Speedway of Nations Night 3 recap: Germany make history at SON2 as Poland are stunned on tough night for Great Britain
Updated 03/10/2025 at 21:19 GMT+1
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The Marian Rose Motoarena in Poland welcomes the 2025 Speedway of Nations, with all the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Last year's edition saw Great Britain take the victory, powered by Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Tom Brennan. All three men are back this year to defend their crown. Tonight sees tomorrow's champions come to the fore, with the under-21 SON2.
‘He’s gotta go!’ - Mustonen disqualified after heart-in-mouth Heat 7 incident
Video credit: TNT Sports
Blodorn inspires underdogs Germany to rule SON2
Germany stunned the speedway world by winning the SON2 crown at the 2025 Speedway of Nations, beating the more fancied Denmark, Australia and Poland.
Hosts Poland had won the last 11 success SON2 titles but despite an impressive showing by prodigious 16-year-old Maksymilian Pawelczak, they failed to medal and Great Britain suffered a disappointing evening as they only dodged the wooden spoon in their final heat.
Instead, Belle Vue Aces star Norick Blodorn led his unfancied side to victory alongside breakout sensation Mario Hausl while the first female rider in SON history, Hannah Grunwald, also picks up a medal as the German reserve.
Hausl struggled off the line yet was an overtaking demon all night and crucially beat Australian captain James Pearson in Heat 5 as the Germans ultimately triumphed by one point over the green and gold pair.
Denmark looked to have set up a race-off in Heat 21 when they handed Germany their only defeat of the night but they couldn’t back it up against Poland in their final outing, opening the door for Germany to triumph and win their first team event at this level.
Poland’s domination of the event came to an end in spectacular fashion while Sweden endured a disappointing night and though Dan Thompson shone for Great Britain on his final under-21 appearance, he received no help from either of his teammates who only scored three points between them
Meanwhile Latvia finished last and Adam Bednar’s impressive performance for the Czech Republic as the top scorer of any country wasn’t enough to win a medal.
Blodorn: They were laughing at us, now we're on top.
Belle Vue's Norick Blodorn only dropped two points to opposition riders all night, and gave an emotional yet eloquent interview afterwards:
"It's hard to say what we feel. Nobody expected us to win, we didn't expect to win, I think most of the nations were laughing about our lineup before the meeting. I came into thise season saying I wanted to win a medal in U21s, didn't quite happen in SGP2.
"On Tuesday everyone was blaming us and now we just stand here on top. We didn't expect that, it's hard to say something because we weren't prepared for that."
Hausl added: The most I will remember is the win today with my time. Like Norick said, it was unexpected that we win here, I don’t know what to say.
And it's a moment to savour for manager Sascha Dorner after the German disappointment in the senior SON:
Now we’ve got the medal, it’s the first but not the last."
WATCH: "Horrific crash" leaves riders unscathed
For all the German jubilation, Damian Ratajczak and Rasmus Karlsson were lucky to walk away from this crash...
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Karlsson and Ratajczak unscathed after ‘shocking crash’ at SON2
Video credit: TNT Sports
Top-scoring riders
It's pandemonium in the German pits, they were complete underdogs tonight, yet as Denmark made a slow start and Australia and Poland faltered, Norick Blodorn and Mario Hausl kept plugging away.
There were plenty of other noteworthy performances - including from 16-year-old SGP3 champion Maksymilian Pawelczak who looks like a future superstar. What a night of speedway, and here were the riders who made it:
1. Bednar (CZE) - 27 points
2. Blodorn (GER) - 24
3. Pawelczak (POL) - 24
4. Thompson (GBR) - 23
5. Andersen (DEN) - 20
6. McDiarmid (AUS) - 19
7. Zischke (AUS) - 18
8. Hausl (GER) - 15
9. Henriksson (SWE) - 15
10. Nagle (DEN) - 14
SON2 FINAL STANDINGS
It's redemption for Blodorn, who failed to score when Germany were eliminated in the senior SON Final Qualifier on Tuesday, but has been a superstar tonight. Germany are champions!
1. Germany - 39
2. Denmark - 38
3. Australia - 37
4. Poland - 35
5. Czech Republic - 31
6. Sweden - 28
7. Great Britain - 26
8. Latvia - 18
GERMANY WIN SON2 AT THE SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS!
And that will do it! Jenicek has been nowhere all night and never looked like taking points off the Germans.
Heat 28 - Bednar (CZE), Blodorn (GER), Jenicek (CZE), Hausl (GER)
Adam Bednar clears off out in front but Blodorn's only focus is Hausl, who slides into second...
Heat 27-Pawelczak (POL), Nagel (DEN), Kawczynski (POL), Andersen (DEN)
WHAT A RACE BY MIKKEL ANDERSEN! It was disaster for Denmark on the opening lap as both Poles hit the front but Andersen rode on the fence for the next three circumnavigations to rescue four points.
However, a late move for third by Kawczynski means Germany need to just avoid last place against the Czech Republic to win.
And aside from Bednar, the other two Czech riders have scored just four points all night.
Heat 26 - Juhno (LAT), Thompson (GBR), Kaulins (LAT), Harrison (GBR)
GB finally come good, they score a 7-2 and will avoid the wooden spoon! Thompson once again hit the front but this time when he looked back, much to his surprise Luke Harrison was there in second - Thompson literally did a double take.
Heat 25 - Persson (SWE), McDiarmid (AUS), Henriksson (SWE), Zischke (AUS)
Tate Zischke might've thrown away the bronze medal! It was all going to plan for Australia as they ran into a 7-2 that would've guaranteed a place on the podium.
However, Erik Persson - who've improved throughout the evening - winds it up and snatches second place as Zischke leaves the door open.
If Poland score a 7-2 they can take it to a race-off.
Hausl: No nerves
The 18-year-old is competing on the biggest stage of his career tonight, but didn't seem flustered when speaking to TNT Sports:
"I'm feeling good, it's a little bit difficult on track with the setups but it's ok. Not really [any nerves], little bit. [Last heat] with a setup we did a mistake, we could not find the start, but the speed is there."
Standings - 4 Heats to go
If it stays like this, we'll get a race-off to decide the SON champion. With one heat to go, Denmark face Poland, while Germany are up against the Czech Republic. Whoever scores most, wins.
1. Denmark - 34
2. Germany - 34
3. Australia - 31
4. Poland - 30
5. Czech Republic - 27
6. Sweden - 25
7. Great Britain - 19
8. Latvia - 16
Heat 24 - McDiarmid (AUS), Bednar (CZE), Zischke (AUS), Jenicek (CZE)
Bednar and McDiarmid clash on the startline as both riders are preparing for launch, and the Australians have the last laugh despite Bednar taking another win.
That means Australia leapfrog Poland into the bronze medal position, and should be set for a podium place with Denmark facing Poland in the final block of heats.
Heat 23 - Thompson (GBR), Persson (SWE), Harrison (GBR), Henriksson (SWE)
Thompson finally wins a race! After five successive second places, he's the fastest starter and impressively holds off the charging Henriksson to take victory.
He's still the only Brit to score a point tonight though as Harrison finishes last. Again.
Heat 22 - Kaulins (LAT), Kawczynski (POL), Junho (LAT), Pawelczak (POL)
Poland move onto 30 points and they have a good shot at a medal now, even if they're still four points behind gold.
Pawelczak, just 16 years of age, takes his fourth win from five heats as Kaulins' bike packed up.
Heat 21 - Blodorn (GER), Andersen (DEN), Hausl (GER), Nagel (DEN)
IT'S A HUGE 6-3 TO DENMARK! Denmark lead the standings! And it's the worst possible time for Germany to fade!
Nagel and Hausl tangled at the first turn, though both stay up and Nagel quickly turns his sights on Blodorn out front.
The Germany was holding strong until the final lap, when Nagel flies up the inside to tie the sides!
Standings - 8 Heats to go
The upcoming Germany-Denmark heat will be pivotal.
1. Germany - 31 points
2. Denmark - 28
3. Australia - 26
4. Poland - 23
5. Czech Republic - 23
6. Sweden - 20
7. Great Britain - 15
8. Latvia - 14
Heat 20 - Bednar (CZE), Karlsson (SWE), Jenicek (CZE), Henriksson (SWE)
It's a 5-4 to Sweden that really suits neither side as Denmark, Poland and Australia look set to battle for the silver and bronze medals.
Bednar continues his impressive night but Jenicek can't back him up.
Heat 19 - Pedersen (DEN), Kaulins (LAT), Andersen (DEN), Filimonovs (LAT)
The Danes draw a point back on Germany as Nagel leads a 7-2 - he's looked like the best rider on his team despite starting as reserve.
