Timo Lahti
{{Short description|Finnish speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Timo Lahti
| image = Timo_Lahti.jpg
| caption =
| nationality = Finnish, Swedish
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|7|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kouvola, Finland
| career1 = Great Britain
| career2 = Eastbourne
| years2 = 2011-2014
| career3 = Poole
| years3 = 2017
| career4 = Poland
| career5 = Gdańsk
| years5 = 2022
| career6 = Tarnów
| years6 = 2024
| career9 = Sweden
| career10 = Rospiggarna
| years10 = 2014-2017, 2020–2023
| career11 = Lejonen
| years11 = 2018-2019
| career12 = Smederna
| years12 = 2023
| career13 = Dackarna
| years13 = 2024
| career14 = Masarna
| years14 = 2024
| career17 = Denmark
| years18 = 2012
| career18 = Holstebro
| years19 = 2014, 2016, 2024–2025
| career19 = Holsted
| years20 = 2015
| career20 = Munkebo
| years21 = 2021
| career21 = Nordjysk
| career22 = Region Varde
| years22 = 2022–2023
| career25 = Germany
| years26 = 2019
| career26 = Brokstedt
| indivyear1 = 2012, 2015, 2016
2017, 2018, 2019
2021
| indivhonour1 = Finnish national champion
| indivyear2 = 2023
| indivhonour2 = Golden Helmet of Pardubice
| teamyear1 = 2023
| teamhonour1 = European Pairs bronze
| teamyear2 =
| teamhonour2 =
}}
Timo Lahti (born 16 July 1992) is a speedway rider from Finland. Timo Lahti changed nation in 2024 when he started riding under a Swedish Licence {{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/4120/timo-lahti |title=Timo Lahti |website=WWOS backup |access-date=12 January 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.norrteljetidning.se/artikel/kritik-mot-att-timo-lahti-kor-pa-svensk-licens |title=Criticism of Timo Lahti driving on a Swedish license |website=Norrtelje Tidning |access-date=25 August 2024}} He earned 3 caps for the Finland national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=5 September 2024}}
Career
Lahti started his British career riding for the Eastbourne Eagles in 2011. He became the national champion of Finland after winning the Finnish Individual Speedway Championship in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmfinlandii.php |title=Individual Finnish Championship |website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=12 January 2023}} After a total of four seasons at Eastbourne he left after the 2014 season.
He won a further five national championships from 2015 to 2019 consecutively before being deposed by Tero Aarnio. Before the 2017 win he had returned to British speedway by riding in the top tier for the Poole Pirates in the SGB Premiership 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/riderindex17_h|title=Lahti, Timo|website=British Speedway|access-date=20 June 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.poole-speedway.com/news/view/2017-07-15-lahti-joins-the-pirates-party|title=LAHTI JOINS THE PIRATES' PARTY|website=Poole Speedway|access-date=20 June 2021}}
In 2021, he regained his Finnish title which brought his total number of national titles to seven. In 2023, he was part of the Finland team that competed at the 2023 Speedway World Cup in Poland.{{cite web |url=https://www.fimspeedway.com/swc |title=WELCOME TO SWC |website=FIM |access-date=26 July 2023}} In July 2023, he transferred to Smederna from Rospiggarna and later in October 2023, he paired up with Antti Vuolas to become the European Pairs bronze medal winner.{{cite web|url=https://www.fim-europe.com/european-pairs-speedway-championship-team-poland-grabs-the-title-at-home/ |title=European Pairs Speedway Championship: Team Poland grabs the title at home |website=FIM Europe|date=2 October 2023 |access-date=5 October 2023}}
Lahti won the prestigious 2023 Golden Helmet of Pardubice.{{cite web |url=http://www.zlataprilba.cz/75-zlatou-prilbu-mesta-pardubic-ovladl-timo-lahti/ |title=75. Zlatou přilbu města Pardubic ovládl Timo Lahti | website=Zlata Prilba.cz |access-date=9 June 2024}}