Matej Žagar

Matej Žagar
Born (1983-04-03) 3 April 1983
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Nationality  Slovenia
Website matejzagar55.com
Current club information
Polish league Włókniarz Częstochowa
Swedish league Vastervik
Czech league Pardubice
Career history
2004-7 Reading Racers (GBR)
2006 Częstochowa (POL)
2007 Toruń (POL)
2008 Rzeszów (POL)
2010 Eastbourne Eagles (GBR)
2013–2016 Belle Vue Aces (GBR)
Speedway Grand Prix statistics
2009 Number 55
Starts 97
Podiums 17 (5-7-5)
Finalist 21 time
Winner 5 times
Individual honours
2004, 2008 European Champion
2002 Under-19 European Champion
2014 Finnish Grand Prix Champion
2015 Warsaw Grand Prix Champion
2015 Gorzow Grand Prix Champion
2017 German Grand Prix Champion
2017 Stockholm Grand Prix Champion
Team honours
2003
2014, 2016		 European Club Champion
Speedway Ekstraliga

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.

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)
  • Individual Slovenian Championship:
    • 2002 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2003 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2004 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2005 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2006 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2007 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2008 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2009 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2010 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2011 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2012 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2013 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2014 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2015 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2016 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2017 - Slovenian Champion
    • 2018 - Slovenian Champion

Current clubs

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 - - - -
  permanent speedway rider
  wild card, track reserve or qualified reserve
  rider not classified (track reserve who did not start)

See also

References

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