Matej Žagar
Matej Žagar is a Slovenian motorcycle speedway rider who was won Individual Speedway European Champion titles. He was permanent speedway rider in 2006 and 2007 Speedway Grand Prix seasons. He was touted as a potential GP wildcard for the 2012 SGP season following impressive and consistent performances in the Polish Extraliga with Gorzow, but turned down the opportunity to replace Darcy Ward due to the 1GP rider in the Extraliga and his contract with Gorzow, where 2010 world champion Tomasz Gollob was signed up.
He began his UK career with the Trelawny Tigers in 2003 before moving to the Reading Racers in 2004 when the Tigers closed. He later represented Reading, Swindon and Eastbourne before quitting the UK scene after an underwhelming 2010 campaign. He returned after signing for the Belle Vue Aces in 2013.
Career highlights
Individual World Championship">Individual Speedway World Championship">Individual World Championship ([Speedway Grand Prix])
- * 2003 - 30th place
- * 2004 - 27th place
- * 2005 - 16th place
- * 2006 - 7th place
- * 2007 - 14th place
- * 2008 - 20th place
- * 2009 - 19th place
- * 2011 - 19th place
- * 2013 - 7th place
- * 2014 - 5th place
- * 2015 - 6th place
- * 2016 - 9th place
[Individual Speedway [Junior World Championship|Individual U-21 World Championship]]
- * 2004 - 6th place
- * 2004 - track reserve
- * 2004 - 5th place
- * 2004 - 3rd place
[Speedway [World Team Cup|Team World Championship]] ([Speedway World Cup])
- * 2001 - 6 points in Preliminary Round 1
- * 2002 - 10th-11th place
- * 2003 - 9th place
- * 2004 - 9th-10th place
- * 2005 - 9th-10th place
- * 2006 - 9th-10th place
- * 2007 - 13th-14th place
- * 2008 - 11th-12th place
- * 2009 - 4th place in Semi-finals
- * 2010 - 9th-10th place
- * 2011 - 9th-10th place
- * 2012 - 9th-10th place
- * 2013 - 9th-10th place
- * 2014 - 11th place
- * 2015 - 11th place
- * 2016 - 12th place
Individual European Championship">Individual Speedway European Championship">Individual European Championship
- * 2002 - 15th place
- * 2003 - 4th place
- * 2004 - European Champion
- * 2006 - 17th place
- * 2008 - European Champion
Individual U-19 European Championship">Individual Speedway Junior European Championship">Individual U-19 European Championship
- * 2000 - 11th place
- * 2001 - track reserve
- * 2002 - European Champion
European Pairs Championship">European Pairs Speedway Championship">European Pairs Championship
- * 2005 - 3rd place
- * 2006 - 2nd place
European Club Champions' Cup">European Speedway Club Champions' Cup">European Club Champions' Cup
- * 2003 - European Champion
- * 2004 - 3rd place
- * 2006 - 3rd place in Semi-Final
- * 2007 - 3rd place in Semi-Final
Current clubs
- Sweden: Ikaros Smederna
- Poland: Wlokniarz Czestochowa
- Slovenia: AMTK Ljubljana
Speedway Grand Prix results
| Year | Position | Points | Best Finish | Notes |
| 2003 | 30th | 5 | 15th | Wild card ride |
| 2004 | 26th | 8 | 9th | Wild card ride |
| 2005 | 16th | 23 | 3rd | 2 Wild card rides |
| 2006 | 7th | 97 | 2nd | First full season as a GP rider |
| 2006 | 14th | 54 | 7th | second full season as a GP rider |
| 2008 | 20th | 7 | 9th | 1 Wild card ride |
| 2009 | 19th | 7 | 10th | 1 Wild card ride |
| 2011 | 19th | 14 | 8th | 2 Wild card rides |
| 2013 | 7th | 110 | 2nd | third full season as a GP rider |
| 2014 | 5th | 114 | 1st | fourth full season as a GP rider |
| 2015 | 6th | 107 | 1st | fifth full season as a GP rider |
| 2016 | 9th | 90 | 3rd | sixth full season + wild card for the next year |
| 2017 | - | - | - | - |