Emil Saifutdinov

Infobox Speedway rider
ridername= Emil Saifutdinov


nationality = RUS
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1989|10|26
cityofbirth = Salavat
countryofbirth = Russia
website = [http://www.emilracing.eu/ EmilRacing.eu]
britishleague =
polishleague = Polonia Bydgoszcz
swedishleague = Masarna Avesta
russianleague = Mega-Lada Togliatti
career = Bydgoszcz (POL)
Masarna (SWE)
Mega-Lada (RUS)
years = 2006-
2007-
2005, 2007-
indivhonour = World Under-21 Champion
Individual U-21 Russian Champion
indivyear = 2007, 2008
2005, 2008
teamhonour = European Club Champion
Russian Pairs Champion
Team Russian Champion
teamyear = 2008
2005
2005, 2007, 2008

Emil Damirovich Sayfutdinov ( _ru. Эмиль Дамирович Сайфутдинов; born October 26, 1989 in Salavat, Russia) is a Russian motorcycle speedway rider and member of the Russian national teams (senior and U-21). He is current Individual Under-21 World Champion, who won the 2007 and 2008 Finals.

Emil Saifutdinov was born in a Tatar family. His parents are Damir and Tamara [ [http://www.emilracing.eu/profil/ang_profil.jpgemilracing.eu] ] ; his brother, Denis Saifutdinov (born 1981-06-02 ["Świat Żużla", No 1 (73) / 2008, page 30, ISSN|1429-3285] ), is also speedway rider. Denis was a member of the Russian team at the 2002 Speedway World Cup and the 2004 Speedway World Cup qualification round.

Career History

2005

He past speedway licency in 2005 season, before his 16th birthday. He started in Russian league for Mega-Lada Togliatti. His team won Russian Champion title, and Saifutdinov was one of the best rider in Mega-Lada with his Average 2.271 (15th place in league). He won Individual U-21 Russian Championship and was 6th in senior lever Championship. With Mega-Lada he won Russian Pairs Champion title also.

In international competitions he started in Individual U-19 European Championship. In Semi-Final C in Daugavpils, Latvia he was won qualification to the Final. But he was too young and was exclusion - the minimum age of a rider to compete is 16 years of age (starting on the date of the rider's birthday)

2006

In 2006 season he moved to Polish Polonia Bydgoszcz, the then Team Polish V-ce Champion. On 2006-04-09 he rode in his first meeting in Polish Ekstraliga (Wrocław vs Bydgoszcz 53:37). He started in one heat only - he lost with Tomasz Gapiński, Hans N. Andersen and Piotr Protasiewicz. On 2006-04-23 (Bydgoszcz vs Tarnów 44:46) he won his first point in Ekstraliga (lost with his partner Krzysztof Buczkowski, and he beat Paweł Hlib and Kamil Zieliński). Polonia Bydgoszcz finished 3rd in Team Polish Championship - Emil's Average was 1.353 (38th place). He started in Team U-21 Polish Championship - Polonia was 2nd place in Qualifications Group C.

He did not started in Russia league. He could not defended his titles. Motorcycle Federation of Russia did not nominated him to international competitions.

2007

In 2007 season Emil Saifutdinov rode for Polonia Bydgoszcz in Poland. It was very bad season for this team - Polonia was last in Ekstraliga and was relegated from the top division first time in history. Saifutdinov's average was 1.463 (36th place). He made ones debut in Swedish Elitserien. With Masarna Avesta he was 5th place in league.

He returned to Russian league. With Mega-Lada Togliatti Saifutdinov won League Champion title and a bronze medal in Russian Pairs Championship. Mega-Lada was started in European Club Champions' Cup - Saifutdinov scored 0 points - but his team was 3rd in Final. In Individual U-21 Russian Championship was second.

In June Emil started in Team U-21 World Championship - Emil Saifutdinov was Russia's top points scorer in the Qualifying Round 1, but Russia finished last and were knocked out of the competition. With the senior team - in July - he participated in the 2007 Speedway World Cup with Russia, finishing in sixth place. After his winning in Quarter- and Semi-Finals, he won qualification to Individual U-21 World Championship Final. On 2007-09-09 Emil Saifutdinov became the World Under-21 Champion for the first time with a 15 point maximum score (he made new track record twice).

2008

In 2008 season Emil Saifutdinov started for Polonia Bydgoszcz in Polish First League (second division); Polonia won league and was promotion to the Ekstraliga. In Swedish Elitserien he rode for Masarna Avesta, finishing in last place. In Russia with Mega-Lada Togliatti he won Champion title again. Saifitdinov won Individual U-21 Russian Champion title and silver medal in senior lever Championship. With Mega-Lada he started in European Club Champions' Cup Final; Emil won European Champion title.

In June he started in Team U-21 World Championship Qualifying Round 1, but Russia team was last again. In July he participated in the 2008 Speedway World Cup. In Semi-Final was the top point scorer for Russia (14 points). In Race-Off Emil did not started, becouse two days later he started in Individual U-21 World Championship Semi-Final and was won qualification to the Final. On 2008-10-04 he defended World Under-21 Champion title as first rider in history. In the Final he beat Australian Chris Holder again and Croatian Jurica Pavlic.

He started in 2009 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification, but in Qualifying Round 3 was 8th and was knocked out of the competition.

2009

In 2009 season he will be started for Polonia Bydgoszcz in Polish Ekstraliga.

Career details

World Championships

* Team World Championship (Speedway World Cup)
** 2007 - 6th place
** 2008 - 6th place (started in Semi-Finals)

* Individual U-21 World Championship (Under-21 World Champinship)
** 2007 - flag|POL Ostrów Wlkp. - World Champion (15 points)
** 2008 - flag|CZE Pardubice - World Champion (14 points)

* Team U-21 World Championship (U-21 Speedway World Cup)
** "2007 - 4th place in Qualifying Round 2"
** "2008 - 4th place in Qualifying Round 1"

European Champinships

* European Club Champions' Cup
** 2007 - flagicon|HUN Miskolc - 3rd place (0 points)
** 2008 - flagicon|CZE Slaný - Winner (13 points)

Domestic competitions

* Individual Speedway Russian Junior Championship
** 2005 - Winner
** 2007 - Silver medal
** 2008 - Winner

* Russian Pairs Speedway Championship
** 2005 - Winner
** 2007 - Bronze medal

* Team Speedway Polish Championship
** 2006 - 3rd with Budlex-Polonia Bydgoszcz
** 2007 - 8th place with Polonia Bydgoszcz

* Russian League Championship
** 2005 - Winner
** 2007 - Winner
** 2008 - Winner

* Polish Team U-21 Championship
** "2006 - 2nd place in Qualification Group C"

References

See also

* Russia national speedway team

External links

* (en) (pl) [http://www.emilracing.eu/ Official Site]
* (pl) [http://www.polonia.bydgoszcz.pl/zaw_szcz_08.php?id_k=26 Saifutdinov on polonia.bydgoszcz.pl]