The Speedway Under-21 World Championship is an annual speedway event held each year organized by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) since 1977.[1][2][3][4][5]
As of 2022, the title was awarded to the winner of the SGP2 category at the FIM Speedway World Championship.[6]
Between 1977 and 1987 the Championship was called the Individual Speedway Junior European Championship (European Speedway Under 21 Championship), open only to European riders. In 1979, the Championship began allowing riders from other continents to compete, but was renamed to the Speedway World Under 21 Championship in 1988.[7] In 1998, European Motorcycle Union (UEM) established the Individual Speedway Junior European Championship, a new competition open only to European competitors.
Originally it was called the European Under-21 Championship (from 1977-1987) but changed its name in 1988 when it was made open to all nations.[8][9] To confuse matters a new European Individual Speedway Junior Championship was created in 1998 by the European Motorcycle Union (UEM) but this is not linked to former European Under-21 Championship.
Emil Sayfutdinov (2007, 2008) became the first rider to win the championship twice. Other double champions include Darcy Ward (2009, 2010), Maksym Drabik (2017, 2019), and Mateusz Cierniak (2022,2023).
Riders must be at least 16 years old to compete, starting from their 16th birthday. The maximum age limit is 21, with eligibility ending at the conclusion of the year in which the rider turns 21.
The following World Junior champions went on to win the Speedway World Championship.