Armando Castagna
{{Short description|Italian speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name= Armando Castagna
| image =
| nationality = Italian
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|09|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Arzignano, Italy
| career1 = Great Britain
| years2 = 1985
| career2 = Kings Lynn Stars
| years3 = 1988
| career3 = Ipswich Witches
| years4 = 1989, 1990, 1992-1994
1996, 2000, 2001
| career4 = Reading Racers
| years5 = 1991
| career5 = Eastbourne Eagles
| years6 = 1995
| career6 = Oxford Cheetahs
| years7 = 1997
| career7 = Poole Pirates
| career8 = Poland
| career9 = Lublin
| years9 = 1998
| career10 = Rawicz
| years10 = 1999
| career11 = Ostrów
| years11 = 1991
| indivyear1 = 1984, 1985, 1986
1988, 1990, 1991
1992, 1993 1994
1995 2000, 2001
| indivhonour1 = Italian Champion
| indivyear2 = 1997
| indivhonour2 = Continental Champion
| indivyear3 = 1999
| indivhonour3 = Argentinian Champion
| indivyear4 = 1990
| indivhonour4 = Italian Grasstrack Championship
| teamyear1 = 1990, 1992
| teamhonour1 = British League Champion
| teamyear2 = 1993
| teamhonour2= Fours
| teamyear3 = 1991
| teamhonour3 = West German Championship
| teamyear4 = 1993, 1994, 2001
| teamhonour4 =Italian Championship
}}
Armando Castagna (born 22 September 1963)Oakes, P & Rising, P (1986). 1986 Speedway Yearbook. {{ISBN|0-948882-00-X}} is a former Italian international motorcycle speedway rider. He was a member of the Italy national team and has represented them in several World Team Cup competitions. He is a record 12 times Italian Champion.{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmwloch.php|title=Individual Italian Championship|website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego|access-date=2 August 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://speedwayfansite.com/champs/itaim.html|title=Indywidualne Mistrzostwa Austrii|website=Speedway Fansite|access-date=2 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate Rider Index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=25 June 2023}}
Career
Castagna was born in Arzignano and rode in the United Kingdom for the Ipswich Witches and Oxford Cheetahs but he spent the majority of his career with the Reading Racers where he won the British League title twice{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive|title=History Archive|website=British Speedway|access-date=2 August 2021}} and was part of the Reading team that won the Fours championship in 1993.{{cite news |title=Racers' fab four are hot stuff! |work=Reading Evening Post |date=26 July 1993 |access-date=24 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19930726/210/0027 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
He rode in the first of his five world finals in 1985.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004985/19850803/009/0009 |title=Aces saved by Halifax |website=Manchester Evening News |date=3 August 1985 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 September 2024}}
He has ridden in the Speedway Grand Prix series and has reached five Speedway World Championship finals. On 26 July 1997 he won the Continental Final, which formed part of the 1998 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification.{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.org/history/97.htm#1997 |title=Individual Championship |website=Speedway.org |access-date=9 January 2023}}
He won the Italian National Championship a record twelve times{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/527/armando-castagna|title=Speedway riders, history and results|website=wwosbackup|access-date=2 August 2021}} and in 1999, he won the Argentine Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indma.php |title=HISTORICAL RESULTS 1930-2022 Argentinian Individual Speedway Championship |website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=21 January 2023}}
World final appearances
=Individual World Championship=
- 1985 - {{Flagicon|ENG}} Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 13th - 4pts
- 1986 - {{Flagicon|POL}} Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 15th - 2pts
- 1990 - {{Flagicon|ENG}} Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 8th - 8pts
- 1991 - {{Flagicon|SWE}} Gothenburg, Ullevi - 11th - 6pts
- 1993 - {{Flagicon|GER}} Pocking, Rottalstadion - 12th - 5ptsBamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}
=World Pairs Championship=
- 1984 - {{Flagicon|ITA}} Lonigo, Pista Speedway (with Armando Dal Chiele) - 7th - 6pts (5)
- 1986 - {{Flagicon|FRG}} Pocking, Rottalstadion (with Valentino Furlanetto) - 8th - 15pts (8)
- 1987 - {{flagicon|CSK}} Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion (with Valentino Furlanetto) - 8th - 18pts
- 1988 - {{Flagicon|ENG}} Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Valentino Furlanetto) - 7th - 21pts
- 1991 - {{flagicon|POL}} Poznań, Olimpia Poznań Stadium (with Valentino Furlanetto / Fabrizio Vesprini) - 6th - 10pts
- 1992 - {{Flagicon|ITA}} Lonigo, Pista Speedway (with Valentino Furlanetto / Armando Dal Chiele) - 4th - 18pts
Retirement
Since retiring in 2001, Castagna took charge of speedway in Italy and was the Italy national team manager.
At its meeting on Friday 22 February 2013, the FIM Board of Directors appointed new Directors and new members in various Commissions. Armando was appointed as new Director of the FIM Track Racing Commission (CCP), succeeding Roy Otto. {{cite web|url=http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/FIM_Conference_of_Commissions_-_New_members_appointed,_05_March.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518153729/http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/alfresco/FIM_Conference_of_Commissions_-_New_members_appointed%2C_05_March.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-18 }}
Family
His son Michele Paco Castagna is a speedway rider and Italian champion.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castagna, Armando}}
Category:Italian speedway riders
Category:Ipswich Witches riders
Category:Italian expatriate speedway riders in England
Category:Reading Racers riders