GP line-up for 2026

[1 valve]

1 hour ago, DutchGrasstrack said:

2026 FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX LINE-UP – IN FIM RANKING ORDER WITH RIDER NUMBERS:
95. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland)
101. Brady Kurtz (Australia)
99. Dan Bewley (Great Britain)
66. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden)
25. Jack Holder (Australia)
29. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia)
505. Robert Lambert (Great Britain)
46. Max Fricke (Australia)
69. Jason Doyle (Australia)
415. Dominik Kubera (Poland)
30. Leon Madsen (Denmark)
52. Michael Jepsen Jensen (Denmark)
692. Patryk Dudek (Poland)
223. Kacper Woryna (Poland)
108. Tai Woffinden (Great Britain)

SUBSTITUTE RIDERS
785. Nazar Parnitskyi (Ukraine)
105. Anders Thomsen (Denmark)
201. Jan Kvech (Czech Republic)
744. Kai Huckenbeck (Germany)
999. Mathias Pollestad (Norway)

This is a good competitive line-up, most probably the strongest ever.
Sure, Tai's inclusion is a surprise beyond surprise, but (if fit) he will be competitive and will most probably finish higher than 16th (current ranking) at the end of the campaign. 

[Sir Sidney]

I suspect it is a purely commercial decision. 

I have great respect for Tai and how he keeps coming back from serious injury, but from a sporting perspective he has declined  and there are others who have a stronger case.

However, I think attendances at SGP and SON, and the inability to make Cardiff viable , suggests speedway needs to attract a whole new cohort of supporters, and those with more disposable income. 

I think it may also be a first step in repositioning speedway as an extreme sport not a family sport.

Maybe the view is that Tai, with his music following and edgy approach helps with that.

[Pinny]

Including Woffinden is an absolute joke. 

[Phannan]

1 hour ago, Col said:

Doyle, Fricke, Woffinden.

3 Aussies then 😁

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Woffinden ffs I hear Bruce penhall was available 

[teijahn]

Wolffy certainly a big surprise, as too Mikkelson not even making the sub riders list when he has finished above Thompson in GP's, Polish and Danish League averages, and way ahead of Huckenbeck and Kvech who constantly prove they are not up to GP standard.

Overall however, given the ridiculous bias against Emil and Laguta, a stronger lineup in my view than we've had for some years.

Edited 3 hours ago by teijahn

[MB723]

Fricke is the only one I agree with finishing 3 points from the top 7 to qualify automatically. Personally I think Doyle is past it at this level, still a great rider at league level but at most can maybe have one or 2 gps with a decent score. Woffy inclusion is a joke to be honest, not had a competitive race since his horrible crash (and barely any/none since the injury before it too) and back in the GPs, what basis other than popularity/sponsors is he back in?

[racers and royals]

2 Extraleague 2 riders in the 15 in 2026. Doyle ( Krosno) and Woffinden ( Ostrow )

[mikebv]

Isn't Woffy now in the 2nd tier in Poland?

A strange pick...

And coming after such a huge injury not really sure of his impact...

Presume it mush be for clicks and sponsors money...

[TTT]

Fricke deserved his wildcard for sure.

Doyle actually brings something to the GP's so I think it's another good wildcard pick tbh.

I have a theory as to why Woffinden has been given a wildcard, I think Tai will have a retirement year in 2026 and he wants to go out on his terms (Farewell Tour) and the FIM have decided to give him a wildcard based on this knowing that it'll bring good publicity to the Sport throughout the GP Series.

[gjcone44]

we have a woman world champion now, get her in it.

[BluPanther]

April Fools Day has been cancelled next year, because no amount of pranks can match the unbelievable stupidity of the FIM right now...

[eric i]

1 hour ago, teijahn said:

Wolffy certainly a big surprise, as too Mikkelson not even making the sub riders list when he has finished above Thompson in GP's, Polish and Danish League averages, and way ahead of Huckenbeck and Kvech who constantly prove they are not up to GP standard.

Overall however, given the ridiculous bias against Emil and Laguta, a stronger lineup in my view than we've had for some years.

Has Mikkelson upset someone, even if you accept wildcards are picked for commerical reasons how do ou justify Thomsen above him?

[SPEEDY69]

1 hour ago, MB723 said:

Fricke is the only one I agree with finishing 3 points from the top 7 to qualify automatically. Personally I think Doyle is past it at this level, still a great rider at league level but at most can maybe have one or 2 gps with a decent score. Woffy inclusion is a joke to be honest, not had a competitive race since his horrible crash (and barely any/none since the injury before it too) and back in the GPs, what basis other than popularity/sponsors is he back in?

Doyle at least made a final this year, something Fricke never looked like doing.

[Gavan]

2 hours ago, 1 valve said:

This is a good competitive line-up, most probably the strongest ever.
Sure, Tai's inclusion is a surprise beyond surprise, but (if fit) he will be competitive and will most probably finish higher than 16th (current ranking) at the end of the campaign. 

I can’t see a rider in that line up that Tai will finish above 

[ouch]

28 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

Doyle at least made a final this year, something Fricke never looked like doing.

https://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/thread/23320/fim-speedway-belle-vue-2025

[Colinspeedway]

With entertainment value you could have argued for Nicki Pedersen for a wildcard

[The Cheese]

I think Fricke and Doyle are deserving of their places, Woffinden though is certainly a surprise call. On the plus side it suggests he's continuing to make good progress in his recovery from the injuries but it's a big gamble when nobody knows how he's going to perform when he does return. Maybe giving him one of the top substitute spots or the British GP wildcard would have been better. Hope he can prove everyone wrong though!

[norbold]

Four Australians. What's the chance of a GP in Australia? (Zero I expect!)