2008 Speedway Grand Prix Explained

Year:2008
Dates:April 26 - October 18
Events:11
Cities:10
Country:8
Per:15
Wc:1
Tr:2
Heats:253 + 1 Super Prix
P1f:DEN
P2f:AUS
P3f:POL
P3:Tomasz Gollob

The 2008 Speedway Grand Prix was the 63rd edition of the official World Championship[1] [2] and the 14th season in the Speedway Grand Prix used to determine the Speedway World Champion. It was the second under the promotion of IMG.

Event format

The format for 2008 was the same as that used in 2007 with 16 riders taking part in each Grand Prix. Over the course of 20 heats each rider raced against every other rider once. The top eight scorers advanced to a semi-final and from each semi-final the first and second placed riders advanced to the GP final.

All rides count towards Grand Prix points totals, including the semi-final and final, which counts double (6-4-2-0) and therefore the maximum points for a single Grand Prix is 24 (five heat wins, semi final win and final win). This format means that the winner of each Grand Prix may not be the rider who scores most GP points from each race.

Qualification

For the 2008 season, there were 15 permanent riders who were joined at each Grand Prix by one wild card and two track reserves.

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2007 Grand Prix

See main article: 2007 Speedway Grand Prix.

The top eight riders from the 2007 championship qualified as of right. These eight qualifiers were, in championship order:

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Grand Prix Challenge

See main article: 2008 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification.

The top eight riders from 2007 were joined by three riders who qualified via the Grand Prix Challenge. These riders were, in order by qualifying position:

Nominations

The final four riders were nominated by series promoters, Benfield Sports International, following the completion of the 2007 season.

2008 Riders

width=25px rowspan=2Nowidth=200px rowspan=2Riderwidth=80px rowspan=2DOBwidth=30px rowspan=2Age[3] 2008 Clubs
width=110px Britishwidth=110px Polishwidth=110px Swedishwidth=130px DanishOthers
1 DEN Nicki Pedersen1977-04-0231CzęstochowaGislavedHolsted (DEN) Togliatti (RUS)
2 AUS Leigh Adams1971-04-2837SwindonLesznoAvesta
3 AUS Jason Crump1975-08-0633Belle VueWrocławVetlanda
4 POL Tomasz Gollob1971-04-1137Gorzów Wlkp.Västervik
5 DEN Hans Andersen1980-11-0328CoventryToruńMålillaFjelsted (DEN)
6 USA Greg Hancock1970-06-0338CzęstochowaHallstavik
7 POL Rune Holta1973-08-2935Gorzów Wlkp.VetlandaGrindsted (DEN)
8 GBR Scott Nicholls1978-05-1630EastbourneRzeszówStockholm
9 GBR Chris Harris1982-11-2826CoventryOstrówVästervik
10 SWE Andreas Jonsson1980-09-0328LakesideBydgoszczMålilla
11 DEN Bjarne Pedersen1978-07-1230PooleGdańskVästervikHolstebro (DEN)
12 DEN Niels Kristian Iversen1982-05-2026WolverhamptonZielona GóraVästervikHolsted (DEN)
13 CZE Lukáš Dryml1981-04-1627PeterboroughOstrów Wlkp.MålillaPardubice (CZE)
14 POL Krzysztof Kasprzak1984-07-1824PooleLesznoEskilstuna
15 SWE Fredrik Lindgren1985-09-1523WolverhamptonZielona GóraMålillaPardubice (CZE)

Cities

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WORLD INDIVIDUAL FINAL - RIDER INDEX. British Speedway. 10 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Speedway riders, history and results. wwosbackup. 10 July 2021.
  3. Age in 2008.