Matej Ferjan Slovenian-Hungarian speedway rider (1977–2011)
Matej Ferjan Born 5 January 1977Ljubljana , Slovenia Died 22 May 2011(2011-05-22) (aged 34) Nationality Slovenian 1998–1999 Grudziądz 2000 Zielona Góra 2001 Częstochowa 2002 Opole 2003–2004, 2006 Ostrów 2005 Krosno 2007–2008 Gorzów 1998, 2001, 2002 Belle Vue Aces 1999, 2004, 2005 Poole Pirates 2000 Ipswich Witches 2001 Peterborough Panthers 2003 Oxford Cheetahs 2011 Newcastle Diamonds 2001 Slangerup 2007 Holstebro 2000–2003 Västervik
2000 Continental Champion 1997, 1998, 1999 Slovenian champion 2003, 2004, 2006 Hungarian Champion 2007 Criterium of Aces
2004 Elite League Champion 2004 Elite League Knockout Cup
Matej Ferjan (5 January 1977[ 1] motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 8 caps for the Slovenia national speedway team and 2 caps for the Hungary national speedway team .[ 2]
Career
Ferjan was born in Ljubljana , Slovenia.[ 3] Slovenian Individual Speedway Championship winner (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)[ 4] Hungarian champion (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).
In 1998, he won a third place in Individual U-21 World Championship . The same year he made his British leagues debut with Belle Vue Aces .[ 5]
On 9 July 2000 he won the Continental Final , which formed part of the 2001 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification .[ 6] 2001 and 2002 Speedway Grand Prixs .
In 2004, he was second in the Individual European Championship , the same year that the BSPA blocked his transfer to Newcastle Diamonds [ 7]
He was also the second non Polish rider after Rune Holta to win the Polish Criterium of Aces , winning in 2007 .
Death
On 22 May 2011 Ferjan was found dead in his van at the apartment block where he lived in Gorzów Wielkopolski , Poland. His cause of death has been attributed to a blood clot in his leg.[ 8] [ 9]
Family
Ferjan had a son, Mark, born on 19 April 2004, and a daughter, Victoria.
