Pressemitteilung

1st Round
Speedway European Championships
GDANSK (POLAND)
July 27th 2013
18:30 CET
MEDIA INFO
SEC GIRLS - from the left: Dorota,Sandra, Agata, Magda
The Individual Speedway European Championship is getting a big revamp this
year. Instead of a one-day final, the best speedway riders of the Old Continent will
compete for the title, the medals and the prize money in a series of four final
tournaments - in Gdansk, Togliatti, Gorican and Rzeszow. And all this can be
followed live on Eurosport TV.
Polish company One Sport is the organizer of the Speedway European
Championship and they have invited Tomasz Gollob, Nicki Pedersen, Andreas
Jonsson, Emil Sajfutdinow and Aleš Dryml to this tournament. The Pole, Dane,
Swede, Russian and Czech are all permanent starters in the inaugural season of the
revamped Individual European Championship. Nine riders who went through
qualification rounds have joined these five.
Qualification for the tournament takes place in the same season as the final
rounds, so it is guaranteed that the best riders of the year will compete for the title
of European Champion.
In the past some riders have experienced a slump in form after a great year, and
have struggled to live up to expectations. Such cases will be eliminated in the SEC
by way of the same-year qualification system. The decisive phase of eliminations –
the Challenge- took place on 6th July at arnovica in Slovakia.
Andreas Jonsson had to withdraw from the competition due to injury and has been
replaced by fellow Swede, Fredrik Lindgren.
Each final tournament will have 22 races. After the first round of the competition 20 heats in which everyone races everyone – the two best riders will go directly
to the Final.
Riders placed third to sixth will go in a last chance heat for the last two places in
the final. The winner and runner up from the “last chance” will complete the 4
finalists.
Points from “last chance” heat will not count towards general classification, unlike
the points from the final. The winner of the final will get an additional three points,
second place - two points and third place - one point. If a rider wins every race of
the tournament, he can collect a maximum of 18 points, which will be included in
the general classification. The rider with the highest number of points after four
final rounds will be the winner of the Individual European Champion title.
SEC CALENDAR 2013:
27th July 2013 - I final round, Gda sk (Poland)
10th August 2013 - II final round, Togliatti (Russia)
14th September - III final round, Gorican (Croatia)
29th September - IV final round, Rzeszów (Poland)
PRIZES
Purse for each round is 66.000 EUR
All riders are starting on the same financial conditions. Their prize depends on
the points scored in heats 1-20 and Final (heat 22), based on the following
rules:
− 450 EUR starting fee
− 450 EUR / paid per point
− 650 EUR / paid per point in the FINAL
* points in the 'last chance heat' are not paid and they are not counted in SEC
General classification
* maximum earning is 10.500 EUR per event
THE RIDERS
Permanent starting numbers for SEC 2013 are as follow:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Ales Dryml (Czech Rep)
Tomasz Gollob (Poland)
Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden)
Nicki Pedersen (Denmark)
Emil Sayfutdinov (Russia)
Jurica Pavlic (Croatia)
Roman Povazhny (Russia)
Grigorij Laguta (Russia)
Martin Vaculik (Slovakia)
Andriej Karpov (Ukraine)
Maciej Janowski (Poland)
Hans Andersen (Denmark)
Sebastian Ulamek (Poland)
Kjastas Poudzuks (Latvia)
Tai Woffinden (Great Britain)
Local - Wild Card
2012 European Champion
Permanent WILD CARD
Permanent WILD CARD
Permanent WILD CARD
Permanent WILD CARD
Zarnovica Challenge – 1st place
Zarnovica Challenge – 2nd place
Zarnovica Challenge – 3rd place
Zarnovica Challenge – 4th place
Zarnovica Challenge – 5th place
Zarnovica Challenge – 6th place
Zarnovica Challenge – 7th place
Zarnovica Challenge – 8th place
Zarnovica Challenge – 9th place
Permanent WILD CARD
SEC 2013 reserve riders
Reserve 1 – Leon Madsen (Denmark)
Reserve 2 – Robert Miskowiak (Poland)
Reserve 3 – Nicolas Covatti (Italy)
Quotes regarding SEC:
Krzysztof wiergiel (managing director of Eurosport Poland): We believe in this
sport and we believe that it's worth showing on Eurosport. Our station reaches
131 millions households. We also give the organizers our multimedia platform.
