Challenge qualifier Leon Madsen, Horsens wild card Kenneth Bjerre and former World Under-21 champion Michael Jepsen Jensen joining him. The Danes name Frederik Jakobsen as their under-21 pick.
Russian rocket Emil Sayfutdinov leads his country’s challenge along with Grigorii Laguta. Vadim Tarasenko and Andrei Kudriashov team up with them, with Gleb Chugunov their No.5.
The Latvians, who defeated France, Germany and Italy in Riga today to secure their spot in Vastervik, are led by Andzejs Lebedevs, who stormed to a maximum in the qualifier.
Rietumu Bank Latvian SGP wild card Maksims Bogdanovs, Kasts Puodzuks and Jevgenijs Kostigovs also keep their places after impressing in the qualifier, but no under-21 rider is selected.
The winners of Events 1 and 2 join Poland in the Monster Energy SWC Final, with the second and third-placed teams advancing to the Race Off, also in Leszno, on July 7.
Tickets for the Monster Energy SWC rounds are still available online. For more details and to book, visit: http://bit.ly/2rC2s2p.
MONSTER ENERGY SWC TEAMS
EVENT 1: KING’S LYNN, GREAT BRITAIN – JULY 1 Czech Republic (Red): 1 Matej Kus, 2 Vaclav Milik ©, 3 Josef Franc, 4 Hynek Stichauer, 5 Eduard Krcmar (U21).
USA (Blue): 1 Ricky Wells ©, 2 Gino Manzares, 3 Luke Becker, 4 Dillon Ruml, 5 Broc Nicol (U21).
Australia (White): 1 Jason Doyle, 2 Chris Holder ©, 3 Nick Morris, 4 Troy Batchelor, 5 Max Fricke (U21).
Great Britain (Yellow): 1 Steve Worrall, 2 Craig Cook ©, 3 Chris Harris, 4 Robert Lambert, 5 Adam Ellis (U21).
EVENT 2: VASTERVIK, SWEDEN – JULY 4 Sweden (Red): 1 Fredrik Lindgren ©, 2 Antonio Lindback, 3 Andreas Jonsson, 4 Linus Sundstrom, 5 Joel Kling (U21).
Latvia (Blue): 1 Andzejs Lebedevs ©, 2 Maksims Bogdanovs, 3 Jevgenijs Kostigovs, 4 Kasts Puodzuks, 5 No Rider (U21).
Denmark (White): 1 Kenneth Bjerre, 2 Leon Madsen, 3 Michael Jepsen Jensen, 4 Niels-Kristian Iversen ©, 5 Frederik Jakobsen (U21).
Russia (Yellow): 1 Emil Sayfutdinov ©, 2 Grigorii Laguta, 3 Vadim Tarasenko, 4 Andrei Kudriashov, 5 Gleb Chugunov (U21).
RACE OFF: LESZNO, POLAND – JULY 7 RUNNER-UP EVENT 1
THIRD EVENT 1
RUNNER-UP EVENT 2
THIRD EVENT 2
FINAL: LESZNO, POLAND – JULY 8 Poland: 1 Patryk Dudek, 2 Maciej Janowski ©, 3 Piotr Pawlicki, 4 Bartosz Zmarzlik, 5 Bartosz Smektala (U21).
WINNER EVENT 1
WINNER EVENT 2
WINNER RACE OFF