First Swede to enter the FIM Flat Track WC

Finland already has a two time World Champion in Lasse Kurvinen and most likely another one in line with Saku Purtilo doing his second year in the World Championship serie. But Sweden had no one even entering the serie so far. In the beginning of Flat track in Europe Swede Åke Jansson raced the world cup but since than in about ten years, silence from Sweden. FIM Flat Track WC includes the best riders in Europe as well as a few from other continents like the American Sammy Halbert and Argentinian Santiago Arangio. Their participation prooves that the FIM Flat Track WC gaining respect and attraction even outside Europe.

But back to Sweden the sport has been growing over the past five six years and from a handfull of riders we are close to 200 active riders. The Swedish federation are happy about the development and are now welcoming that Sweden finally getting a rider into the WC.

The first Swede to enter is Conny Ivarsson who actually tomorrow turns 61, crazy old in this company, but Ivarsson is still on fire when it comes to track racing. The past years he has basically won every championship signed up for both national and international.

But trust me he is very well aware of the much harder competition in the World Championship:

– Yes last night I asked myself what I have done, signing up for this. Im at least twice as old as most of the other ones and all of them are fast as hell, so I belive its going to be really though to keep up but I will certainly give it a go and do my very best, he says.

Ivarsson have until this year raced mostly Thunderbike so the WC participation also means a bike change.

– Yes you can only ride 450 dirt bike in the WC so when the thoughts about a WC came into my mind I realized a bike change was needed. I bought the dirt bike last year but it was meant for Enduro, but the closer spring I got and the application for WC was done I started changing the bike getting other suspenspion and wheels etc. But it feels really good so far. Need some more adjustments and definatly as many laps as possible before the first battle in WC takes place.

Ivarsson was offered to race the full serie of FIM Flat Track WC, but choosed to go for a Wild card on selected events instead.

– Yes it would have been awesome to be able to ride the full serie, but its extremly costly and we just dont have that money to spend. We got a few sponsors onboard but its gear mostly so money wise we hope we can raise some to cover diesel of the van, ferry tickets, fees and gear we didn’t manage to get sponsors for. But I have faith so we will make it with a little help from partners, friends and family.

Ivarsson is actually doing his second World Championship, but the first one was already 1988 in speedway. Its exciting that its possible to race for so many years even if the level and goals changes over time.

We wish Ivarsson to kick some ass and that he stays on top as long as possible. We will definatly follow his WC-journey and we bet there will be one or two speedwayfans of his who will cheer too.