We're a big company and we want to support the organizers of the Individual
European Championships and become an important partner of this sport.
Karol Lejman (One Sport representative): We were given a big chance by
Eurosport to show this new, great product. Our job is to do something new in
speedway, prepare an event which will have great sport and organizational
support. We want to use this chance and together do something that hasn't been
seen in speedway so far. That's how the idea of Individual European Chamionships
came about. Big words of praise for Mr. Piotr Szyma ski who strongly supported
our idea and was helping us to prepare this tournament. We spent a lot of time
making a new formula. We tried to find something that will make us unique in the
world of speedway.
Tomasz Gollob: Speedway European Championships Series is a great opportunity
for speedway, this kind of competition was something that the sport needed. Our
sport will open to new markets and it will be a great opportunity for young –
ambitious riders to compete with experienced riders. It's fantastic that speedway is
waiting for a brand new opening. You can't hide that it was showed on a small
scale on television ‘till now. Thanks to Eurosport we will reach completely new
countries which didn't know this sport. It's great potential which our sport must
use. As usual, I set myself high standards. I want to fight for an Individual World
and European Champion title this year, because I don't have it in my collection.
Nicki Pedersen: It's damn good and I am very happy that I am invited. Wages are
the same as for league match in Poland, so it's better than in the Grand Prix. There
is always a free date in my calendar for this kind of competition. I think that
organizers are going in a good direction. Of course, leagues are important for me
for the financial reasons. I am focusing on the Grand Prix Series too, because I
want to be World Champion again. Four round system, riders from GP Series and
an elimination round is a great thing for me. The fact that this competition will be
shown on Eurosport is very important for the riders. If you are scoring points in
European Cup, you will be earning money. It's great for the tournament and the
riders.
Tony Rickardsson (6-times World Champion): SEC is an incredible opportunity
which we have been waiting for a very long time. We always wanted to enter
mainstream medias, get out of the periphery of modern sport. Eurosport allows us
to taste the adrenaline and passion which speedway gives to millions of people
from around the world. We can't waste this opportunity and its success is in the
interests of the whole speedway environment. I see that everyone knows this fact.
It's confirmed by the involvement in this project such great champions as Nicki
and Tomasz.
History of Individual European Championships
The Individual Speedway European Championship is an annual speedway event held each year ,
and has been organized by the European Motorcycle Union (UEM) since 2001.
Current European Champion is Ales Dryml from Czech Republic.
From 2013 the Speedway European Championship Series is promoted by One Sport, and will be
broadcast by Eurosport International LIVE to 54 countries.
Official website: www.speedwayeuro.com
Previous results
2001
Zolder
2002
Rybnik
2003
Slaný
2004
Holsted
2005
Lonigo
2006
Miskolc
2007
Wiener Neustadt
2008
Lendava
2009
Togliatti
2010
Tarnów
Mariusz Staszewski
(13 pts)
Magnus Zetterström
Krzysztof Kasprzak
(12+3 pts)
(12+2 pts)
Krzysztof Kasprzak
Sławomir Drabik
(12+3 pts)
(12+2 pts)
Matej Ferjan (14+2
Matej Žagar (14+3 pts)
pts)
Jesper B. Jensen (14+3
Aleš Dryml (14+2
pts)
pts)
Krzysztof Jabłoński
Grzegorz Walasek
(13+3 pts)
(13+2 pts)
Sebastian Ułamek (13
Jurica Pavlic (14 pts)
pts)
Sebastian Ułamek
Matej Žagar (14 pts)
(10+3+3 pts)
Renat Gafurov (13+3 Andriy Karpov (13+2
pts)
pts)
Sebastian Ułamek (15 Aleš Dryml (12 pts)
Bohumil Brhel (14 pts)
Krzysztof Cegielski
(12+3 pts)
Rafał Szombierski
(11+3 pts)
Magnus Zetterström
(11 pts)
Hans Andersen (12
pts)
Kai Laukkanen (12
pts)
Christian
Hefenbrock (12 pts)
Patrick Hougaard
(11 pts)
Mads Korneliussen
(10+2+2+2)
Aleš Dryml, Jr.
