MEET THE TEAMS | SWEDEN

SpeedwayOfNations.com profiles the stars competing for Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations gold in Togliatti. We start off with Sweden.

Despite Poland and Denmark’s dominance on the world stage in the 21st century, Sweden proved they could more than mix it with the best, winning the FIM Speedway World Cup in 2003, 2004 and 2015.

They have a team that could add to that tally of world titles in Togliatti as world No.3 Freddie Lindgren joins forces with the in-form Peter Ljung and their under-21 man Filip Hjelmland.

Lindgren has been in World Championship contention for the past two seasons and blasted his way to the FIM Speedway Grand Prix bronze medal in 2018, winning the ANLAS Czech SGP along the way.

Fast Freddie has now established himself as one of the top riders in world speedway and proved that in Monster Energy SON Race Off 1, scoring an 18-point maximum as Sweden won in Landshut to reach the Finals in Russia.

But Lindgren knew he couldn’t have done it without Ljung – a man who put in a performance would deserve a Best Supporting Rider award if speedway had its own equivalent of the Oscars.

Ljung may have scored six points in Germany, but he scored all of them from the outside gates – handing Lindgren gate one or two to ensure he had the best chance of winning the heats for his country.

It was a move that clearly paid off, but Ljung has proved he can also beat the best in the world this year. He is enjoying a fine season with table-topping Vastervik in the Swedish Elitserien and currently leads the Polish First Division averages in Tarnow colours.

If Vetlanda prospect Hjelmland can also play his part when called into action, Sweden could relieve Russia of their Monster Energy SON crown.