BRITISH STAR BEWLEY BIDS FOR FLYING FINISH TO 2024 SPEEDWAY GP SERIES

30/08/2024

BRITISH STAR BEWLEY BIDS FOR FLYING FINISH TO 2024 SPEEDWAY GP SERIES

Great Britain racer Dan Bewley is determined to continue his FIM Speedway Grand Prix fightback at the DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw on Saturday night.

Bewley raced to an unforgettable FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff victory at Principality Stadium on August 17, leading an historic home one-two with GB international teammate Robert Lambert.

That win came just two years after Bewley triumphed in the Welsh capital in 2022, before following it up with another famous win at Wroclaw’s Olympic Stadium just two weeks later.

Wroclaw took a break for the 2023 Speedway GP series to host the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup. That event climaxed with one of the sport’s all-time great world team finals, which saw Poland take the gold medal.

But it’s every rider for himself as the Olympic Stadium stages its 16th Speedway GP, with Bewley joined in the line-up by Sparta Wroclaw teammate Maciej Janowski. He replaces their injured club colleague Tai Woffinden, who is still recovering from a broken elbow.

Cumbrian star Bewley has faced his own battle with injuries this year, having sustained a broken foot at round one in Croatia on April 27, closely followed by a thumb injury at Oxford two weeks later. While he admits the injuries took their toll on his performances, he’s pleased to be back in form after helping GB to FIM Speedway of Nations World Championship gold in Manchester on July 13, before racing to his second Cardiff victory a month later.

He said: “I’ve had a few injuries here and there. I really couldn’t get comfortable. I couldn’t hold on too well for a while and I had some problems with my foot. I didn’t really enjoy it if I am honest. It just took the fun out of it.

“It’s tough, but now everything is good. I am just enjoying riding again. I have finally got to a point where I am comfortable on the bikes again and everything is coming along. I have been good for a month or two now.

“People say it has to be this way or that way to be successful, but if I am enjoying it, it’s not hard at all. You just turn up, have a good time and it really doesn’t take a lot of effort when you are having a good time.

“This makes everything that bit easier. I feel like when you are comfy and enjoying it, there is no hard work.”

Bewley led a British one-two with Robert Lambert (left) in Cardiff. PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

Bewley joined Wroclaw in 2020 – with the rider previously admitting that he only took a bold move into the PGE Ekstraliga, the world’s strongest speedway league, after failing to find a team place in Poland’s First Division – now known as Metalkas 2. Ekstraliga.

He’s now in his fifth season with the club and has become a firm fans’ favourite with his all-action style. And Bewley can’t wait to compete on one of the sport’s finest racetracks in Speedway GP competition once again.

He said: “I think Wroclaw two years ago was one of the best GPs ever. I feel that’s a hell of a racetrack, especially in Speedway GP. It’s a cool track.”

Bewley topped the 2022 FIM Wroclaw Speedway GP podium. PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik leads the Speedway GP World Championship on 111 points, despite missing out on the semi-finals in Cardiff. Lambert is his nearest rival in second spot on 90, with Sweden’s Fredrik Lindgren third on 88 and Aussie ace Jack Holder and European champion Mikkel Michelsen tied on 87 in fourth and fifth respectively as the race for the rostrum hots up. Another man in form is Latvian racer Andzejs Lebedevs, who is bidding to make his fourth Speedway GP semi-final in as many rounds.

Lebedevs topped the podium in last Saturday’s Speedway European Championship round in Gustrow, Germany and leads the continental series on 39 points – six ahead of nearest rivals Leon Madsen and Kacper Woryna, who are on 33 going into the final round in Chorzow, Poland on September 21.

The winner of the SEC series earns a guaranteed place in the 2025 Speedway GP World Championship. But Lebedevs insists he is fully focused on three SGP events in as many weekends as he heads to Wroclaw on Saturday, Latvian capital Riga on September 7 and iconic Danish venue Vojens on September 14.

He said: “It’s a long way until the final SEC round and I don’t want to think about what I need to do in the final round yet. I am focused on the Speedway GP in Wroclaw this Saturday. That’s what I am thinking about now.

“Winning the SEC series was one of my goals this season. We made a plan and up to now, we have done everything we wanted to do. It’s one of my chances to stay in the GP and a chance to take a title or medal. That’s very important for me and I am very happy with my performance in Gustrow.

“I am six points ahead before the last round and that’s really nice. I am focused on the rest of the season and on keeping this form also for the GP rounds.”

Latvian ace Andzejs Lebedevs. PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

Lebedevs scored just 13 championship points in the opening three Speedway GPs of 2024 and is currently 13th in the standings on 43 points, having missed the Gorzow round on June 29 due to broken ribs. But he admits taking a more relaxed approach in recent rounds has paid dividends.

He added: “Going into the first round, I had a lot of pressure from my side – not so much from fans, sponsors, or family. I just wanted to do something big. But sometimes you just need to relax and enjoy it.

“What I have tried to do in the last few rounds is to try to enjoy being part of the series. I just want to show I am one of the best in the world and that I deserve my place in the GP series – and not just for one year. I want to stay for longer.

