What are the main competitions held in Denmark?

From: Kevin Meynell & Janus Millard

Danish League (Dansk Speedway Liga)

This is the highest level of league competition in Denmark and consists of six teams. Matches are held as a series of rounds between April and September, normally on Wednesdays.

Each team races every other team in the league once at home and once away, making a total of ten matches. Teams are awarded three points for a win, two points for a draw, and one point for a defeat. A team is also awarded a bonus point for an aggregate win over home and away matches against another team. However, any team starting a match with up to two riders missing, has one point deducted for each missing rider. If they have more than two riders missing, they forfeit the match.

Final placings are determined by points accumulated over all matches. Where two or more teams are tied on league points, the team scoring the greater number of race points is placed higher.

There is no automatic promotion and relegation as membership of the league is by application.

Dansk Speedway Liga: Brovst, Fredericia (Fjelsted), Holsted, Holsted, Kronjylland (Fladbro), Outrup, Slangerup

Division 1 and 2

This is the second and third level of league competition in Denmark, and is mostly for amateur riders. Division 1 can have a maximum of eight teams, with the remaining teams in Division 2.

Meetings are held between April and September, normally on Saturdays. There is a mid-summer break in July.

Meetings are staged using a four-team format. In Division 1, each team races fourteen times, including three or four times at home. In Division 2, each team races ten times, including two or three times at home. Teams are awarded three points for winning a meeting, two points for finishing second, one point for finishing third, and no points for finishing fourth. However, any team starting a meeting short-handed has one point deducted for every missing rider.

Final placings are determined by points accumulated over all meetings. Where two or more teams are tied on league points, the team scoring the greater number of race points is placed higher.

In principle, the bottom team in Division 1 is relegated and replaced by the highest-placed team in Division 2 whose parent club does not already have a team in Division 1, but this does not always happen for financial or other reasons. There is also no promotion and relegation if the bottom team in Division 1 and the top team in Division 2 are from the same club.

Division 1: Fjelsted, Glumsø, Grindsted, Holstebro, Holsted I, Holsted II, Outrup, Slangerup
Division 2: Silkeborg (Elling), Esbjerg (Korskro), Fjelsted, Grindsted, Holstebro, Outrup

Danish Super Cup

This is an end-of-season competition for the top five teams in the Danish League. It is held as a single event hosted by the winning team from the previous season.

See the rules for the Speedway World Cup for further details on how this meeting is run (the five-team format is used).

Danish Individual Championship

This competition is open to riders holding a Danish passport and a valid DMU licence. Riders wishing to compete must submit their entries at least four weeks before the first meeting of the competition.

Any riders who competed in the Speedway Grand Prix or World Championship Qualifying rounds during the previous season are seeded directly to the Final. The DMU may also seed other riders directly to the Final at their discretion.

Either one or two Semi-Finals are staged according to the number of entered riders, excluding the seeded riders. Riders are selected for these rounds according to the previous season's Danish averages.

If one Semi-Final is held, the highest-placed riders (plus two reserves) take the remaining places in the Final. If two Semi-Finals are held, the highest-placed riders (plus one reserve) in each round take half of the remaining places in the Final.

The winner of the Final is awarded a gold medal and declared Danish Individual Champion. Riders finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively. In addition, the final classification determines which riders qualify for the World Individual Speedway Championship.

See 'What are the rules for Individual Meetings?' for further details on how each round is run.

Danish Junior Individual Championship

This competition is open to riders holding a Danish passport, a valid DMU licence, and who are under the age of twenty-one on 1 January in the year of the competition. Riders wishing to compete must submit their entries at least four weeks before the first meeting of the competition.

If there are seventy-two or more entries, four Quarter-Finals are staged. If there are at least fifty-four, but less than seventy-two entries, three Quarter-Finals are staged. If there are less than fifty-four entries, two Semi-Finals only are held. Riders are selected for these rounds according to the previous season's Danish averages.

When four Quarter-Finals are staged, the top eight riders (plus one reserve) in each progress to the Semi-Finals. When three Quarter-Finals are staged, the top ten riders (plus two reserves) from one round, and the top eleven riders (plus one reserve) from each of the other rounds, progress to the Semi-Finals. The top eight riders (plus one reserve) from each Semi-Final meet in the Final.

The winner of the Final is awarded a gold medal and declared Danish Junior Individual Champion. Riders finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively. In addition, the final classification determines which riders qualify for the World Junior Speedway Championship.


What other competitions are held in Denmark?

