SGP STAT SUNDAY | RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

In our latest SGP Stat Sunday feature, SpeedwayGP.com takes a look at the sport’s Russian revolution in numbers.

It has been a year to remember for Russian fans. Emil Sayfutdinov, Artem Laguta and Gleb Chugunov’s Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations triumph in Wroclaw on June 9 saw the country win its first speedway world title of any kind – individual, pairs or team.

Things could get even better in 2019 as they defend their championship on home shale at the Monster Energy SON Finals in Togliatti on July 20 and 21.

To celebrate, we feature some of the key numbers in Russia’s rise to the top of the speedway world.

5: The number of silver medals won by the USSR between 1964 and 1975 in the old World Team Cup Finals – previously the nation’s best ever finish in a world team championship.

2^nd: Still the best finish by a Russian rider in the individual World Championship, achieved by Igor Plechanov in back-to-back World Finals at Gothenburg in 1964 and Wembley in 1965.

1^st: Sayfutdinov’s position in his first ever FIM Speedway Grand Prix event as he topped the podium at the 2009 Czech SGP in Prague.

3^rd: Sayfutdinov’s finish in his debut SGP in 2009 as he claimed the first individual World Championship medal won by a Russian rider in 44 years.

24: Number of points scored by Sayfutdinov as he raced to the holy grail of an SGP maximum in Krsko to claim his third FIM Speedway Grand Prix victory of 2009. In addition to his Prague and Krsko wins, he also topped the box in Gothenburg.

20: Laguta’s age when he made his FIM Speedway Grand Prix debut in 2011 after winning the 2010 GP Challenge at Vojens. He finished 15^th overall with 28 points.

2012: The year Russia claimed its first world team medal of the 21^st century, when they finished third at the FIM Speedway World Cup Final in Malilla, with a team featuring Sayfutdinov, Artem and Grigorii Laguta and Roman Povazhny.

2: Speedway European Championships won by Sayfutdinov as he topped the 2014 and 2015 podium during a three-year break from SGP racing.

2017: The year Sayfutdinov returned to the World Championship, finishing sixth, with things getting even better for Russia as Artem Laguta finished second in the GP Challenge to join him for 2018.

4^th: Laguta’s position in his first ever SGP final in Warsaw as he made an impressive return to the sport’s biggest stage after six seasons out.

3: Points scored by Russia in the Monster Energy SON Grand Final race as Laguta and Sayfutdinov filled second and third behind Great Britain star Tai Woffinden to break Lions’ hearts and win their first world team title.

20: Points scored by Laguta on his way to second place at the season-closing Torun SGP. He raced to a maximum in his heats and semi-final, only be denied victory by Woffinden in the final.

6^th: Laguta’s final position in the World Championship with Sayfutdinov not far behind on eighth. Emil also joined Artem on the Torun podium to cap off a special season for the Russians.