Mikkel Michelsen
{{Short description|Danish speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Mikkel Michelsen
| image = MikkelMichelsen2015.jpg
| caption =
| nationality = Danish
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1994|08|19}}
| birth_place = Nykøbing Falster, Denmark
| death_date =
| death_place =
| website = [https://michelsen-racing.com/ Official website]
| career1 = Denmark
| years2 = 2008–2025
| career2 = Slangerup
| years3 =
| career3 =
| career4 = Poland
| years5 = 2013–2014
| career5 = Leszno
| years6 = 2015
| career6 = Ostrów
| years7 = 2022
| career7 = Lublin
| years8 = 2023–2024
| career8 = Częstochowa
| career9 = Great Britain
| years10 = 2013–2014
| career10 = Eastbourne
| years11 = 2015
| career11 = Leicester
| career12 = Sweden
| years13 = 2014–2018
| career13 = Smederna
| years14 = 2019
| career14 = Piraterna
| years15 = 2023
| career15 = Västervik
| career16 = Germany
| years17 = 2012–2013
| career17 = Landshut
| SGP No = 155
| SGP starts =42
| SGP finals =5
| SGP win =1
| indivyear1 = 2019, 2021, 2023
| indivhonour1 = European Champion
| indivyear2 = 2023
| indivhonour2 = Danish Champion
| indivyear3 = 2013
| indivhonour3 = European Junior Champion
| indivyear4 = 2013
| indivhonour4 = Danish Junior Champion
| indivyear5 = 2008, 2009
| indivhonour5 = Junior World Cup
| teamyear1 = 2013
| teamhonour1 = Under-21 World Cup
| teamyear2 = 2017, 2018
| teamhonour2 = Swedish league champion
| teamyear3 = 2024
| teamhonour3 = Danish league champion
}}
Mikkel Michelsen (born 19 August 1994) is a Danish speedway rider.
Career
Born in Nykøbing Falster, Michelsen took up speedway at the age of 6, and went on to win the Junior World Cup in both 2008 and 2009.Laursen Brock, Jeppe (2013) "[http://politiken.dk/sport/aaretsfund/ECE2166993/speedwaytalent-adrenalinkicket-er-uvurderligt/ Speedwaytalent: »Adrenalinkicket er uvurderligt«]", Politiken, 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2014
He rode for Slangerup Speedway Klub in the Danish league from 2010. After racing in Germany for AC Landshut Devils in 2012, he rode in Poland and the United Kingdom in 2013 for Unia Leszno and Eastbourne Eagles respectively, staying with both teams in 2014."[http://www1.skysports.com/speedway/news/14466/9073297/elite-league-speedway-mikkel-michelsen-back-with-eastbourne Elite League Speedway: Mikkel Michelsen back with Eastbourne]", Sky Sports, 14 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2014
In 2013 he won the Danish Under 21 Individual Speedway Championship, the European Junior Championship, and the Under-21 World Cup with Denmark."[http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/382863/mikkel-michelsen-mistrzem-danii-juniorow Mikkel Michelsen mistrzem Danii juniorów]", sportowefakty.pl, 7 September 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2014
In 2014 he was a reserve in the Danish Speedway Grand Prix and finished third in the World Under-21 Championship after also reaching the final in 2011 and 2013.