“I didn’t have any pressure for results this year in the World Championship. I just needed more time to understand this. I want to enjoy the fact that everyone around me is happy I am racing in Speedway GP. Whatever result I get, I know my fans and family are behind me and are happy with every single heat that I win or point that I score. That makes a difference in my mind.”

Lebedevs (centre) battles Mikkel Michelsen (left) and Bartosz Zmarzlik (right). PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

Lebedevs is targeting his first Speedway GP final after coming within half a wheel of reaching the last four in Cardiff – just missing out on the run to the line against Polish rival Dominik Kubera. He admits becoming a finalist will be no easy task, but he knows it’s the next step in establishing himself on the sport’s biggest stage.

Lebedevs said: “Every rider in the GP series is a strong guy and everybody wants to reach the final. I do also. It’s another wall in front of me. In the European Championship, I have competed for nine seasons, and this year was the first time that I had won a round. Last Saturday, I got a second win.

“You cross to the next level and then you feel, ‘Yes, I can do it.’ I must find that feeling in Speedway GP.

“It’s like making the GP semi-finals. When you do it, you’re thinking, ‘Yes I can!’ Then you think you can do something more. I think it will be the same with reaching finals. Once that first final comes, I will start to think ‘Yes, I can do this.’ After that, I think it will come more easily. Then we go for the win.

“The main goal for this year was to enjoy it and feel I am really part of this game. My dream for this season is to keep my place in Speedway GP. Maybe for next year, I can prepare my mentality more and start thinking about something more than just being part of this series.”

2024 DeWALT FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF POLAND – WROCLAW LINE-UP:

95. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland)

66. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden)

54. Martin Vaculik (Slovakia)

25. Jack Holder (Australia)

30. Leon Madsen (Denmark)

505. Robert Lambert (Great Britain)

99. Dan Bewley (Great Britain)

46. Max Fricke (Australia – substitute for 69. Jason Doyle)

71. Maciej Janowski (Poland – substitute for 108. Tai Woffinden)

155. Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark)

29. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia)

744. Kai Huckenbeck (Germany)

415. Dominik Kubera (Poland)

48. Szymon Wozniak (Poland)

201. Jan Kvech (Czech Republic)

16. Patryk Dudek (Poland – wild card)

17. Marcel Kowolik (Poland – first track reserve)

18. Nicodem Mikolajczyk (Poland – second track reserve)

Fans head for the Olympic Stadium on Saturday

WROCLAW FANZONE

Fans can enjoy an afternoon of entertainment before racing gets started at the Olympic Stadium as the DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw fanzone opens at 14:00 CET.

Located near entrance gates two and four and the Pergola area, the fanzone features the official Speedway GP autograph session, where fans can meet all 18 riders from 16:30 CET and grab a signature or selfie.

Don’t miss the Monster Energy Rig Riot at 17:00 CET. Grab some exclusive freebies from Monster Energy athletes Fredrik Lindgren, Jack Holder and Dan Bewley.

Enjoy Monster Energy trials action throughout the afternoon, with the first show at 14:15 and more high-octane stunts at 16:00 and 18:00. The Monster Energy Rig will be on hand throughout the day.

Fans can pose for a photo with the Speedway GP trophy throughout the afternoon and meet FIM Speedway mascot Speedy at 14:30, 15:45 and 17:45.

There will be a vintage speedway bikes exhibition, other photo opportunities, the We Love Speedway sign, food and drink stalls, the Speedway GP merchandise shop and much, much more.

The fanzone closes at 18:15, giving fans plenty of time to take their seats ahead of the evening’s racing.

WHERE TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND: TUNE INTO MAX

DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw – Saturday, August 31 at 19:00 CET

European fans can enjoy all this weekend’s action on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming home Max, which is officially live and available to watch across selected countries in the Nordics, Iberia and Central and Eastern Europe.

Max has something for everyone, combining HBO Max’s can’t-miss boxsets, Discovery’s real-life entertainment and Eurosport’s world-class sports. It is the Speedway GP series’ new streaming home.

Fans with access to discovery+ or the Eurosport App, available in selected countries, can still enjoy full live coverage of all the FIM Speedway action, featuring Qualifying Practice, plus all the build-up from the pits and reaction after the chequered flag falls, as well as the very best coverage of the racing including pit and on-board cameras and rider reaction times.

Coverage of Speedway GP is available worldwide with digital and linear coverage – see below for more details of where to watch.

ACROSS EUROPE: Live on Max, discovery+ and Eurosport platforms

BRITAIN: Live on discovery+ and Eurosport 2

POLAND: Live on TTV, Max and Eurosport Extra in Player

SWEDEN: Live on Max and discovery+

DENMARK: Live on 6’eren, Max and discovery+

AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox Sports

GERMANY: Live on discovery+

ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on Eurosport platforms, Go3 and TV3 Sport channels

CZECH REPUBLIC: Live on Max and Eurosport platforms

SLOVAKIA: Live on RTVS, Max and Eurosport platforms

CROATIA: Live on Max and Eurosport platforms