Martin Haarahiltunen heads to the Thialf Ice Stadium in Heerenveen this coming weekend (4-6 April) with a fourth straight FIM Ice Speedway World Championship powered by Anlas, Kineo and HKC Koopmann firmly within his grasp, but the thirty-four-year-old Swede knows that he cannot afford to be complacent.
“I think I have what it takes, but this year a lot of people have stepped up a notch or two and are doing a lot better while I haven’t felt like I’ve got it right one-hundred per cent this season. So it’s about focus, not making mistakes and doing things one-hundred-and-ten per cent in every curve, every metre – if I do that then I know I have a great chance of taking my fourth gold.”
Ice hockey and motocross were Haarahiltunen’s twin passions when he was growing up, but after completing military service he was introduced to Ice Speedway by legendary Swedish racer Stefan Svensson and, by his own admission, became instantly “hooked” on the sport.
If he successfully defends his title in the Netherlands this weekend, Haarahiltunen will become just the third rider in the championship’s sixty-year history to win four consecutive crowns, an incredible achievement made all the more remarkable given the serious injuries that almost derailed his 2024 campaign.
“It happened in mid-December. In that crash I got a big crack in my hip and my elbow was crushed so the doctor had to take out some pieces of bone and put titanium in. They made me walk with crutches for three to four weeks and not use my elbow for three months.
“I only had time to run three simple training sessions with the bike so I had no energy or race pace when I went to Inzell for the first races in the FIM Ice Speedway World Championship. I made many mistakes and if there was a restart it was tough with my fitness.”
Despite starting the season on the back foot, just over three months after sustaining potentially career-ending injuries Haarahiltunen dug deep on the opening weekend in Germany to record a pair of second-placed finishes before completing his hat-trick of titles when the 2024 series signed off in Heerenveen.
This fighting spirit is a quality he has in common with all FIM World Champions and it has carried him to the top of a sport where courage and fortitude are essential traits of any of the top-flight riders. He also has the advantage of growing up in the Örnsköldsvik area of Sweden – one of Ice Speedway’s main hubs – where facilities are better, conditions more favourable and there is better understanding of this highly-specialised sport.
“Here the winters can vary quite a lot. Last year it was a great winter when we had sub-zero temperatures almost every day in December, January and February. This year it has been more varied with periods that have been cold and some days where it has been warm, but overall we can train quite a lot at home on our track.”
With a four-point lead and two scoring days of competition remaining to decide the destination of the 2025 title, Haarahiltunen has a clear advantage and the bad news for his rivals is that he is fighting fit and relishing the challenge that lies ahead of him.
“I am well prepared this year with material and body. There are no injuries and I feel strong!”
All the action from Heerenveen is available by streaming LIVE on FIM-MOTO.TV. Priced at only €8.90 for a single event and just €14.90 for a full season pass, access to FIM-MOTO-TV gives viewers a VIP seat along with invaluable insights from behind the scenes.
Fans can also enjoy a rare insight into the mindset of the sport’s leading riders by tuning into episode one of Ice Speedway Gladiators – Season 2025, now showing exclusively on the fim-moto YouTube channel. To watch click here.