09/05/2026
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Mulford regains FIM Long Track U23 World C
Rising British star Jake Mulford regained the FIM Long Track U23 World Cup at Roden in the Netherlands this afternoon, surviving a mechanical issue that cost him a perfect score in the Heat stages to produce a champion’s performance in the Grand Final and top the event podium for the second time in three years.
Tino Bouin and Max Perry complete podium
Having elected not to defend his crown last season in favour of an appearance in the FIM Speedway Under 21 World Championship (SGP2), Mulford arrived at the Speed Centre Roden looking to re-establish his dominance, but with a talented field and no shortage of podium contenders – including Germany’s defending champion Timo Wachs – the result was far from a foregone conclusion.
French racer Theo Ugoni, who was third last season, got the programme under way with victory from Wachs and Noah Urda – another racer who made the Grand Final in 2025 – before Tino Bouin, who was fourth last season, defeated Denmark’s Patrick Kruse and Mulford was followed across the line by home racer Niek Meijerink.
The fast, challenging conditions forced riders to mix up their lines to find maximum traction and Wachs produced a polished performance in his second Heat to overhaul the fast-starting Kruse, who was second in 2025, to take his first win of the afternoon with Britain’s Max Perry crossing the line in third after being disqualified in his opening Heat for a false start.
After Bouin maintained his perfect record with a clear-cut win from his compatriot Ugoni, Mulford moved alongside him on eight points with a victory from his fellow British rider Ashton Vale who was in impressive form on his international Long Track debut.
Bouin made it three-from-three with a win over Kruse before Perry shocked Wachs and Mulford secured his third win of the programme following an early pass on Urda.
The anticipated showdown in the fourth block of Heats between Mulford and Bouin failed to materialise when the British rider missed the ninety-second start deadline due to a mechanical issue, allowing the French rider to comfortably extend his advantage with win number four.
Kruse then underlined his credentials for a place behind the tapes in the Grand Final with his first win of the afternoon after leading Wachs across the line – and in the process tying the defending champion for joint second – before Perry claimed a second win that brought him firmly into contention.
With the leading five riders all making the cut for the Grand Final, Meijerink claimed a popular consolation win to get the deciding block of Heats up and running before Mulford, following a frantic race to get his spare machine to the line, led home Wachs and Kruse as all three booked their places in the afternoon’s main race.
The fifteenth and final Heat was won by Urda, but a retirement by Vale handed second to Perry and lifted Bouin into third, ensuring Bouin qualified on top and Perry snatched the remaining place in the Grand Final from Urda thanks to his two Heat victories.
Consistent fast starts had been key to Mulford’s string of impressive performances and when the tapes went up on the Grand Final he grabbed an early advantage, quickly dealt with a strong initial challenge from Bouin and cruised clear to add his name to the FIM Long Track U23 World Cup honour roll for a second time.
Bouin resisted race-long pressure from Perry to secure second with Kruse fourth, but Wachs’ hopes of retaining the title ended with a retirement.
