Smederna

Infobox Speedway team
clubname = Smederna


track = Smedstadion Tommy Janssons väg Eskilstuna
country = Sweden
founded = 1951
closed =
league = Elitserien
website = [http://smederna.nu/ Official site]
colours = Red, Black and White
tracksize = 335 metres
track record time= 58,3
track record date= 2005
track record holder= Nicki Pedersen
teamhonour = League champions Pairs champions
teamyear = 1973, 1977 1972

Smederna is a motorcycle speedway club based in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The club competes in the highest speedway league in Sweden, Elitserien and race its home matches at Smedstadion outside of Eskilstuna. Smederna has won two Swedish team championships, in 1973 and 1977, and has been the home club of three individual world champions, Billy Hamill, Mark Loram and Nicki Pedersen.

History

In 1948 the speedway team Griparna (English: the Griffins) started to race in the Swedish leagues. The team was co-run by motorcycle sport clubs SMK Södermanland, Nyköpings MS and Eskilstuna MK and was based in Nyköping, however some of their home matches took place in Eskilstuna. 1951 the team changed name to Smederna (English: the Blacksmiths) and started to race all home matches in Eskilstuna. Until 1953 the home track had been Tunavallens B-plan which was not an actual speedway arena. But that year Smederna moved to the new speedway arena Snälltorpet. But Smederna would only race at Snälltorpet for a few years before closing the team down in 1955.

After eight years SMK Södermanland decided take up speedway again and in 1963 Smederna started in the third and lowest division in Swedish speedway. In 1967 the club advanced to the second division and in 1971 to the first and highest division. In the seventies Smederna would have its first and biggest time of glory with a couple of team championship medals. In 1973 Smederna managed to win the club’s first championship and in the following three years the team was participating in the medal fight with a silver medal in 1975 as highest result. In the spring of 1976 Smederna and the whole town of Eskilstuna was hit by a big tragedy when local superstar Tommy Jansson crashed to death in a world championships qualification at Gubbängen, Stockholm. It was a big blow for the speedway sport in the city and there was a big decrease in the attendance figures. In spite of the tragedy Smederna continued to be one of Sweden’s best speedway clubs for a couple of years with the gold medal in 1977 as best result.

In the eighties the interest for speedway decreased in Eskilstuna as well as in Sweden. Smederna had some internal problems in the beginning of the decade ending up with the club splitting up in two separate clubs, Smederna and Tuna Rebels. Smederna struggled to keep its place in the highest division (since 1982 called Elitserien)and was relegated to the second division in 1985 to 1986, 1988 to 1989 and 1992. In 1993 Smederna had once again advanced to Elitserien and this time the team finished on second place which was the best result in ten years. Smederna has since the season in 1993 managed to maintain their place in Elitserien. In 2002 the club moved to a new home track, Smedstadion, outside of Eskilstuna and in the first season Smederna had problems to make advantage of the new track but already in the following season Smederna won all but one of their home matches. The loss came in the Swedish team championship final against Kaparna. Smederna had to once again settle for a silver medal.

In the recent years Smederna has struggled with financial problems which has forced the club to downsize the squad and release a few top riders like Nicki Pedersen, Billy Hamill and Scott Nicholls

wedish team championships

*Gold: 2 (1973, 1977)
*Silver: 5 (1951, 1952, 1975, 1993, 2003)
*Bronze: 4 (1953, 1972, 1978, 1982)

Riders 2008

TW = Transfer window
FTR = Farm team rider (Team Bikab)

Former top riders

External links

* [http://smederna.nu/ Official webside]