Armando Castagna

Armando Castagna (born 22 September 1963) 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.

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 and was part of the Reading team that won the Fours championship in 1993.

Castagna rode in the first of his five world finals in 1985.

Castagna 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.

Castagna won the Italian National Championship a record twelve times and in 1999, he won the Argentine Championship.

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

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.

Family Castagna's son Michele Paco is a speedway rider and Italian champion.