LAMBERT: DOWN TO THE WIRE

Britain’s world No.2 Robert Lambert is determined to take the Speedway GP World Championship race to the wire as he bids to swap silver for gold in 2025.

Lambert enjoyed an historic 2024 season, becoming only Britain’s third Speedway GP medallist, following in the footsteps of 2000 Speedway GP world champion Mark Loram and three-time Speedway GP world champion Tai Woffinden.

The Norfolk racer also picked up his first Speedway GP win in Vojens last September, as well as leading Great Britain to its second FIM Speedway of Nations world title in three years.

For Lambert to add Speedway GP gold to his growing CV, he would have to deny Bartosz Zmarzlik a record-equalling sixth Speedway GP World Championship as the Pole bids to match the half-dozen achieved by Ivan Mauger and Tony Rickardsson. Zmarzlik also aims to become the first rider in the sport’s history to be crowned world champion four years in a row.

Lambert knows he will face strong opposition to land speedway’s biggest prize – and not just from Zmarzlik. But he is determined to keep himself in the title race all the way to the end.

Asked what it would take to beat Zmarzlik, he said: “I think there will be very fine margins, and it will come down to the last round and who can handle the situation and perform. 

“I don’t think you will get leaps in front of Bartek throughout the season. If I can match him and push at the end to get in front, that’s how you can get above him and beat him.

“He’s definitely flying at the moment and he’s one of a kind. Big respect to him, but he has the target on his back. Everyone is looking to beat him, and it must be hard work for him. But’s what happens when you are a five-time world champion.”

Lambert, 26, appears to be a rider who is yet to reach his peak in the sport, and he still believes he has time on his side to join the elite club of Speedway GP world champions.

He said: “Look when Jason Doyle got his first World Championship (aged 32 in 2017). There is time ahead and that’s why we’re not putting too much emphasis on it for this year. I have always been one for trusting the process and doing everything I can to perform in the best way possible.

“As long as I do that and continue in that way, the same as I have for many years, I am sure one day it will come.”

Lambert is pleased he no longer has to face questions about when his first victory will arrive after topping the Deluxe Homeart FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens podium.

He said: “That’s not lingering anymore. I have got that done and hopefully we will get many more in the rest of my career. 

“It’s good to have that out of the way, but you don’t have to win a GP to be world champion. If you came second in all of them, you would be world champion. Consistency is the key in the game now.”

Lambert plans on keeping a similar approach in 2025 to the one that delivered him Speedway GP silver last season. He said: “It was a magnificent season in the GP and league. Changing my approach from last season to this season would be silly, so I am doing the same as I did last year. I will be fighting for a medal, and we will see how those goalposts move throughout the season.

“It will be the same in the Ekstraliga as well. If I am in the top 10 in the averages, I will be satisfied, and it will be the same in Sweden.

“We are fighting for medals in the leagues as well. My goals are the same, but they will move in different directions throughout the season. We will see how the season progresses.

“At the moment, everything starts at zero. I am focusing on what I can do. I’ll do my job and see where the season takes me.”

Lambert launches his 2025 season in the UK, when he lines up at Danish star Niels Kristian Iversen’s testimonial in King’s Lynn on Sunday, before heading to Manchester for the Peter Craven Memorial meeting on Monday.

The former European champion can’t wait to perform in front of his British fans before getting his season started on the continent.

He said: “It will be good to give the British fans some speedway. The King’s Lynn fans have been waiting all winter to watch it and it’s the same in Manchester.

“Me and Niels were teammates for many years at King’s Lynn and we know each other well. Giving back to him is nice.

“These are the first two meetings for me for the season. Then I go back to Poland because we have test matches.”