Individual Speedway European Championship
The Individual Speedway European Championship is an annual individual speedway event organized by the European Motorcycle Union (UEM) to determine the champion of Europe. The competition was founded in 2001 and was initially staged as a one-off meeting before the single event was replaced by the Speedway European Championship series in 2012.
Current season, competition or edition: 2024 Speedway European Championship | |
| Sport | motorcycle speedway |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 (previously European Final 1955-75) |
| No. of teams | 16 riders |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Andžejs Ļebedevs (2024) |
History
editFrom 1955 to 1975, the European Final was staged as the final qualifying round for the World Speedway Championship, although this did not include British riders who had a separate qualifying round.[1][2]
The European Championships were inaugurated in 2001, organised by European Motorcycle Union (UEM). In 2012 this was replaced by a series of four finals. Regardless of that, ISEC was struggling with prestige and promotion and the best European riders were mostly avoiding this contest.[3]
On 20 December 2012, at a press conference in Warsaw, Poland it was announced that the competition would be replaced by a new series similar in format to the Speedway Grand Prix. The Speedway European Championship series is promoted by One Sporta Ltd. from Poland for next three seasons (2013-2015).[4]
As of 2022, the competition is staged over four rounds in a Grand Prix format, with the winner being the rider who accumulates the most points over the four rounds. The minimum age of a rider to compete is 16 years of age (starting on the date of the rider's birthday).
Denmark is the most successful nation having had seven champions, Jesper B. Jensen (2005), Nicki Pedersen (2016), Leon Madsen (2018 and 2022) and Mikkel Michelsen (2019, 2021 and 2023).
Winners
editEuropean Final (1955-1975)
edit
Individual European Championship (2001-2011)
edit
European Championship series (since 2012)
editMedals classification
edit| Pos | National Team | Total |  |
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Denmark |
20 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| 2. |  Russia |
8 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 3. |  Poland |
19 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
| 4. |  Czech Republic |
7 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 5. |  Slovenia |
3 | 2 | 1 | |
| 6. | Latvia |
2 | 2 | ||
| 7. |  Sweden |
3 | 1 | 2 | |
| 8. |  Great Britain |
2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 9. |  Croatia |
1 | 1 | ||
 Slovakia |
1 | 1 | |||
| 11. |  Ukraine |
3 | 1 | 2 | |
| 12. |  Finland |
1 | 1 | ||
 Germany |
1 | 1 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Bott, Richard (1980). The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. p. 101. ISBN 0-09-141751-1.
- ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 23. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
- ^ "About SEC". www.speedwayeuro.com. Archived from the original on 2012-12-25. Retrieved 23 Feb 2013.
- ^ "Żużlowe mistrzostwa Europy wkraczają w nową erę" (in Polish). sportowefakty.pl. 20 Dec 2012. Retrieved 23 Feb 2013.