In the recent years, Poles have dominted the rivalry for becoming the junior world champion. Who will end as the best one this time and will the hegemony of riders from Poland be broken?
Definitely, it's one of the most common questions before starting the U21 competition. Since 2013 it was only Poland's representatives winning the U21 championship. Rivalry was dominated by Patryk Dudek, Piotr Pawlicki and Bartosz Zmarzlik. Earlier, also Maciej Janowski got his success (including gold in 2011). Today, all these riders are the power of senior team and starting (except Dudek) in the senior world championship. The question is who belongs to the favourites of this year's juniors' clash?
Among Poles, fans will watch Paweł Przedpełski (replacing injured Maksym Drabik), Krystian Pieszczek and Bartosz Smektała. These riders start in the strongest speedway league in the world - PGE Ekstraliga on the daily basis and they are important elements of their team's rosters. Mentioned three have not been presenting that well as Pawlicki and Zmarzlik, but they have proved already that there is a huge potential inside. Will it be enough to repeat their colleagues' success in 2016?
Who can be their strongest rival? Scandinavian countries are famous of their youngsters' coaching and development. Surely there's a dream inside heads of Mikkel Brondum Andersen and Patrick Hansen to repeat the success of Michael Jepsen Jensen from 2012. Hansen has already got his medal in U21 European Championship (bronze). It was also Joel Andersson - one of the best Swedish juniors, who proved that he's able to follow the big speedway traditions of his country. He's been starting regularly in Eliteserien, reaching even double digits.
There are also high aspirations among Australians. Max Fricke and Jack Holder will want to repeat their friends' successes - Darcy Ward and older Jack's brother - Chris. Famous Turbo Twins got their golden medals as junior (Ward twice) and seniors (Holder). Fricke however is a revelation of this season's PGE Ekstraliga and Jack Holder is the best Australian junior from beginning of this year. Knowing the speedway traditions of their country, it's easy to say they can actually get it done among this line up.
The same aim seems to be ahead of British riders as well. Fans, dreaming about their former speedway power, count on their biggest talent - Robert Lambert. As a 16-year old youngster, he was representing his country in the World Team Junior Championship and in the past season, he was also riding in the World Team Championship. Also, national champion U21 - Josh Bates and Elite League's winner with Poole Pirates - Adam Ellis will be fans' favourites during the first round in King's Lynn. Especially Lambert, who's been representing local club. Probably, one of these riders, in near future will join Tai Woffinden and let the UK National Team fight again for the world's top trophies.
Also fans in Russia, Czech Republic and Germany have been dreaming about coming back to their mighty years. There's a chance to repeat these successes in front of Viktor Kulakov, Erik Riss and Eduard Krcmar. Dimitri Berge - coming from not so much "speedway" France would also like to prove his value. These are names that are familiar with speedway fans' awareness. Kulakov and Krcmar are one of the most talented riders in their countries, getting their experience at the tracks in Poland. They've been competing seniors in the international meetings as well. The biggest success of Riss (son of former great rider - Gerd) is a world championship at the long track, taken in 2014. Thanks to that, he made the history as the youngest winner of these series. Berge however, whose father was also a rider, have been knocking strong to the international top. His talent's scale was proven in the qualification round in Manchester, where he got the win with maximum points, leaving behind his back f.e. Lambert or Holder.
Line up in this year's U21 World Championship is extremely equal. Many riders have a chance for the ultimate triumph and we should not complain about the lack of emotions in any of three rounds. Thanks to these riders, speedway can gain its new heroes, who will bring the speedway's old shine back in their countries.
