{{Short description|Slovenian-Hungarian speedway rider (1977–2011)}} {{Infobox Speedway rider | image = Matej FerjanSVN.JPG | name= Matej Ferjan | nationality = Slovenian | birth_date = 5 January 1977 | death_date = {{d-da|22 May 2011|5 January 1977}} | birth_place = [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia

| career1 = '''Poland''' | years2 = 1998–1999 | career2 = [[GTŻ Grudziądz|Grudziądz]] | years3 = 2000 | career3 = [[ZKŻ Zielona Góra|Zielona Góra]] | years4 = 2001 | career4 = [[Włókniarz Częstochowa|Częstochowa]] | years5 = 2002 | career5 = [[Kolejarz Opole|Opole]] | years6 = 2003–2004, 2006 | career6 = [[KM Ostrów Wielkopolski|Ostrów]] | years7 = 2005 | career7 = [[KSM Krosno|Krosno]] | years8 = 2007–2008 | career8 = [[Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski|Gorzów]] | career9 = '''Great Britain''' | years10 = 1998, 2001, 2002 | career10 = [[Belle Vue Aces]] | years11 = 1999, 2004, 2005 | career11 = [[Poole Pirates]] | years12 = 2000 | career12 = [[Ipswich Witches]] | years13 = 2001 | career13 = [[Peterborough Panthers]] | years14 = 2003 | career14 = [[Oxford Cheetahs]] | years15 = 2011 | career15 = [[Newcastle Diamonds]] | career16 = '''Denmark''' | years17 = 2001 | career17 = [[Slangerup Speedway Klub|Slangerup]] | years18 = 2007 | career18 = [[Holstebro Speedway Klub|Holstebro]] | career19 = '''Sweden''' | years20 = 2000–2003 | career20 = [[Västervik Speedway|Västervik]] | indivyear1 = 2000 | indivhonour1 = [[Continental Speedway Final|Continental Champion]] | indivyear2 = 1997, 1998, 1999<br>2000, 2001 | indivhonour2 = [[Slovenian Individual Speedway Championship|Slovenian champion]] | indivyear3 = 2003, 2004, 2006<br>2007, 2008, 2009 | indivhonour3 = [[Speedway in Hungary|Hungarian Champion]] | indivyear4 = 2007 | indivhonour4 = [[Mieczysław Połukard Criterium of Polish Speedway Leagues Aces|Criterium of Aces]]

| teamyear1 = 2004 | teamhonour1 = Elite League Champion | teamyear2 = 2004 | teamhonour2 = Elite League Knockout Cup }}

'''Matej Ferjan''' (5 January 1977<ref>''Świat Żużla'', No 2 (75) / 2008, page 25, {{ISSN|1429-3285}}</ref> – 22 May 2011) was a Slovenian [[motorcycle speedway]] rider. He earned 8 caps for the [[Slovenia national speedway team]] and 2 caps for the [[Hungary national speedway team]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>

== Career == Ferjan was born in [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia.<ref>''Świat Żużla'', No 1 (74) / 2008, pages 26-27, {{ISSN|1429-3285}}</ref> He was a five-time [[Slovenian Individual Speedway Championship]] winner (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://speedwayfansite.com/champs/sloim.html |title=Individual Championship of Slovenia |website=Speedway Fansite |access-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> and a six-time [[Speedway in Hungary|Hungarian champion]] (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).

In 1998, he won a third place in [[1998 Individual Speedway Junior World Championship|Individual U-21 World Championship]]. The same year he made his British leagues debut with [[Belle Vue Aces]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004985/19990114/052/0052 |title=Matty still want to be an Ace |website=Manchester Evening News |date=14 January 1999 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>

On 9 July 2000 he won the [[Continental Speedway Final|Continental Final]], which formed part of the [[2001 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.org/history/00.htm#2000 |title=Individual Championship |website=Speedway.org |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref> He then secured a permanent ride in the [[2001 Speedway Grand Prix|2001]] and [[2002 Speedway Grand Prix]]s.

In 2004, he was second in the [[2004 Individual Speedway European Championship|Individual European Championship]], the same year that the BSPA blocked his transfer to [[Newcastle Diamonds]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/speedway-diamonds-late-reshuffle-1609403 |title=Speedway: Diamonds late reshuffle |website=Chronicle Live |access-date=8 September 2024 }}</ref> He would however ride for Newcastle seven years later.

He was also the second non Polish rider after [[Rune Holta]] to win the [[Mieczysław Połukard Criterium of Polish Speedway Leagues Aces|Polish Criterium of Aces]], winning in [[2007 Mieczysław Połukard Criterium of Polish Speedway Leagues Aces|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.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Verdict on Diamonds ace Matej Ferjan's death|url = http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/motorsport-news/newcastle-diamonds/2011/06/24/verdict-on-diamonds-ace-matej-ferjan-s-death-72703-28934152/|website = ChronicleLive|accessdate = 2015-11-10|date = 24 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Pirates: Ford's shock over Ferjan|url = http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/9041924.Pirates__Ford_s_shock_over_Ferjan/|website = Bournemouth Echo|accessdate = 2015-11-10|date = 22 May 2011|last = Wadley|first = Ian}}</ref>

== Family == Ferjan had a son, Mark, born on 19 April 2004, and a daughter, Victoria.

== See also == * [[Slovenia national speedway team]] * [[Hungary national speedway team]] * [[List of Speedway Grand Prix riders]]

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferjan, Matej}} [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:2011 deaths]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Ljubljana]] [[Category:Slovenian speedway riders]] [[Category:Hungarian speedway riders]] [[Category:Belle Vue Aces riders]] [[Category:Peterborough Panthers riders]] [[Category:Poole Pirates riders]] [[Category:Expatriate speedway riders in England]] [[Category:Oxford Cheetahs riders]] [[Category:Västervik Speedway riders]]