GB SKIPPER LAMBERT EYES PEAK PERFORMANCE FOR FIM SON FINAL SHOWDOWN

13/07/2024

GB SKIPPER LAMBERT EYES PEAK PERFORMANCE FOR FIM SON FINAL SHOWDOWN

Great Britain captain Robert Lambert is determined to make sure his side peaks at the perfect moment to regain their FIM Speedway of Nations world title in Saturday’s Final at Manchester's National Speedway Stadium.

Lambert reunites with Dan Bewley and Tom Brennan as GB track three of the riders who ended the nation’s 32-year wait for a world team title at the FIM SON Final in Manchester in October 2021.

They go into Saturday’s showdown without injured three-time Speedway GP world champion Tai Woffinden, who is recovering from surgery on a broken elbow. But having won the title without their talisman on day two of the 2021 Final, the Brits are still tipped among the favourites to win gold.

The Lions take on Sweden, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Australia and Latvia at the National Speedway Stadium in a meeting, featuring nine Speedway GP riders. Along with Lambert and Bewley, the line-up includes four-time Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik of Poland, his teammate Dominik Kubera, Denmark’s European champion Mikkel Michelsen, Sweden’s world No.2 Fredrik Lindgren, German star Kai Huckenbeck, Aussie ace Jack Holder and Latvian racer Andzejs Lebedevs.

The seven teams meet over 21 heats, with the top-scoring nation qualifying for the Grand Final. The second and third-placed teams line up in the Grand Final Qualifier, battling it out for the last spot in the Grand Final. The winner of that final showdown will be crowned FIM SON world champions for 2024.

Lambert has raced in three FIM SON Grand Finals – more than any other rider – winning one in Manchester in 2021 and taking the silver medals in Wroclaw, Poland in 2018 and Vojens, Denmark in 2022. While he’s determined to ensure the Brits pile up the points over the first 21 heats, he knows only a heat advantage in the Grand Final will deliver gold for GB as he backs his side to manage the pressure of competing as one of the favourites.

He said: “It’s great that we’ve had success, but we try not to look at what the media is saying and what other people are saying.

"There is always going to be that pressure, but we are here to race, perform, do the best job possible and put on a great show at the same time.

“We have a great chance. We are coming here to try and regain the trophy. Last time we were in Manchester, we did a great job. I think we will approach it the same. We will build as many points up as we can and get the bikes working for that last race. That’s all it comes down to.

“We were close to winning again at Vojens and just slipped up a little bit with bike setup. That’s just how it rolls in the SON with it coming down to the last race. Hopefully it will go our way this time.”

Going for gold with GB - Dan Bewley. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning

Lambert and Bewley form a fine double act in GB’s starting pair, with FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff wild card Brennan backing them up in the No.3 reserve spot.

Working as a team is vital in the sport’s ultimate test of team riding – with teams guaranteed to score a heat advantage if they avoid finishing last.

Lambert is backing the Brits to work well on the track. He added: “If we make some flying starts, we can race closely in a good pair. We trust each other on the track, which I think is important. We can ride closely and close doors – and open them up for each other as well. It’s a great team we have in place, and I am looking forward to Saturday.”

Woffinden has not completed an FIM SON Final for GB since 2018, having sat out the 2019, 2020 and 2022 editions due to injury and missed day two of GB’s title triumph in 2021 after crashing out of the Manchester event on day one. But Lambert is confident the Lions can deliver in the 2013, 2015 and 2018 Speedway GP world champion’s absence.

He said: “Obviously we would like to have Woffy here, but the Speedway of Nations seems to attract injuries for him every time. That’s how it is and how it has played out. We are happy with the team we have to go forward on Saturday.”

GB's gold medal heroes celebrate in Manchester in 2021. PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

Bewley partners Lambert on his British home track in Manchester, where he races for the Belle Vue Aces in the Sports Insure Premiership. The Cumbrian star knows the fast and furious Manchester track is popular with riders of many nations. While this doesn’t offer the Lions much home advantage, he believes that will come from a partisan British crowd in the stands.

He said: “It’s one of those tracks that everyone enjoys riding. I think the real home advantage will be when we come to the stadium and go out for a heat, we will hopefully get that extra bit from the home crowd. It’s cool to see and that’s our advantage here.”

Tickets for Saturday’s FIM SON Final are still available online – along with tickets for the FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 event for the sport’s under-21 riders at the National Speedway Stadium on Friday.

Secure your seats for two epic nights of action online HERE now.

FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS FINAL STARTING LINE-UPS

SATURDAY, JULY 13

Team A - GERMANY

1. Kai Huckenbeck ©
2. Norick Blödorn
3. Erik Riss

Team manager: Mathias Bartz

Team B - DENMARK

1. Mikkel Michelsen ©
2. Anders Thomsen
3. Rasmus Jensen

Team manager: Nicki Pedersen

Team C – GREAT BRITAIN

1. Robert Lambert ©
2. Dan Bewley
3. Tom Brennan

Team managers: Simon Stead and Oliver Allen