European Speedway Championships, Pardubice: Janowski’s victory wasn’t enough – Madsen is champion

The fourth and final round of the Speedway European Championship in the Czech Republic lived up to expectations: the title was only decided in the final race, even though two contenders, Kacper Woryna and Michael Jepsen Jensen, had already been eliminated from the title race after the heats. Whilst Leon Madsen and Maciej Janowski scored double figures in their heats, Jepsen Jensen – despite managing to score eight points after two zero-scoring heats to start with – failed to make it through to the final, just like Woryna. Although the Pole scored points in every heat and was still in contention for the title after a win in the second heat, his campaign also came to a premature end with eight points to his name.

As the top scorer in the heats, Madsen went straight through to the final with twelve points and already had a three-point lead over Janowski in the overall standings; Janowski had to prove his nerves of steel early on in the race. The very first heat had to be restarted three times, but Janowski ultimately managed to win it. He also made his mark in the last-chance heat, which he had to win to qualify for the final: initially, the Red Bull rider was languishing at the back of the field when Przemyslaw Pawlicki crashed, presenting Janowski with a second chance at the restart. The 35-year-old seized this opportunity, won and secured his place in the final, which he won ahead of Mikkel Michelsen. However, as Madsen held on to third place ahead of Jan Kvech in the final and picked up another point, the veteran claimed the European Championship for the third time. It was particularly bitter for Janowski: for him, the European Championship title would also have meant a return to the Grand Prix.

Kai Huckenbeck missed out on the top six

With a retirement and a third-place finish, Kai Huckenbeck’s race day in Pardubice did not start as hoped, but a brief resurgence with two victories reignited hopes of a place in the top six. However, as Huckenbeck scored just one point in his final heat and missed out on the last-chance heat, the Werlter rider was unable to improve his position in the final standings and remained eighth overall, meaning he will have to go through the qualifiers again in 2027. Patryk Dudek secured the sixth and final automatic place for the 2027 European Championships in a thrilling play-off against Jan Kvech.

Pardubitz-Sieger Maciej Janowski

Foto: jarek pabijan

Results: Speedway European Championships, Final 4, Pardubice/CZ: