Matej Ferjan (5 January 1977[1] – 22 May 2011) was a Slovenian motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 8 caps for the Slovenia national speedway team and 2 caps for the Hungary national speedway team.[2]
 | |
| Born | 5 January 1977 Ljubljana, Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Died | 22 May 2011 (aged 34) |
| Nationality | Slovenian |
| Career history | |
| Poland | |
| 1998–1999 | Grudziądz |
| 2000 | Zielona Góra |
| 2001 | Częstochowa |
| 2002 | Opole |
| 2003–2004, 2006 | Ostrów |
| 2005 | Krosno |
| 2007–2008 | Gorzów |
| Great Britain | |
| 1998, 2001, 2002 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 1999, 2004, 2005 | Poole Pirates |
| 2000 | Ipswich Witches |
| 2001 | Peterborough Panthers |
| 2003 | Oxford Cheetahs |
| 2011 | Newcastle Diamonds |
| Denmark | |
| 2001 | Slangerup |
| 2007 | Holstebro |
| Individual honours | |
| 2000 | Continental Champion |
| 1997, 1998, 1999 2000, 2001 | Slovenian champion |
| 2003, 2004, 2006 2007, 2008, 2009 | Hungarian Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 2004 | Elite League Champion |
| 2004 | Elite League Knockout Cup |
Career
editFerjan was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia.[3] He was a five-time Slovenian Individual Speedway Championship winner (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)[4] and a six-time Hungarian champion (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).
In 1998, he won a third place in Individual U-21 World Championship. The same year he made his British leagues deeut with Belle Vue Aces.[5]
On 9 July 2000 he won the Continental Final, which formed part of the 2001 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification.[6] He then secured a permanent ride in the 2001 and 2002 Speedway Grand Prixs.
In 2004, he was second in the Individual European Championship, the same year that the BSPA blocked his transfer to Newcastle Diamondss[7] He would however ride for Newcastle seven years later.
He was also the first non Polish rider to win the Polish Criterium of Aces, winning in 2007.
Death
editOn 22 May 2011 Ferjan was found dead in his van at the apartment block where he lived in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland. His cause of death has been attributed to a blood clot in his leg.[8][9]
Family
editFerjan had a son, Mark, born on 19 April 2004, and a daughter, Victoria.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Świat Żużla, No 2 (75) / 2008, page 25, ISSN 1429-3285
- ^ "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Świat Żużla, No 1 (74) / 2008, pages 26-27, ISSN 1429-3285
- ^ "Individual Championship of Slovenia". Speedway Fansite. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "Matty still want to be an Ace". Manchester Evening News. 14 January 1999. Retrieved 3 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Individual Championship". Speedway.org. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "Speedway: Diamonds late reshuffle". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ "Verdict on Diamonds ace Matej Ferjan's death". ChronicleLive. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- ^ Wadley, Ian (22 May 2011). "Pirates: Ford's shock over Ferjan". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2015-11-10.