Kaulins picks up the two points for Latvia who will face GB in a wooden spoon race-off in Heat 26.
Heat 18 - Blodorn (GER), Thompson (GBR), Hausl (GER), Killeen (GBR)
Germany rack up another six points and it's looking increasingly likely they will win SON2 for the first time!
GB's woeful night continues, Thompson has scored all of their points so far with five rides and five second places, this time he's behind Blodorn.
Heat 17 - Pawelczak (POL), McDiarmid (AUS), Zischke (AUS)
Kawczynski is eliminated on timing at the tapes and now it surely won't be a 12th successive SON2 victory for Poland now!
Pawelczak does his part by winning, but Australia pick up five points while Kawczynski looks distraught in the pits.
Standings after Heat 16
Germany will hope to pick up another win agaisnt Britain, then they face Denmark and Czech Republic to try and hold onto their lead.
1. Germany - 25 points
2. Australia - 21
3. Denmark - 21
4. Poland - 19
5. Czech Republic - 19
6. Sweden - 15
7. Latvia - 12
8. Great Britain - 12
Heat 16 - Vanicek (CZE), Kawczynski (POL), Bednar (CZE), Pawelczak (POL)
For the first time tonight, Bednar is beaten! Poland needed a result there and they got it, Kawczynski fires himself to the front from the tapes and though Bednar throws everything at him, the reserve holds on to clinch victory while Pawelczak is third.
Heat 15 - Thompson (GBR), McDiarmid (AUS), Killeen (GBR), Zischke (AUS)
There's three Australian-born riders in this heat as British reserve Killeen once again takes the place of Luke Harrison in the Ashes heat.
It's GB's best race of the night as Thompson and Killeen were both able to put pressure on leader McDiarmid and third-place Zischke but neither rider can make it count and it's abother 6-3 defeat.
Heat 14 - Kaulins (LAT), Blodorn (GER), Juhno (LAT), Hausl (GER)
Germany keep on rolling in their fourth heat of the night, Blodorn remains unbeaten by an opponent and while Hausl was initially in third, he's been an overtaking machine tonight and continues in that vein taking second place from Kaulins.
Hausl actually gets the better of Blodorn at the end too, he's sticking to the inside of the track and finding plenty of joy there.
Heat 13 - Henriksson (SWE), Nagel (DEN), Persson (SWE), Andersen (DEN)
What a mover by Andersen! Henriksson made a good start but Andersen's bike just launched off the exit of the first bend and he flew past the Swede.
There was a battle royale between that pair and Nagel, again in as a sub, and ultimately Denmark get a vital 6-4 after the disappointment of Andersen's exclusion last time out.
Standings after Heat 12
We're 12 heats down, 16 to go and Poland are under pressure:
1. Germany - 18 points
2. Czech Republic - 16
3. Australia - 15
4. Denmark - 15
5. Poland - 13
6. Sweden - 12
7. Latvia - 10
8. Great Britain - 9
Heat 12 Re-run - Nagel (DEN), McDiarmid (AUS), Zischke (AUS)
It's the best case scenario for Denmark - none of the riders reached the tapes before the clock finished counting down so all three riders are allowed to compete and Nagel wins the heat ahead of McDiarmid.
Heat 12 - Nagel (DEN), McDiarmid (AUS), Andersen (DEN), Zischke (AUS)
It's another stoppage as Zischke hits the fence after battling with Mikkel Andersen!
And the Dane is excluded in what seemed a pretty 50-50 incident, after team manager Nikki Pedersen had replaced his nephew with Nagel.
There's drama in the pits too! The clock is reset early and none of the riders are ready so they could all be excluded!
Heat 11 - Blodorn (GER), Kawczynski (POL), Hausl (GER), Pawelczak (POL)
WHAT A HEAT! It's the race of the night so far as all four riders swapped positions and Germany went from a 7-2 win to a 5-4 loss in the space of a corner as Pawelczak came under pressure from Hausl, then sent his open out wide and to the back.
Pawelczak was also giving Blodorn all sorts of trouble early on but ultimately Blodorn wins and Hausl takes third while Kawczynski can't capitalize and Germany win 6-3
Heat 10 - Karlsson (SWE), Juhno (LAT), Henriksson (SWE), Kaulins (LAT)
Disappointment for Swede as Karlsson's bike packs up! They were on course for 15 points after Karlsson slotted into second until then his bike packs up allowing Junho - back in the lineup - and Kaulins to score.