(13+1 pts)
Andrij Karpow
2011
Rivne
2012
4 rounds
pts)
Grigory Laguta (14+3
pts)
Aleš Dryml
(11+3 pts)
Tomasz Gapinski
(14+2 pts)
Aleš Dryml (12 pts)
Robert Miśkowiak
Andrij Karpov
Medal classification by nation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Country
Poland
Czech Rep
Slovenia
Russia
Denmark
Sweden
Croatia
Ukraine
Finland
Germany
GOLD
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
SILVER
8
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
BRONZE
2
2
0
0
3
1
0
2
1
1
TRACK INFO - Gdansk
Track length: 349 meters
Track record: Darcy Ward 61,28 sec.
Summary
13
6
3
2
4
2
1
3
1
1
Number of seats: 10.000
League team: Renault Zdunek Wybrze e Gda sk
Country: Poland
League level: Polish 1st Division
Founded in: 1962
Adress: ul. Zawodników 1, Gda sk
GDANSK – city info
A thousand-year history, a location at the crossroads of important commercial and
communication routes, an extensive port and mercantile traditions - all this makes Gdańsk a
meeting place of many cultures, nationalities and denominations.
The first written mention
of Gdańsk comes from 997. The defensive and urban complex as well as a port started to
really form in the second half of the 10th century.
The city was cut off from Poland and in 1793 it was annexed to Prussia. What followed was
a period of slow decline, the gloomiest in its history, interrupted but for a while by the
Napoleonic wars.
In 1919, the Free City of Gdańsk was established under the Treaty of Versailles, which
brought the city back to the elite of European ports. Unfortunately, in 1933 Nazis took
power and fascist terror started to escalate in the city.
On 1 September 1939, at around 4.30 in the morning, it was here, in Gdańsk, that the
Second World War started with shots fired from the battleship Schleswig-Holstein. It was
a time of bravery and martyrdom of its citizens. The heroic fighting in Westerplatte and the
martyrdom of the defenders of the Polish Post Office opened a new, tragic chapter in the
history of Gdańsk.
The war and the particularly fierce struggle for liberation left Gdańsk completely
devastated. Its reconstruction, with the help of fully dedicated citizens, took several dozen
years. Gdańsk once again became the biggest Baltic port and regained its former splendour.
Once again it drew the attention of the whole world, becoming a synonym for the liberation
aspirations of Poles.
The tragic December 1970, and then August 1980 and the martial law period are the
successive dates symbolizing the fight of the citizens of Gdańsk against the prevailing
communist regime. It was Gdańsk that became the cradle of "Solidarność" which was to
transform the then map of Europe. History has come full circle. Contemporary Gdańsk - a
half-a-million, dynamically developing agglomeration - is vibrant with life as before
and again deserves to be called "the Pearl of the North."
EVENT info
Starting hour: 18:30
First heat: 18:45
Local wild card rider: KRYSTIAN PIESZCZEK (POL)
Balloted starting numbers for SEC Round 1- Gdansk
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Emil Sajfutdinow (Russia)
Krystian Pieszczek (Poland)
/pronunciation: Pee-yesh-check/
Nicki Pedersen (Denmark)
Grigorij Laguta (Russia)
Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden)
6. Maciej Janowski (Poland)
7. Andriej Karpow (Ukraine)
8. Tomasz Gollob (Poland)
9. Kjastas Puodżuks (Latvia)
/pronunciation: Poo-wo-goox/
10.
Roman Povazhny (Russia)
11.
Ales Dryml (Czech Rep)
12.
Hans Andersen (Denmark)
13.
Tai Woffinden (Great Britain)
14.
Martin Vaculik (Slovakia)
15.
Sebastian Ułamek (Poland)
16.
Jurica Pavlic (Croatia)
Reserves:
17. Artur Mroczka (Poland)
18. Renat Gafurov (Russia)
Gate A is inside, gate D – outside
Helmet colours ALWAYS in order: red, blue, white, yellow
Heat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
A - RED
Sajfutdinow
Lindgren
Povazhny
Ułamek
Woffinden
Vaculik
Dryml
Łaguta
Janowski
Andersen
Gollob
Woffinden
Karpov
Pieszczek
Pavlic
Puodżuks
Sajfutdinow
B - BLUE
Pieszczek
Karpow
Dryml
Vaculik
Sajfutdinow
Povazhny
Ułamek
Gollob
Pavlic
Lindgren
Puodżuks
Łaguta
Andersen
Woffinden
Pedersen
Janowski
Gollob
C - WHITE
Pedersen
Janowski
Puodżuks
Pavlic
Lindgren
Pieszczek
Karpow
Andersen
Sajfutdinow
Ułamek
Pedersen
Povazhny
Vaculik
Gollob
Povazhny
Łaguta
Ułamek
D - YELLOW
Łaguta
Gollob
Andersen
Woffinden
Puodżuks
Janowski
Pedersen
Pavlic
Dryml
Pieszczek
Vaculik
Karpow
Sajfutdinow
Dryml
Lindgren
Ułamek
Povazhny
18
19
20
Puodżuks
Pedersen
Lindgren
Pieszczek
Andersen
Vaculik
Karpow
Woffinden
Dryml
Pavlic
Janowski
Łaguta
After 20 heats, TOP 2 advance to the final
Riders placed 3-6 go to the 'Last Chance Heat'
Riders in the 'Last Chance Heat' choose starting gates according to their
classification position at the end of heat 20.
