ELITSERIEN 2021: Ready to start in May

The teams for this year’s Elitserien are beginning to take shape ready in time for the season start on 4 May.

The first match of the season will see current champions, Avesta Masarna, take on 2017-2019 champions, Eskilstuna Smederna who make a welcome return to the league after skipping last season due to concerns about the economic affect of COVID-19.

All the clubs have the advantage of knowing that they can do a whole season without spectators by just relying on tv and sponsorship revenue, which currently is how the season may start unless there is a significant improvement in conditions.

However, the Ekstraliga’s decision to only allow their riders to race in one other international league will have an impact on Swedish speedway. It means that many of the top Danish riders will not be in Sweden but will instead choose to race in their own country. That means there will be no Nicki Pedersen, Mikkel Michelsen or Anders Thomsen in Elitserien in 2020.

Jonas Jeppesen is one of the few Danish riders who is set to race in the league instead of his home country after a blistering season with Kumla Indianerna last year with a 2.188 average. 

On the other hand, some English speakers have decided to race in Sweden instead of staying in the UK. That includes the league’s top scorer in 2020 and the current SEC champion, Robert Lambert (pictured with Lejonen), 2017 World Champion, Jason Doyle who will join Målilla Dackarna and Max Fricke who will return to Indianerna.