Matej Žagar

Matej Žagar (born 3 April 1983 in Ljubljana, Slovenia) is a Slovenian motorcycle speedway rider who was won Individual Speedway European Champion titles (Senior in 2004 and 2008; Under 19 in 2002). He was permanent speedway rider in 2006 and 2007 Speedway Grand Prix seasons. He was touted as a potential GP wildcard for the 2012 SGP season following impressive and consistent performances in the Polish Extraliga with Gorzow, but turned down the opportunity to replace Darcy Ward due to the 1GP rider in the Extraliga and his contract with Gorzow, where 2010 world champion Tomasz Gollob was signed up.

Matej Žagar
Born (1983-04-03) 3 April 1983
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Nationality Slovenia
Websitematejzagar55.com
Current club information
Czech leaguePardubice
Polish leagueWłókniarz Częstochowa
Swedish leagueVastervik
Career history
2004-7Reading Racers (GBR)
2006Częstochowa (POL)
2007Toruń (POL)
2008Rzeszów (POL)
2010Eastbourne Eagles (GBR)
2013–2016Belle Vue Aces (GBR)
Speedway Grand Prix statistics
SGP Number55
Starts107
Podiums19 (5-8-6)
Finalist23 time
Winner5 times
Individual honours
2004, 2008European Champion
2002Under-19 European Champion
2014Finnish Grand Prix Champion
2015Warsaw Grand Prix Champion
2015Gorzow Grand Prix Champion
2017German Grand Prix Champion
2017Stockholm Grand Prix Champion
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018Slovenian Speedway Champion
Team honours
2003
2014, 2016
European Club Champion
Speedway Ekstraliga
2013, 2014Czech Republic Championship

He began his UK career with the Trelawny Tigers in 2003 before moving to the Reading Racers in 2004 when the Tigers closed. He later represented Reading, Swindon and Eastbourne before quitting the UK scene after an underwhelming 2010 campaign. He returned after signing for the Belle Vue Aces in 2013.

Career highlights

Individual World Championship (Speedway Grand Prix)

    • 2003 - 30th place (5 points)
    • 2004 - 27th place (8 points)
    • 2005 - 16th place (23 points)
    • 2006 - 7th place (97 points)
    • 2007 - 14th place (54 points)
    • 2008 - 20th place (7 points)
    • 2009 - 19th place (7 points)
    • 2011 - 19th place (14 points)
    • 2013 - 7th place (110 points)
    • 2014 - 5th place (114 points)
    • 2015 - 6th place (107 points)
    • 2016 - 9th place (90 points)

Individual U-21 World Championship

    • 2004 - 6th place (8 points)
    • 2004 - track reserve (1 point)
    • 2004 - 5th place (10 points)
    • 2004 - 3rd place (8 points and 3rd in Final)

Team World Championship (Speedway World Cup)

    • 2001 - 6 points in Preliminary Round 1
    • 2002 - 10th-11th place (5 points in Event 3)
    • 2003 - 9th place (13 points in Event 2)
    • 2004 - 9th-10th place (18 points in Qualifying Round 2)
    • 2005 - 9th-10th place (11 points in Qualifying Round 2)
    • 2006 - 9th-10th place (17 points in Qualifying Round 2)
    • 2007 - 13th-14th place (16 points in Qualifying Round 1)
    • 2008 - 11th-12th place
    • 2009 - 4th place in Semi-finals (10 points in semi-final)
    • 2010 - 9th-10th place
    • 2011 - 9th-10th place
    • 2012 - 9th-10th place
    • 2013 - 9th-10th place
    • 2014 - 11th place
    • 2015 - 11th place
    • 2016 - 12th place

Individual European Championship

    • 2002 - 15th place (4 points)
    • 2003 - 4th place (10 points)
    • 2004 - European Champion (14+3 points)
    • 2006 - 17th place (0 points)
    • 2008 - European Champion (14 points)

Individual U-19 European Championship

    • 2000 - 11th place (8 points)
    • 2001 - track reserve (2 points)
    • 2002 - European Champion (15 points)

European Pairs Championship

    • 2005 - 3rd place (14 points)
    • 2006 - 2nd place (11 points)

European Club Champions' Cup

    • 2003 - European Champion (15 points)
    • 2004 - 3rd place (20 points)
    • 2006 - 3rd place in Semi-Final (12 points)
    • 2007 - 3rd place in Semi-Final (injury)

Current clubs

  • Sweden: Ikaros Smederna
  • Poland: Wlokniarz Czestochowa
  • Slovenia: AMTK Ljubljana

Speedway Grand Prix results

Year Position Points Best Finish Notes
2003 30th 5 15th Wild card ride
2004 26th 8 9th Wild card ride
2005 16th 23 3rd 2 Wild card rides
2006 7th 97 2nd First full season as a GP rider
2006 14th 54 7th second full season as a GP rider
2008 20th 7 9th 1 Wild card ride
2009 19th 7 10th 1 Wild card ride
2011 19th 14 8th 2 Wild card rides
2013 7th 110 2nd third full season as a GP rider
2014 5th 114 1st fourth full season as a GP rider
2015 6th 107 1st fifth full season as a GP rider
2016 9th 90 3rd sixth full season + wild card for the next year
2017 - - - -
2007 Speedway Grand Prix Final Championship standings
(Riding No 7)
Race no. Grand Prix Pos. Pts. Heats Draw No
1 /11 Italian SGP 11 5 (1,0,1,0,3) 7
2 /11 European SGP 8 7 (0,3,1,2,1) +0 15
3 /11 Swedish SGP 9 7 (1,3,2,1,0) 16
4 /11 Danish SGP 17 1 (1,-,-,-,-) 10
5 /11 British SGP 12 5 (2,0,1,0,2) 8
6 /11 Czech Rep. SGP 7 8 (3,3,1,0,1) +0 10
7 /11 Scandinavian SGP 15 3 (0,0,2,0,1) 1
8 /11 Latvian SGP 15 2 (2,0,0,0,0) 4
9 /11 Polish SGP 15 4 (1,1,1,0,1) 6
10 /11 Slovenian SGP 12 6 (E,1,3,1,1) 16
11 /11 German SGP 13 6 (2,2,1,0,1) 1
2008 Speedway Grand Prix Final Championship standings
(Riding No 16)
Race no. Grand Prix Pos. Pts. Heats Draw No
1 /11 Slovenian SGP 16
  permanent speedway rider
  wild card, track reserve or qualified reserve
  rider not classified (track reserve who did not start)
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See also

References

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