Emil Sayfutdinov won SEC Challenge, which was held in Terenzano, Italy. Russian is one of 5 riders, who got promoted to this year’s Speedway Euro Championship series and this list includes also Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark), Jozsef Franc (Czech Republic), Andrey Kudriashov (Russia) and Peter Kildemand (Denmark).
Emil Sayfutdinov won SEC Challenge, which was held in Terenzano, Italy. Russian is one of 5 riders, who got promoted to this year’s Speedway Euro Championship series and this list includes also Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark), Jozsef Franc (Czech Republic), Andrey Kudriashov (Russia) and Peter Kildemand (Denmark).
First two series of the meeting were a chain of falls and exclusions. However, fans gathered at the MC Olimpia Terenzano venue, couldn’t complain about lack of fight at the track. We had some spectacular clashes, taken by Antonio Lindbaeck and Kai Huckenbeck, but none of them were able to reach for promotion, but it was German rider, who was furthest from luck - Huckenbeck ended as 6th, only one spot below the ones securing the spot for Euro Championship.
On the other hand, we had some really big surprise by Jozsef Franc. The oldest rider in SEC Challenge line up was close to bottom of the table, after first two series, but right adjustments with his setups, let him reach for promotion to SEC.
What’s worth mentioning - both Sayfutdinov and Kildemand - riders who got through to SEC finals - have been Euro Championship’s medalists. Russian won this cycle twice (2014, 2015) and Dane got silver in 2015.
So far, we have known the names of 10 riders, who will race in this year’s Speedway Euro Championship:
Andzejs Lebedevs, Artem Laguta, Vaclav Milik, Andreas Jonsson, Krzysztof Kasprzak, Emil Sayfutdinov, Mikkel Michelsen, Jozsef Franc, Andrey Kudriashov and Peter Kildemand.
Organizers have a right to give 5 „wild cards” and their holders will be revealed within days.
1. Emil Sayfudtinov - 14 (3,3,3,3,2)
2. Mikkel Michelsen - 12+3 (2,2,2,3,3)
3. Jozsef Franc - 10+2 (0,1,2,3,3)
4. Andrey Kudryashov - 12 (3,3,3,2,1)
5. Peter Kildemand - 10+1 (1,3,3,0,3)
6. Kai Huckenbeck - 10+0 (3,2,3,2,0)
7. Aleksandr Loktaev - 9 (2,1,1,3,2)
8. Antonio Lindbaeck - 7 (1,2,2,1,1)
9. Michele Paco Castagna - 6 (2,3,0,1,0)
10. Jurica Pavlic - 6 (t,1,1,2,2)
11. Kacper Woryna - 5 (t,3,2)
12. Krystian Pieszczek - 5 (1,d,1,1,2)
13. Eduard Krcmar - 4 (2,0,0,2,0)
14. Andrey Karpov - 3 (w,d,t,0,3)
15. Nicolai Klindt - 3 (0,2,0,0,1)
16. Szymon Woźniak - 2 (w,1,0,0,1)
17. Ilya Chalov - 2 (d,w,1,1,d)
