An annual competition to decide the discipline’s most dominant country, the FIM Long Track of Nations (LToN) takes place this coming Sunday (20 September) at Roden in the Netherlands where Great Britain will attempt to defend its title in the face of fierce opposition.
  • FIM Long Track of Nations scheduled for Roden
  • Great Britain defends title against fierce opposition
  •  Gold medal fight expected to go down to the wire

Featuring three and four-rider teams from seven different nations, the LToN returns to the Speed Centre Roden for the first time since 2023 when a strong Dutch team won on home ground. This time around the Netherlands is once again one of the favoured teams, although with almost all the main names from the individual FIM Long Track World Championship in action there is no clear favourite.

Winners for just the second time last season when the LToN was staged in Germany, Great Britain will field reigning individual world champion Zach Wajtknecht alongside its experienced Captain, Chris Harris, who both played major roles in the 2025 victory. However, with Andrew Appleton – the crucial third member last year – sidelined with injury, James Shanes and Jake Mulford have been drafted into the team.

Back-to-back winners in 2018 and 2019, the French team is Captained by Tino Bouin with support from Noah Urda and Anthony Chauffour. While none of the French riders are pushing for individual honours this season, all have scored world championship points in 2026.

Still looking for its first medal in the competition, Denmark is Captained by Kenneth Kruse Hansen who will return from injury to compete alongside up-and-coming teenaged talent Patrick Kruse and the more experienced Jacob Bukhave.

The event’s Scandinavian connection is furthered by the inclusion of teams from Finland and Norway with the Finns fielding a strong side with Tero Aarnio and Ossi Rantala led into battle by Captain Jesse Mustonen. Currently riding high in sixth and ninth in the individual world championship, Mustonen and Aarnio are in great form this season and motorcycle racing all-rounder Rantala was recently crowned as the winner of the inaugural FIM European Flat Track Cup.

The Norwegian team is Captained by individual series regular Glenn Moi, who lies eleventh in his debut season, with back-up from Truls Kamhaug, Robert Langeland and Magnus Klipper. All four are decorated Speedway riders and at sixty-five years old, Langeland – who made his competitive debut in top-flight racing in the 1980s – is the oldest racer on the starting list.

By far the most successful nation in the history of the LToN with ten wins, apart from in 2013 Germany has featured on the podium every year the event has been staged and with 2020 individual world champion Lukas Fienhage as Captain alongside Timo Wachs, Dominik Werkstetter and Fabian Wachs, it will be looking to continue its extraordinary success in the competition and improve on third last year.

Last, but by no means least, is a strong Dutch quartet led by Captain Mika Meijer alongside 2021 individual world champion Romano Hummel, Dave Meijerink and William Kruit. Unchanged from the team that won silver last season, Meijerink is currently second in the individual world championship with Kruit eighth, Meijer tenth and Hummel – after just one appearance in 2026 – fifteenth.

With teamwork the key to success in the competition and strong support from the passionate home fans a given, the Netherlands start as a contender to repeat its 2023 LToN win at Roden and add to its existing tally of three gold medals.

The action from the Speed Centre Roden is due to get under way at 14:00 (local time).