World Champion Erik Riss: “This title has a completely different meaning!”

Erik Riss has had a tough few years. In April 2023, shortly after the start of the season, the 31-year-old racing driver was forced to withdraw from the racing circuit for the first time. An eye condition, dizziness, brain fog – racing on the oval, especially without brakes, was impossible. The diagnosis seemed clear at the time. Riss picked himself up again. In 2024, he became Long-Track Team World Champion, won the Challenge and thereby secured his place in the 2025 World Championship field once more. Then came the first relapse. With a heavy heart, Riss had to withdraw from the World Championship – and in doing so also missed the chance to qualify on sporting merit for 2026.

The change to the system by the FIM, the world governing body, from 15 to 20 riders, worked in the two-time world champion’s favour. More riders than ever were awarded a wildcard. One of them was Erik Riss. Yet fate was not on his side. In April, he was forced to pull the emergency brake once again, cancelling all his spring events on the speedway track – which is up to 400 metres shorter – and the long-track events, which cover distances of up to 1,000 metres. The problems had returned. “I’d already considered ending my career for good,” says the professional rider, who ultimately decided to take a three-month break. From then on, he travelled from doctor to doctor, from specialist to specialist.

The 2026 Long-Track World Championship got off to a late start

Luckily for him, Scheeßel – the first of three World Championship finals – wasn’t on the calendar until the end of August. And, having recovered, he decided to give it a go there. “I approached the whole thing very relaxed; I was just happy to be back on the bike at all.” Even for himself, Riss was something of a wild card: “I’d had hardly any racing experience; I didn’t know where I stood physically or with my kit.” In the end, he stood at the very top of the podium – a spectacular comeback. Things went similarly in Morizes, France. Riss extended his lead to ten points. This meant that if he made it into the final of the top five in Marmande, the title would be his for the taking.

Riss picked up 15 out of a possible 16 points in the heats and was on course for success. Then came heat number 5. Whilst in the lead, he crashed out: “I laughed to myself under my helmet and thought: ‘That was a foregone conclusion, given the bad luck I’ve had in recent years.’” Although Riss won his sixth heat, he missed out on the chance to qualify directly for the final as one of the top two scorers. He had to qualify via the ‘semifinal detour’ and complete one more race. The downside was that his rivals – Britain’s Chris Harris and Riss’s German compatriot Lukas Fienhage – had secured the best starting positions.

Erik Riss: Beaten for the first time in the final in Marmande

Riss wouldn’t be Riss if he’d sat back and rested on his laurels after securing a place in the final and, with it, the title: “I wanted to win the race!” Riss got off to a good start in the final, but his rival Harris overtook him in the first bend. For the first time this season, the Seibranz native had to settle for second place, but was still able to lift the World Championship trophy at the end. “This title has a completely different meaning for me. It feels different to 2014 and 2016 and gives me much more joy,” says the bearded rider. Back then, twelve and ten years ago, the titles held a different significance for the then high-flyer, who subsequently withdrew to the short-track, which he loved more: “I appreciate it more today, after everything I’ve been through.” Riss won’t be saying goodbye to speedway in 2027 either – and will attempt to successfully defend his long-track world championship title. “I hope, of course, that no new health problems crop up,” says Erik. He has, after all, already been through quite a lot in that regard.