The top 2 riders from the 'Last Chance Heat' join the Top 2 scorers from
main meeting classification, to complete the lineup for the FINAL
Before the FINAL, riders choose gate positions according to their
classification position at the end of heat 20.
1st choice – 1st place after heat 20
2nd choice – 2nd place after heat 20
3rd choice – winner of 'Last Chance Heat'
4th choice – runner up of 'Last Chance Heat'
RIDERS PROFILES
#1 ALES DRYML (CZECH REPUBLIC)
DATE OF BIRTH:
19.10.1979
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Pardubice
PLACE OF LIVING:
Pardubice
CLUBS IN 2013
GKM (POL), Belle Vue (GBR), Pardubice (CZE
With his brother Lukas, the most solid Czech rider in last years on whom it can be
counted.
He is also familiar with riding at the speed exceeding 160 km/h. In his free time he
participates in long track meetings. In 2004 he was a permanent rider of the GP series.
Last year he captured the Individual European Championship title, thus getting the
promotion to the 2013 Speedway European Championships.
#2 TOMASZ GOLLOB (POLAND)
DATE OF BIRTH:
11.04.1971
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Bydgoszcz
PLACE OF LIVING:
Bydgoszcz
CLUBS IN 2013
Unibax (POL)
Icon of Polish speedway and a leader of his National team in last 20 years. Despite of
being 42 years old he is still one of the best speedway riders in the world. Gollob is a
multimedallist of a world and national tournaments, with 2010 World Championships title.
Pure, living legend of this sport.
#3 FREDRIK LINDGREN (SWEDEN)
DATE OF BIRTH:
15.09.1985
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Orebro
PLACE OF LIVING:
Orebro
CLUBS IN 2013
Fogo Unia (POL), Wolverhampton (GBR), Dackarna (SWE)
Lindgren was given a wild card, replacing his injured national team mate, Andreas
Jonsson.
#4 NICKI PEDERSEN (DENMARK)
DATE OF BIRTH:
02.04.1977
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Odense
PLACE OF LIVING:
Stevenage (UK)
CLUBS IN 2013
PGE Marma Rzeszów (), Vargarna (SWE), Holsted (DNK
Very charismatic and colorful rider, one of the living legends of this sport. Triple Individual
World Champion (2003, 2007, 2008). Used to ride for Gdansk in 2012 season.
#5 EMIL SAYFUTDINOV (RUSSIA)
DATE OF BIRTH:
26.10.1989
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Salavat
PLACE OF LIVING:
St. Petersburg (RUS)
CLUBS IN 2013
Dospel CKM (POL), Indianerna (), Slany (CZE)
The Russian won the Under-21 World Championship twice in-a-row as the first rider in the
speedway history, pure talent and the most spectacular 'young gun' in world speedway.
The ongoing season can be the best in his career. Sayfutdinov currently leads in the race
for the Individual World Championship. He would like to add SEC title to his achievements
this season, particularly with the Round 2 held in Russian Togliatti.
#6 JURICA PAVLIC (CROATIA)
DATE OF BIRTH:
14.06.1989
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Gorican
PLACE OF LIVING:
Gorican
CLUBS IN 2013
PGE Marma Rzeszów (), Grindsted (DNK)
Winner of SEC Challenge in Zarnovica. In his hometown – Gorican – Jurica is able to train
on a modern speedway track built by his father Zvonomir, which was hosting the Croatian
Speedway Grand Prix three times.
This year, the third round of the Speedway European Championship is held in Gorican, so
with knowledge how to ride there, as well as in Rzeszow which is his home track in Polish
league, 'Jura' can be the black horse of whole competition.