Heat 9 - Bednar (CZE), Thompson (GBR), Jenicek (CZE), Harrison (GBR)
There's panic for Bednar as he loses control of the bike on lap three in the lead and was headed to the air fence, yet he keeps it under control and in truth this heat was over after the first bend.
Thompson once again finishes second but has had no support from his teammate all night.
Standings after Heat 8
It's all change at the top after Poland and Australia were beaten in that last block, here's how they stand:
1. Germany - 12 points
2. Denmark - 11
3. Poland - 10
4. Australia - 10
5. Czech Republic - 10
6. Sweden - 8
7. Great Britain - 6
8. Latvia - 5
Heat 8 - Thompson (GBR), Pedersen (DEN), Kileen (GBR), Andersen (DEN)
It's a frustrating heat for GB, who are the only team except Latvia yet to win a heat. Thompson flew away from the start and his side were on a 6-3 momentarily.
However, Australian-born substitute Luke Killeen is relegated to the back by Bastian Pedersen and he pressurises Thompson for the rest of the race after he was passed by Mikkel Andersen.
Heat 7 - Kaulins (LAT), Bednar (CZE), Filimonovs (LAT), Jenicek (CZE)
"In a class of his own in front!" TNT Sports' Kelvin Tatum exclaims in commentary, as Bednar makes a jet-propelled start and in a different camera shot to the rest of the three riders by the end of the first lap.
Behind, Kaulins limits the damage for the Czech Republic but Latvian substitute Damirs Filiminovs fails to make his mark.
Heat 6 - Pawelczak (POL), Karlsson (SWE), Henriksson (SWE)
Three starts, three supreme getaways by Pawelczak! He doesn't have it all his own way for the rest of the 4 laps, he was riding too tight and that allowed Henriksson to challenge but eventually the Pole finds his groove to win his second heat.
With Ratajczak excluded though, the Danes win 5-4.
Rickardsson: Ratajczak exclusion the right decision
They're still reparing the barrier so TNT Sports caught up with the legendary Tony Rickardsson on the incident:
"This is one of these high-speed crashes you don't want to see. It was really close to a racing incident because Rasmus [Karlsson] couldn't really see him coming from the back, Ratajczak was coming in, tried to get the line and they just collided, caught his handlebar, that was a horrific crash.
"It's hard on the decision, I think he made the right call. I'm Swedish but as a rider point of view you can't see when someone comes around you, I think he [Ratajczak] leaned in a bit too much to the left, caught his handlebar and made them crash."
Heat 6 - Pawelczak (POL), Karlsson (SWE), Ratajczak (POL), Henriksson (SWE)
HUGE CRASH! Karlsson and Ratajczak collide at high speed at the end of the straight as they were battling for third.
Pawelczak had fired himself to the front but behind it looked like a 5-4 for Sweden until Karlsson got too defensive and allowed Ratajczak into third, behind Henriksson.
Then as the Swede looked to get back he drifts and Ratajczak drift together, it's a hard one to call and the Pole is on his feet.
Karlsson took longer to recover but he can go in the re-run as Ratajczak is excluded.
Heat 5 - Pearson (AUS), Blodorn (GER), Zischke (AUS), Hausl (GER)
What a ride by Mario Hausl! Australia named their skipper James Pearson as reserve and put him into Heat 5 instead of Mitchell McDiarmid but it backfires horribly!
Blodorn fires himself to the front but Hausl had a terrible run to turn two and appeared to be out of the running. However, he reeled Pearson in as the captain was sticking to the mid-track and then Hausl pounces, sliding up the inside for a 6-4.
Standings after Heat 4
Remember, unlike in the senior Speedway of Nations, each team only races once in each block of four heats. So after everyone's raced once, here's how they stand:
1. Australia - 7 points
2. Poland - 6
3. Germany - 6
4. Denmark - 5
5. Czech Republic - 4
6. Sweden - 3
7. Great Britain - 3
8. Latvia - 2
Rickardsson: Germany the surprise package
Sweden's Tony Rickardsson won six world championships, and he's been casting his eye over the running order for TNT Sports:
"Looking into the lineup and how they've been going so far, obviously Denmark and Poland look really strong on paper but big surprise for Germany, I think they did really well. They kept their pair together and in this format it's so important to keep together as a team."
