Plochodrážní Stadion Svítkov in Pardubice will be the venue on Saturday, April 18, for the European Team Speedway Championship Challenge Day. Starting at 3:00 PM, two tournaments featuring 8 teams and a total of 40 riders will take place. Three teams will secure promotion to the Grand Final of LOTTO ETSC, which will be held on May 9 at 4:15 PM in Rzeszów. Defending champions Poland, as the host nation, already have an automatic spot there.
ETSC Challenge Day is a new regulatory feature. Two events will be held on the same day at one venue instead of the previously separate Finals A and B. The eight teams are divided into two groups of four, all meeting at Plochodrážní Stadion Svítkov in Pardubice. A total of 44 races will be run on Saturday, alternating one from each group.
Group A: Ukraine, Slovenia, Denmark, Norway. Group B: Sweden, Latvia, Czech Republic, France. Each team can use one Speedway Grand Prix rider and must include a reserve under 21.
The winners and the better runner-up advance to the Rzeszów Grand Final on May 9. Poland has triumphed in all previous senior European Team Championships: Poznań 2022, Stralsund 2023, Grudziądz 2024, Gdańsk 2025.
Team Lineups
Group A
Ukraine: 1. Andriy Rozaliuk, 2. Roman Kapustin, 3. Marko Levishyn, 4. Stanislav Melnychuk, 17. Nazar Partnitskyi.
Slovenia: 5. Matic Ivačič, 6. Anže Grmek, 7. Gregor Zorko, 8. Luka Omerzel, 18. Sven Cerjak.
Denmark: 9. Rasmus Jensen, 10. Mikkel Michelsen, 11. Anders Thomsen, 12. Frederik Jakobsen, 19. Villads Nagel.
Norway: 13. Mathias Pollestad, 14. Truls Kamhaug, 15. Glenn Moi, 16. Lasse Fredriksen, 20. Magnus Klipper.
Group B
Sweden: 1. Oliver Berntzon, 2. Kim Nilsson, 3. Jacob Thorssell, 4. Fredrik Lindgren, 17. Erik Persson.
Latvia: 5. Andžejs Ļebedevs, 6. Daniils Kolodinskis, 7. Jevgenijs Kostigovs, 8. Francis Gusts, 19. Damirs Filimonovs.
Czech Republic: 9. Vaclav Milik, 10. Jan Kvěch, 11. Daniel Klima, 12. Adam Nejezchleba, 19. Adam Bednář.
France: 13. David Bellego, 14. Dimitri Bergé, 15. Steven Goret, 16. Mathias Tresarrieu, 20. Tino Bouin.
Online ticket sales for the May event in Rzesżów continue. All stadium seats are numbered. Tickets now on online sale via bilety.speedwayevents.pl or ebilet.pl.
Ticket Prices
Children under 6 (born 2020 or later): free with adult guardian.
On event day, tickets available from 1:30 PM at stadium kiosks; gates open at 3:00 PM. Tickets valid in paper or mobile electronic form.
Free tickets for spectators with significant disabilities (plus companion): apply by April 24, 2026, to events@speedwayevents.pl with subject “Bilet ETSC 2026” and proof of disability.