From: Kevin Meynell & Janus Millard

Youth Leagues

These 80cc competitions are for riders between eight and eighteen years of age. Riders are no longer eligible once they start riding in 500cc speedway, which they may do when they are sixteen.

There are currently twenty-nine teams divided into three divisions; eight in Division 1, eleven in Division 2, and ten in Division 3. No club can have more than one team in Division 1 or 2, nor more than two teams in Division 3.

Meetings are staged using a four-team format. In Division 1, each team races fourteen times, including three or four times at home. In Division 2 and 3, each team initially races seven times, including once or twice at home.

In Division 2 and 3, the teams will be split into two sections after the initial rounds. No further information as to the exact format is currently available.

Teams are awarded three points for winning a meeting, two points for finishing second, one point for finishing third, and no points for finishing fourth. Final placings are determined by points accumulated over all meetings. Where two or more teams are tied on league points, the team scoring the greater number of race points is placed higher.

There is promotion and relegation between the divisions on a similar basis to the senior competitions.

Division 1: Bred, Esbjerg (Korskro), Fjelsted, Fredericia (Vejlby), Grindsted, Herning (Uhre), Outrup, Vojens
Division 2: Bred, Esbjerg (Korskro), Fjelsted, Fredericia (Vejlby), Glumsø, Holsted, København, Odense (Korsløkke), Outrup, Slangerup, Vojens
Division 3: Bred, Brovst, Herning (Uhre), Fredericia (Vejlby), Holsted, Munkebo, Silkeborg I (Elling), Silkeborg II (Elling), Slangerup I, Slangerup II

Micro Leagues

Information for the 2004 competitions is not yet available

These 50cc competitions are for riders between three and ten years of age. Riders are no longer eligible once they start riding in 80cc speedway, which they may do when they are eight.

There are currently twenty-four teams equally divided into three divisions. Meetings are staged using a four-team format and are held as a series of tournaments at different venues. In all divisions, each team races seven times.

Teams are awarded three points for winning a meeting, two points for finishing second, one point for finishing third, and no points for finishing fourth. Final placings are determined by points accumulated over all meetings. Where two or more teams are tied on league points, the team scoring the greater number of race points is placed higher.

There is promotion and relegation between the divisions on a similar basis to the senior competitions.

Division 1: Fredericia, Herning, Holsted, Munkebo, Skærbæk, Slangerup
Division 2: Esbjerg, Fjelsted, Fredericia, Herning, Holsted, Munkebo, Outrup, Slangerup
Division 3: Esbjerg, Fredericia, Glumsø, Herning I, Herning II, Holsted I, Holsted II, Outrup, Slangerup

Old Boys League

This competition is for riders over thirty-three years of age. Meetings are staged using a four-team format, with each team racing eight times, including once at home.

Teams are awarded three points for winning a meeting, two points for finishing second, one point for finishing third, and no points for finishing fourth. Final placings are determined by points accumulated over all meetings. Where two or more teams are tied on league points, the team scoring the greater number of race points is placed higher.

Old Boys: Brovst, Funen (Munkebo), Fredericia (Vojens), Gandrup (Fladbro), Herning, (Uhre), Kronjylland (Fladbro), Slangerup, Silkeborg (Uhre)


What are the rules for team selection in the Danish League?

From: Kevin Meynell & Janus Millard

Each Danish League team must nominate a squad of between ten and twelve riders by 31 January each year. These riders must previously have ridden at least four meetings in a recognised national league.

Rider averages are used to govern actual team selection. A CMA (Calculated Match Average) is given to each rider that has ridden at least three matches during the previous season. This CMA is then retained throughout the forthcoming season, although for the purpose of determining the reserves, a new CMA is issued once a rider has completed three matches.

The CMA of a rider is calculated as follows:

Total Points (excluding Bonus Points) / Total Rides x 4

Riders that have never established a CMA are given an assessed average as follows:

  1. Danish Division 1 CMA x 0.8
  2. British Elite League CMA x 2.5
  3. British Premier League CMA x 1.8
  4. Polish Extra League CMA x 2.5
  5. Polish First League CMA x 1.8
  6. Polish Second League CMA x 1.8
  7. Swedish Elite League CMA x 2.5
  8. Swedish Allsvenskan CMA x 1.8
  9. German Bundesliga CMA x 1.0
  10. German 2nd Bundesliga CMA x 0.8
  11. Other League CMA x 1.0

Assessed CMAs are subject to a minimum value of 3.00 and a maximum value of 12.00. If a rider has established a CMA in two or more leagues, the CMA from the league where they rode the most meetings is applicable.

