2020 Danish National Championships, Vojens

A quality field

The strength of Danish speedway can be seen in that the field was made up of riders from current U19 European Silver medalist, Marcus Birkemose (17 yrs) to triple World Champion, Nicki Pedersen (43 yrs). 

Between these two extremes there was also the 2018 European Champion and 2019 SGP medal holder, Leon Madsen; SGP rider, Niels-Kristian Iversen and a medal candidate for Friday’s U21 World Championship, Mads Hansen. Almost the entire field races in the Polish leagues, including the third best scorer for Gorzow in Ekstraliga – Anders Thomsen.  

Missing riders

In fact, only Mikkel Michelsen and Michael Jepsen Jensen were missing in what a a definitive “best of Danish” competition.

English National Championship 

Compare that to the UK championships on Monday when the top three British riders – Tai Woffinden, Robert Lambert and Daniel Bewley – did not attend. Not only that but  two of the medalists – winner, Rory Schelin andbronze medalist, Jason Crump – are over 35 years old and have already competed in the Australian national title in their long careers. 

See this interview with 2020 British champion, Rory Schlein:

Swedish National Championship 

Or the Swedish championship in the summer where neither Ekstraliga/ SGP rider attended and where only half of the field are currently riding in the Polish leagues. 

Big names didn’t finish

It was not to be a fifth Danish title for veteran, Pedersen, who did not restart after failing to complete his second heat.

Neither did Peter Kildemand make it passed his fourth heat, bowing out with just 5 points. 

Ekstraliga riders battle it out

That left it to be a dog fight between five of the country’s riders – who all finished in the top 30 on heat average in the Ekstraliga.  That was Madsen (CZE), Kenneth Bjerre (GRU) and three riders from Gorzow – Thomsen, Nicolai Klindt and Niels-Kristian Iversen. 

But the big surprise of the night was the sixth rider going at it with the best Danes on the market. None other than 17 year old, Birkemose. Although also signed with Gorzów has raced in League 2 with Poznan this year. 

Only four in the final

And after 20 heats only the top four riders got to go through to the final. And it could hardly have been closer with Thomsen and Birkemose on 13 pts and Klindt and Madsen with 12 pts. 

The final in Vojens

The final saw Madsen thrown out for touching the tapes, leave the three Gorzów riders to fight it out for the medals. 

And it was 26 year old Anders Thomsen who took the chequered flag first with Klindt second and then Birkemose. For the youngster, it is a potentially career changing 3rd place ahead of 2019 SGP Silver medalist, Madsen at a venue where the Danish SGP and TAURON SEC often are held.