Armando Castagna

Armando Castagna (born 22 September 1963)^[1] 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.^[2][3][4]

Armando Castagna

Born	(1963-09-22) 22 September 1963 (age 61) Arzignano, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Career history
Great Britain
1985	Kings Lynn Stars
1988	Ipswich Witches
1989, 1990, 1992-1994 1996, 2000, 2001	Reading Racers
1991	Eastbourne Eagles
1995	Oxford Cheetahs
1997	Poole Pirates
Poland
1998	Lublin
1999	Rawicz
1991	Ostrów
Individual honours
1984, 1985, 1986 1988, 1990, 1991 1992, 1993 1994 1995 2000, 2001	Italian Champion
1997	Continental Champion
1999	Argentinian Champion
1990	Italian Grasstrack Championship
Team honours
1990, 1992	British League Champion
1993	Fours
1991	West German Championship
1993, 1994, 2001	Italian Championship

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^[5] and was part of the Reading team that won the Fours championship in 1993.^[6]

He rode in the first of his five world finals in 1985.^[7]

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.^[8]

He won the Italian National Championship a record twelve times^[9] and in 1999, he won the Argentine Championship.^[10]

World final appearances

Individual World Championship

• 1985 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 13th - 4pts
• 1986 - Chorzów, Silesian Stadium - 15th - 2pts
• 1990 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium - 8th - 8pts
• 1991 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - 11th - 6pts
• 1993 - Pocking, Rottalstadion - 12th - 5pts^[11]

World Pairs Championship

• 1984 - Lonigo, Pista Speedway (with Armando Dal Chiele) - 7th - 6pts (5)
• 1986 - Pocking, Rottalstadion (with Valentino Furlanetto) - 8th - 15pts (8)
• 1987 - Pardubice, Svítkov Stadion (with Valentino Furlanetto) - 8th - 18pts
• 1988 - Bradford, Odsal Stadium (with Valentino Furlanetto) - 7th - 21pts
• 1991 - Poznań, Olimpia Poznań Stadium (with Valentino Furlanetto / Fabrizio Vesprini) - 6th - 10pts
• 1992 - 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.^[9]

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. ^[12]

Family

His son Michele Paco Castagna is a speedway rider and Italian champion.^[9]