Heat 4 – Pedersen (DEN), Bednar (CZE), Andersen (DEN), Jenicek (CZE)
Bednar continues his impressive form in Torun! However, it's advantage Denmark as Jan Jenicek was left in the dust.
Heat 3 – Blodorn (GER), Henriksson (SWE), Hausl (GER), Karlsson (SWE)
Norick Blodorn looked like the most experienced rider here as he bolted away from the startline and threatened to win by a straight, but Sweden relegated the young Mario Hausl to last place and the heat advantage in a pincer movement.
However, the German responds well and repasses Casper Henriksson while Rasmus Karlsson showed good speed to keep Blodorn pinned without ever getting close enough to try a pass.
Heat 2 – McDiarmid (AUS), Kaulins (LAT), Zischke (AUS), Juhno (LAT)
The Australians fly out the gate! It looked like a slam dunk 7-2 after the first bend and though they threatened to clash at one stage, Tate Zischke rides out the pressure from Nikita Kaulins to win.
Heat 1 – Thompson (GBR), Pawelczak (POL), Harrison (GBR), Ratajczak (POL)
27 more of those please! Dan Thompson was just cut off at the first corner by the 16-year-old Maksymilian Pawelczak, and it looked like disaster for GB when he was momentarily passed by Damian Ratajczak too.
However, the skipper recovers well to claim second place, meaning it's 6-3 to Poland.
Riders are out
It'll be GB up first.
T-5 minutes
The riders have been introduced to the crowd, the Polish national anthem has played, will it be playing at the end of the evening for an 18th time in SON2?
Denmark could be their strongest challengers under Hans Andersen, a name familiar to many British speedway fans, while Adam Bubba Bednar starred as the Czech Republic reached the senior SON final - Bednar won the race-off for the final place in Saturday's showpiece.
Norick Blodorn also raced in the main event but Germany failed to progress while don't expect too much from Great Britain, after Leon Flint's graduated from the youth ranks they're in something of a rebuilding phase.
Can Poland be stopped?
Poland have won this event 17 times, and were last beaten in 2013 by Denmark. That was the second time the Danes had triumphed while Russia took victory in 2011, the only other time Poland's supremacy has been interrupted.
TNT Sports is live!
And you can tune in now to the live action on TNT Sports 3 and discovery+! There's all the build-up from Kelvin Tatum and Chris Louis before Heat 1 gets underway at 18:00 UK time.
Meet the teams
Poland: 1. Maksymilian Pawelczak, 2. Damian Ratajczak (captain), 3. Antoni Kawczynski.
Great Britain: 1. Dan Thompson (captain), 2. Luke Harrison, 3. Luke Killeen.
Australia: 1. Mitchell McDiarmid, 2. Tate Zischke, 3. James Pearson (captain).
Germany: 1. Norick Blodorn (captain), 2. Mario Hausl, Hannah Grunwald.
Denmark: 1. Bastian Pedersen (captain), 2. Mikkel Andersen, 3. Villads Nagel.
Czech Republic 1. Adam Bubba Bednar (captain), 2. Jan Jenicek, 3. Jaroslav Vanicek.
Sweden: 1. Casper Henriksson (captain), 2. Rasmus Karlsson, 3. Erik Persson.
Latvia: 1. Nikita Kaulins (captain), 2. Artjoms Juhno, 3. Damirs Filimonovs.
How does it work?
Tonight’s final features eight teams and takes place over 28 heats, and each team has three riders.
Two are named as starters and the third one is in reserve but in practice each team manager can put any of their riders in any of their heats, and can put either rider on either of their team’s allocated gate in that heat.
Each heat features two riders from two countries facing off while importantly the points system first-to-last is 4-3-2-0 (rather than 3-2-1-0 like in the Premiership or Grand Prix), which encourages team riding.
Basically, don't finish last!
Each country races seven heats over the course of the evening, and faces all the other finalists once. Whoever has scored the most points after Heat 28 is the winner - unlike the senior Speedway of Nations there's no Final.
Hello and welcome
The Speedway of Nations 2025 continues with the under-21s come to the fore, and we will be providing coverage right here as the evening progresses.
Eight teams are involved including Great Britain, but who will triumph over 28 heats?
All the action is live on TNT Sports and discovery+ with Heat 1 getting underway at 18:00 and coverage live from Torun at 17:45 (both UK time).
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