Antone finished second with the SGP4 crown for the second year in a row

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Antone finished second with the SGP4 crown for the second year in a row

FIM 2024 World Youth Speed Racing Championship – SGP4

American young gun Brady Landon won his second FIM Speedway Youth World Cup (SGP4) by a maximum of 15 points at the Swedish venue Målilla on Saturday.

Project SGP4 first debuted last year as part of Warner Bros.’s vision. Discovery Sports aims to train a new generation of champions, with six-time world champion Tony Rickardsson designing a 190cc bike to train the sport’s newest riders, aged between 11 and 13. Racers from nine different countries and four different continents head to the iconic Målilla circuit in the Swedish forest, fighting their way through 20 grueling laps on the Skrotfrag Arena circuit.

US SGP4 champion Brady Landon with four-time Speedway GP world champion Greg Hancock. Image by Taylor Lanning

Landon, 13, was undefeated in five races to win the gold medal. Australia’s Cooper Antone is second with 13 points and Denmark’s Niklas Bager is third with 10 points, repeating their podium finishes from the 2023 SGP4 event.

Landon was delighted to take home his first SGP4 championship title after making the long trip to Sweden from California.

Brady Landon

“I feel extremely excited about everything. My coach Gino Manzares helped me a lot – it wouldn’t have been possible without him. It was a lot of fun and I loved the track and the competition. I hope to continue at the highest speed possible. Maybe one day I can become world champion.”

Landon’s family celebrates with Brady. Image by Taylor Lanning

Runner-up Antone from Albury-Wodonga, located on the New South Wales-Victoria border, enjoyed his second SGP4 experience. Antone also placed second in 2023.

Cooper Antone

“I’m feeling quite excited. I’m happy to ride here again. I was hoping to win it this time but I couldn’t. Brady is better today. He won every race possible. Niklas also rides very well. So I can’t blame anything.”

Bager, who placed third, said: “I fought very stubbornly. Others are very good. I did what I could to win. It’s not good enough to be first today. But I feel happy with my results. It was a good track, the event was very well organized and the motorbikes were very well prepared. It’s fun!”

The event culminated in a battle for medals, with Australia’s Sonny Spurgin, Swedish stars Adrian Axelsson and Fabian Magnusson, and Ukrainian rider Arsen Mykulchyn all finishing on nine points, just short of the podium a little bit.

There was also a memorable moment for Czech rider Stepanka Nyklova as SGP4’s first female rider took a commanding victory on her way to a fantastic five-point haul.

Swedish legend Tony Rickardsson

“What a great performance you guys put on. I couldn’t believe the excitement on the track. I think my heart stopped about four times per race! I couldn’t believe how well everything went, the whole organization was amazing. Being here is wonderful. The racing the boys ran today was second to none. I think this was one of the best Grand Prix meetings I’ve ever seen, even compared to the Speedway GP, so thank you guys, you did a great job!

“I think we also need to give the parents a big round of applause for their efforts. I know flying halfway around the world to have the kids compete here isn’t cheap, but having these guys here really makes us happy. So thank you to everyone, all the sponsors and parents who are both mechanics and managers.

“We have proven that the SGP4 concept works in real life. It’s really important for us to grow the sport and make it available to more families. This is a program that aims to reach down to the grassroots level and reach drivers and families from new countries and regions.”