The Speedway Grand Prix Bureau of the FIM, has announced the four permanent Wild Cards and calendar for the 2008 world championship FIM Speedway Grand Prix Series (SGP).

The permanent Wild Card places that complete the full rider line-up for the 2008 Series are:

Chris HARRIS - GREAT BRITAIN
 
Andreas JONSSON - SWEDEN
 
Krzysztof KASPRZAK - POLAND
 
Frederik LINDGREN - SWEDEN

Commenting on the 2008 SGP rider line-up, Paul Bellamy, Managing Director, BSI Speedway, said: “Over the past few years the process of picking the wild cards has been made slightly easier by the performances of certain competitors.  All of the selected riders have demonstrated they are capable of competing at the top level and have the drive and determination to win Grands Prix and the ability to be future contenders for the world title.”

Ole Olsen, FIM Speedway Grand Prix Race Director said: “The selected Wild Cards have all shown great promise in this year’s Grand Prix Series.  Chris Harris won the British GP and Andreas Jonsson finished the season on a high with first place at the German GP and the added bonus of a cheque for $100,000.  Both Krzysztof Kasprzak and Frederik Lindgren put in impressive performances as wild cards in their respective Grands Prix, proving they have the talent and focus to make it on the world scene. 

“The four wild cards will join the top eight riders from the final classification of the 2007 FIM Speedway Grand Prix Series and three riders from the GP qualifier: Bjarne Pedersen; Niels-Kristian Iversen and Lukas Dryml – all of whom have Grand Prix experience and know what it takes to be a world class contender.  The 2008 rider line-up is one of the strongest we have seen for many years and I am sure it is going to be one of the most exciting seasons to date.”

The 2008 rider line-up and calendar are detailed below.

2008 FIM INDIVIDUAL SPEEDWAY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND PRIX RIDER LINE-UP

QUALIFIED RIDERS

1 NICKI PEDERSEN
2 LEIGH ADAMS
3 JASON CRUMP
4 TOMASZ GOLLOB
5 HANS ANDERSEN
6 GREG HANCOCK
7 RUNE HOLTA
8 SCOTT NICHOLLS
9 CHRIS HARRIS
10 ANDREAS JONSSON
11 BJARNE PEDERSEN
12 NIELS KRISTIAN IVERSEN
13 LUKAS DRYML
14 KRZYSZTOF KASPRZAK
15 FREDERIK LINDGREN
16 WILD CARD
 
QUALIFIED RESERVES
  
19 LUBOS TOMICEK
20 KENNETH BJERRE
21 RAFAL DOBRUCKI
22 JONAS DAVIDSSON
23 RENAT GAFUROV
24 DENIS GIZATULLIN

2008 CALENDAR FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX  (CONFIRMED)

26th April SLOVENIA KRSKO
10th May POLAND LESZNO
24th May SWEDEN GOTHENBURG
14th June DENMARK COPENHAGEN
28th June GREAT BRITAIN CARDIFF
2nd August CZECH REPUBLIC PRAGUE
16th August SWEDEN MALILLA
30th August LATVIA DAUGAVPILS
13th September POLAND BYDGOSZCZ
27th September ITALY LONIGO
11th OCTOBER GERMANY GELSENKIRCHEN