The 2019 Speedway Grand Prix season was the 25th season of the Speedway Grand Prix era, and decided the 74th FIM Speedway World Championship. It was the nineteenth series under the promotion of Benfield Sports International, an IMG company.
The title was won by Bartosz Zmarzlik, who beat debutant Leon Madsen by two points with Russia's Emil Sayfutdinov finishing third. Zmarzlik became the third Polish world champion after Jerzy Szczakiel won in 1973 and Tomasz Gollob took the title in 2010. Defending champion Tai Woffinden's season was hampered by injury and he finished in 13th place.
2019 changes Qualifying for each Grand Prix was introduced for the first time in the 2019 season. On the day before the Grand Prix every rider completed a timed lap, with the fastest rider getting to select their position in the draw, followed by second and so on. Matej Žagar was the first ever rider to win a qualifying session when setting the fastest time at the 2019 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland.
Qualification For the 2019 season there were 15 permanent riders, joined at each Grand Prix by one wild card and two track reserves.
The top eight riders from the 2018 championship qualified automatically. These riders were joined by the three riders who qualified via the Grand Prix Challenge.
The final four riders were nominated by series promoters, Benfield Sports International, following the completion of the 2018 season.
On 2 May Greg Hancock announced he would not be competing in the 2019 season to support his wife's battle with cancer. The FIM and BSI unanimously supported Hancock's withdrawal.
Qualified riders
# Riders 2018 place GP Ch place Appearance Previous appearances in series108 Tai Woffinden 1— 8th 2010, 2011, 2013–201895 Bartosz Zmarzlik 2— 4th 2012–2015, 2016–201866 Fredrik Lindgren 3 — 10th 2004, 2006–2007, 2008–2014, 2016, 2017–2018 71 Maciej Janowski 4 — 5th 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015–201845 Greg Hancock 5— 25th 1995–2018222 Artem Laguta 6— 3rd 2011, 201869 Jason Doyle 7— 5th 2015–201889 Emil Sayfutdinov 8 — 8th 2009–2013, 2017–2018692 Patryk Dudek 9 — 3rd 2016, 2017–201855 Matej Žagar 1015 9th 2003–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2009, 2011, 2013–201854 Martin Vaculík 13 — 4th 2012, 2013, 2017–2018333 Janusz Kołodziej —1 2nd 2006, 2010, 201188 Niels-Kristian Iversen 142 8th 2004–2005, 2006, 2008, 2009–2010, 2013–2017, 201885 Antonio Lindbäck —3 9th 2004, 2005–2007, 2009–2010, 2011–2013, 2015, 2016–201730 Leon Madsen — —1st 2013
Qualified substitutes
The following riders were nominated as substitutes:
# Riders 2018 place GP Ch place 505 Robert Lambert 30 5 46 Max Fricke 18 7 155 Mikkel Michelsen 29 — 225 Václav Milík Jr. 17 11 115 Bartosz Smektała 26 —
Calendar
The 2019 season consisted of 10 events, the same number as in 2018.
Final Classification
See also 2019 Individual Speedway Junior World Championship
References
External links