#7 ROMAN POVAZHNY (RUSSIA)
DATE OF BIRTH:
23.10.1976
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Togliatti
PLACE OF LIVING:
Togliatti
CLUBS IN 2013
Lokomotiv (LVA), Balakovo (RUS
The first Russian speedway rider to be a regular in the Speedway Grand Prix series
(2003, 2005). Since 2004, he has dual citizenship – Russian and Polish. 'Ropa' is a SWC
bronze medal holder, which he won in Malilla together with the national team of Russia in
2012.
#8 GRIGORIJ LAGUTA (RUSSIA)
DATE OF BIRTH:
09.04.1984
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Bolszoj Kamien
PLACE OF LIVING:
Bolszoj Kamien
CLUBS IN 2013
Dospel CKM (POL), Ikaros Smederna (SWE), Władywostok (RUS)
Although he achieves great results in all the speedway venues, he has never been a
permanent rider of the GP series. One of the most spectacular speedway riders in the
world, loving brave attacks on the outside and elbow-to-elbow fight in every heat.
#9 MARTIN VACULIK
DATE OF BIRTH:
05.04.1990
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Żarnowica
PLACE OF LIVING:
Żarnowica
CLUBS IN 2013
Unia (POL), Vetlanda (SWE)
The only Slovakian rider who was lucky enough to push his way through to the speedway
world elite and another rider who signed a contract with Gdansk in the past.
“Vacul” won the Polish Grand Prix on his debut in GP Series in 2012 season. Slovakian
gained the permanent wild card for GP series in 2013.
As a rightful participant of GP series he doesn’t ride the same way as a year ago, but he
made a significant progress in the last weeks. Martin proved he can race successfully in
Żarnovica where he finished fourth in the SEC Challenge and he admits that SEC is a
new chapter for him this season.
#10 ANDRIEJ KARPOV (UKRAINE)
DATE OF BIRTH:
16.01.1987
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Ukraine
CLUBS IN 2013
GKM (POL), Hammarby (SWE), Holstebro (DNK)
#11 MACIEJ JANOWSKI (POLAND)
DATE OF BIRTH:
06.08.1991
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Wrocław
PLACE OF LIVING:
Wrocław
CLUBS IN 2013
Unia (POL), Poole (GBR), Piraterna (SWE)
Individual U21 World Champion from 2011 and vice-champion 2010.
#12 HANS ANDERSEN (DENMARK)
DATE OF BIRTH:
03.11.1980
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Odense
PLACE OF LIVING:
Odense
CLUBS IN 2013
Polonia (POL), Swindon (GBR), Vastervik (SWE), Fjelsted (DNK)
The “Ugly Duckling” comes back to Gdańsk after nearly four years. He is one of the most
experienced Danish riders in the World Championship series. SEC is the new challenge
for him.
In order to take part in SEC finals, Andersen had to go through the semifinal in Debrecen
(Hungary) as well as the Challenge in Żarnovica (Slovakia) where he took the last spot,
scoring 9 points.
#13 SEBASTIAN ULAMEK (Poland)
DATE OF BIRTH:
20.11.1975
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Częstochowa
CLUBS IN 2013
Lechma Start (POL), Grindsted (DNK), Slany (CZE)
#14 KJASTAS POUDZUKS (LATVIA)
DATE OF BIRTH:
23.08.1986
CLUBS IN 2013
Lokomotiv (LATVIA)
#15 TAI WOFFINDEN (GREAT BRITAIN)
DATE OF BIRTH:
10.08.1990
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Scuntrophe
PLACE OF LIVING:
Scuntrophe
CLUBS IN 2013
Betard Sparta (POL), Wolverhampton (GBR)
WILD CARD:
KRYSTIAN PIESZCZEK
DATE OF BIRTH:
23.09.1995
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Gdańsk
PLACE OF LIVING:
Gdańsk
CLUBS IN 2013
Renault Zdunek Wybrzeże (POL), Outrup (DNK), Mseno (CZE
The youngest competitor in today’s event. Pieszczek is the only junior rider here. Youthful
imagination, good shape and very good knowledge of the geometry of the track in
Gdańsk can lead “Krycha” to promising result in the first SEC final.
LIVE RESULTING
http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/wydarzenie/16151
Official website:
http://www.speedwayeuro.com