In December 2014, with the Eagles dropping to the National League, he signed for Leicester Lions for the 2015 Elite League season, and also signed to ride for Ostrów in the Polish league."[http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.27985 Danish Star Joins Lions]", speedwaygb.co, 11 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014"[http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/489981/nicklas-porsing-o-mikkelu-michelsenie-fajnie-miec-rodaka-w-druzynie Nicklas Porsing o Mikkelu Michelsenie: Fajnie mieć rodaka w drużynie]", sportowefakty.pl, 26 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014"[http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/487340/mikkel-michlesen-zawodnikiem-leicester-lions Mikkel Michlesen zawodnikiem Leicester Lions]", sportowefakty.pl, 11 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014
In 2022, he finished in 11th place during the 2022 Speedway World Championship, after securing 82 points during the 2022 Speedway Grand Prix and was selected as a full time rider for the 2023 Speedway Grand Prix.{{cite web |url=https://fimspeedway.com/sgp/results |title=2022 Speedway Grand Prix results |website=FIM |access-date=5 October 2022}} Also in 2022, he helped Lublin win the 2022 Ekstraliga.{{cite web |url=https://speedwayekstraliga.pl/en/fixtures-results/pge-ekstraliga/?y=2022 |title=2022 results |website=PGE Ekstraliga |access-date=5 January 2023}}
During the 2023 Danish speedway season, Michelsen became the Danish champion for the first time{{cite web|url=https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/michelsen-crowned-danish-champion-in-slangerup|title=Michelsen crowned Danish champion in Slangerup|publisher=FIM |access-date=23 June 2023}} and won the 2023 Speedway European Championship to become the European champion for the third time.{{cite web |url=https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/michelsen-seals-third-european-title-2024-speedway-gp-qualification |title=Michelsen Seals Third European Title and 2024 Speedway GP Qualification |website=FIM |access-date=24 September 2023}} He was also part of the Danish team that won the bronze medal in the 2023 Speedway World Cup final.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.com/speedway/poland-win-speedway-world-cup-ahead-of-great-britain-as-maciej-janowski-claims-victory-in-decisive-h_sto9723229/story.shtml |title=Poland win Speedway Word Cup ahead of Great Britain as Maciej Janowski beats Robert Lambert in Decisive heat 20 |website=Eurosport |access-date=31 July 2023}} His European win earned him a place in the 2024 Speedway Grand Prix.
In 2024, Michelsen won his maiden Grand Prix after winning the Speedway Grand Prix of Germany.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.com/speedway/speedway-gp/2024/speedway-gp-of-germany-mikkel-michelsen-shock-lands-first-grand-prix-win-in-landshut_sto10151845/story.shtml |title=Speedway Grand Prix of Germany: Mikkel Michelsen shock lands first GP win in Landshut |website=Eurosport |access-date=19 May 2024}} Also in 2024, he helped Denmark reach the final of the 2024 Speedway of Nations in Manchester.{{cite web |url=https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/great-britain-wins-fim-speedway-of-nations-world-title-in-manchester-thriller |title=Great Britain wins FIM Speedway of Nations World Title in Manchester Thriller |website=FIM Speedway |access-date=14 July 2024}} His 2024 season ended badly after a crash with Bartosz Zmarzlik at the Latvian Grand Prix, where he sustained significant injuries to his right shoulder, humerus and elbow.{{cite web |url=https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/michelsen-season-over-after-riga-crash |title=Michelsen season over after Riga crash |website=FIM Speedway |access-date=15 September 2024}} Some consolation was received because he had helped Slangerup win the Danish Speedway League during the 2024 Danish speedway season.{{cite web |url=https://www.fimspeedway.com/news/mjj-stars-as-slangerup-ends-13-year-danish-title-drought |title=MJJ stars as Slangerup ends 13-year Danish title drought |website=FIM Speedway |access-date=19 September 2024 }}
Major results
= World individual Championship =
- 2015 Speedway Grand Prix - 21st
- 2018 Speedway Grand Prix - 29th
- 2019 Speedway Grand Prix - 17th
- 2020 Speedway Grand Prix - 14th
- 2021 Speedway Grand Prix - 18th
- 2022 Speedway Grand Prix - 11th
- 2023 Speedway Grand Prix - 12th
- 2024 Speedway Grand Prix - 7th
= Grand Prix wins =
= World team Championships =
- 2021 Speedway of Nations - 3rd
- 2022 Speedway of Nations - 4th
- 2023 Speedway World Cup - 3rd
- 2024 Speedway of Nations - 6th