Riders that have not ridden in another league are given an assessed average of 3.00 if they rode in 80cc speedway during the previous season. Other riders are given an assessed average that is considered appropriate to their experience.

Each team must nominate six riders from their squad for each match. The combined CMAs of these riders must not exceed 42 points, and must not be less than 36 points.

A team may use up to two guest riders per match subject to the following conditions:

Any team starting a match with a combined CMA that exceeds the maximum points limit, has any points scored by the rider with the highest CMA deducted. Any team starting a match with a combined CMA less than the minimum points limit is fined. In addition, any team starting a match with just four or five riders has one match point deducted for each missing rider. A team forfeits the match if they arrive with less than four riders.


What are the rules for Danish League matches?

From: Kevin Meynell & Janus Millard

These matches are held between two teams of six riders who are numbered 1 to 6. The rider with the lowest average in each team is the reserve and must be programmed at No. 6. In addition, the three riders with the highest averages in each team are the heat-leaders and must be programmed at Nos. 1, 3 and 5 (in any order).

The heat format is determined as follows:

Heat HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM
Red Blue White Y/B
1: 1  (A) 2  (C) 1  (B) 2  (D)
2: 4  (B) 3  (D) 4  (A) 3  (C)
3: 5  (B) 6  (D) 5  (A) 6  (C)
4: 2  (A) 1  (C) 3  (B) 4  (D)
5: 3  (A) 4  (C) 6  (B) 5  (D)
6: 6  (B) 5  (D) 2  (A) 1  (C)
7: 2  (B) 1  (D) 6  (A) 5  (C)
8: 4  (A) 3  (C) 2  (B) 1  (D)
9: 6  (A) 5  (C) 4  (B) 3  (D)
10: 1  (B) 4  (D) 1  (A) 4  (C)
11: 3  (B) 2  (D) 3  (A) 2  (C)
12: 5  (A) 4  (C) 5  (B) 4  (D)
13: 3  (A) 6  (C) 3  (B) 6  (D)
14: 5  (B) 1  (D) 5  (A) 1  (C)
15: 6  (A) 2  (C) 6  (B) 2  (D)
16: Top Scorers *  (B) *  (D) *  (A) *  (C)

Riders take the starting gate positions indicated in parentheses. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.

Each rider may have a maximum of seven rides, which includes tactical substitute and Heat 16 rides. The reserve may take their rides at any time, but they may not replace riders excluded for exceeding the two minute time allowance. All exclusions count towards the maximum number of rides.

All riders must take at least one ride, otherwise they are deemed to be missing and their team is penalised accordingly.

In Heats 4 to 15, a team behind by seven or more points may substitute a programmed rider with any other rider in the team, provided each rider is not used as a tactical substitute more than twice. A substitute rider takes the helmet colour and starting gate position of the replaced rider. Both riders in a heat may be substituted in this manner, provided the Referee is clearly notified which substitute replaces which rider.

Heat 16 is for the two highest scoring riders from each team. The scores from all rides are counted and bonus points are included. In the event of one of these riders being declared injured prior to the start of the heat, or having already taken their maximum number of rides, the next highest scoring rider becomes eligible instead. The only other permitted replacement is the reserve.

The team scoring the greater number of points over all heats is declared the winner. When teams score an equal number of points, the match is declared a draw.

In the event of weather forcing a match to be abandoned, the result will stand if at least nine heats have been completed.


What are the rules for Danish Four Team Tournaments?

From: Kevin Meynell, Janus Millard & Jens Foldager

Teams comprise four riders who are numbered 1 to 4, with no reserves. Team A wears the red helmet colour, Team B wears the blue helmet colour, Team C wears the white helmet colour, whilst Team D wears the yellow/black helmet colour.

The heat format is determined as follows:

Heat Gate A Gate B Gate C Gate D
1: C4 B1 A4 D2
2: B2 A3 D1 C3
3: A2 C1 B4 D3
4: B3 A1 D4 C2
5: C1 D4 B2 A4
6: A3 C2 D3 B1
7: D1 C4 B3 A2
8: C3 D2 A1 B4
9: B4 A4 C2 D1
10: D2 B3 C1 A3
11: B1 C3 A2 D4
12: D3 B2 C4 A1
13: D4 B4 A3 C4
14: A4 D3 C3 B3
15: C2 A2 D2 B2
16: A1 D1 B1 C1
17: Nominated C* D* A* B*

Riders take the starting gate positions indicated. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.

No rider is required to take a minimum number of rides.

Each team must nominate a rider for Heat 17.

Race points scored over all heats are used to determine the final placings. Where two or more teams are tied for a place, each team nominates a rider for a runoff.


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