Speedway Pardubitz: The European Championship showdown kicks off the Gold Helmet Weekend

With 34 points, Kacper Woryna and Leon Madsen lead the European Speedway Championship standings after three of four races. Just one point behind the leading pair, Michael Jepsen Jensen and Maciej Janowski also still have every chance of winning the title on their own merits in the season finale. Whilst Janowski, Madsen and Woryna have each already won one round, Jepsen Jensen has stood out over the course of the season thanks to his consistent points haul.

The outcome of the European Championship has a direct impact on the field for the Grand Prix, as the champion is guaranteed a place there. However, Leon Madsen, Michael Jepsen Jensen and Kacper Woryna have already secured their places in the 2027 Grand Prix, meaning that only Janowski would qualify for the World Championship should he win the title. If one of the three qualified riders becomes European Champion, an additional wildcard will be awarded.

For Kai Huckenbeck, it’s all about the top six

From a German perspective, Kai Huckenbeck can still secure a place in the top six in Pardubice, which would guarantee him a guaranteed starting place in next year’s European Championship. The rider from Werlte slipped to eighth place overall after a strong first race in Grünberg (Zielona Góra) and would need to make up three points on Jan Kvech, who is currently sixth.

Regardless of the outcome of the European Championship, Huckenbeck will be on the starting grid for Sunday’s Gold Helmet race as one of three German-speaking riders. Alongside the 33-year-old, Mario Häusl and the Austrian Sebastian Kössler are in the line-up. In the U21 race for the Golden Ribbon, Germany has several irons in the fire with Patrick Hyjek, Hannah Grunwald, Tyler Haupt, Janek Konzack and last year’s winner Mario Häusl.

The European Championship final, which gets underway at 5 pm on Friday (2 October), will be streamed live on several channels: Magenta Sport provides access to ‘More than Sports TV’, whilst FanSeat also offers a paid live stream from Pardubice.