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POLISH HERO ZMARZLIK’S COUNTDOWN TO SPEEDWAY GP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY IN TORUN
Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik admits he was counting the hours as he held his nerve to become a four-time Speedway GP world champion at the DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun on Saturday.Zmarzlik becomes only the seventh rider in the sport’s history to win four or more FIM Speedway world titles, joining six-time champions Tony Rickardsson and Ivan Mauger, five-time winner Ove Fundin and fellow four-time champions Barry Briggs, Hans Nielsen and Greg Hancock in a very elite club.The 28-year-old is the fastest rider in history to win his fourth world title, and Zmarzlik made more history in Torun as his victory in the DeWalt FIM Torun Speedway GP saw him match Aussie legend Jason Crump’s series record of 23 SGP wins – a mark Zmarzlik will bid to surpass in 2024.The three-time Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup winner went into the title decider at the Marian Rose Motoarena with just a six-point advantage over Swedish rival Fredrik Lindgren.This was after he was disqualified from the DeluxeHomeart FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens on September 16 for wearing a race suit which did not comply with the 2023 Speedway GP regulations.Roared on by a partisan Polish crowd, Zmarzlik bounced back by reaching the final in Torun, where he faced off with Lindgren, who needed to win the race with Zmarzlik last – just to force a run-off for the gold medal.But Poland’s greatest-ever speedway rider made the start of a lifetime in the final, sending the Torun crowd into a frenzy with every turn of the wheel as he triumphed ahead of Lindgren, Danish racer Leon Madsen and Poland’s Patryk Dudek to write another glorious chapter in his storied career.
SPEEDWAY GP FAB FOUR FOR POLISH ICON ZMARZLIK
Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik became the sport’s seventh four-time FIM Speedway world champion after fending off Fredrik Lindgren to seal gold at the DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun on Saturday night.Zmarzlik won his fourth Speedway GP crown in five years, holding his nerve to produce the start of a lifetime and win the final ahead of the Swede, who was second, with Denmark's Leon Madsen third and Poland's Patryk Dudek fourth.Victory also saw Zmarzlik match Aussie legend Jason Crump's series record of 23 Speedway GP wins.Adding to the gold medals he won in 2019, 2020 and 2022, Zmarzlik joins six-time FIM Speedway champions Ivan Mauger and Tony Rickardsson, five-time winner Ove Fundin and four-time champions Barry Briggs, Hans Nielsen and Greg Hancock in the sport’s most elite club.Zmarzlik, 28, is the youngest rider in the sport’s history to reach four FIM Speedway world titles – surpassing Swedish legend Fundin, who lifted his fourth championship in 1963 at the age of 30.Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren has secured the Speedway GP World Championship silver medal – his first-ever top two finish – while Slovakia's Martin Vaculik bagged the bronze medal - his first Speedway GP podium.Zmarzlik, Lindgren, Vaculik, Australia's Jack Holder in fourth, Madsen in fifth and Great Britain's Robert Lambert have all secured automatic qualification for the 2024 Speedway GP series by finishing in this season’s Speedway GP World Championship top six.They are joined by Speedway European Championship winner Mikkel Michelsen, plus Aussie ace Jason Doyle and Poland’s Szymon Wozniak, who qualified at the FIM GP Challenge in Gislaved on August 19.Vaculik also reached the rostrum to secure qualification in Sweden, but with the Slovak finishing in the Speedway GP World Championship top six, his qualification place from the Challenge passes to Czech racer Jan Kvech, who was fifth in the Challenge. He becomes the first full-time Czech Speedway GP rider since Lukas Dryml raced in the 2008 series.The 2024 Speedway GP line-up will be completed by five permanent wild cards, selected by the SGP Commission.Full report, confirmed standings and reaction from Torun to follow later …
SWEDISH STAR LINDGREN READY FOR SPEEDWAY GP TITLE SHOWDOWN WITH ZMARZLIK IN TORUN
Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren insists he’s ready to “put everything on the line” as he bids to realise his dream of becoming Speedway GP world champion in Torun on Saturday night.The stakes are high as the DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Torun – Poland brings the curtain down on the 2023 FIM Speedway Grand Prix series, with Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik bidding to become only the seventh rider in speedway history to win four or more world titles.But Zmarzlik’s 24-point lead ahead of the DeluxeHomeart FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens on September 16 shrunk to just six after he was disqualified from the event by the FIM Jury for wearing a race suit, which didn’t comply with the Speedway GP regulations during Qualifying Practice.With Lindgren taking second place in Vojens, scoring 18 championship points, he is now on 132 – hot on the heels of Zmarzlik, who has 138. Lindgren has a golden opportunity to become Sweden’s first world champion since the legendary Tony Rickardsson won his sixth and final title in 2005 – 18 years ago.The Orebro-born racer must score seven championship points more than Zmarzlik to become Speedway GP world champion, or six to force a run-off for the gold medal. But if Zmarzlik finishes on the Torun podium, outscores Lindgren or finishes within five points of the Swede, he will retain the Speedway GP crown he previously lifted in 2019, 2020 and 2022.Aside from round four in Teterow, Germany, Lindgren has scored double figures in every Speedway GP event this season, registering eight semi-final appearances and seven finals across nine rounds. But the 38-year-old is determined to bring his very best form on the biggest night of his career so far.He said: “I have been pretty good all year I feel. I had one slip-up in Teterow, scoring five points, but I have raced well in the rest. I feel in good form, and I will put everything on the line in the last round.“I just have to go there, focus and do the best I can. Whatever happens, I will be proud of myself. I am six points down and it’s not easy to get that back. I can only do the best I can, and we will see where we end up.”
SEASON OVER FOR WOFFINDEN
Great Britain icon Tai Woffinden has confirmed his season is over after he suffered concussion in last Sunday’s PGE Ekstraliga play-off final decider in Wroclaw.The triple world champion made an early comeback from the broken hand he suffered in the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff on September 2 in a bid to help his side snatch the title.But Woffinden, whose British side Sheffield races in the Sports Insure Premiership Grand Final against Ipswich next week, suffered a further crash at the Olympic Stadium. He was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s DeWalt FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun as Lublin retained their PGE Ekstraliga crown.Posting on his official Facebook page, Woffinden admitted he was knocked out after catching Lublin junior Bartosz Banbor’s back wheel and crashing in heat seven. He wrote: “Hey guys, a lot of people asking about me riding this weekend in Torun. On Sunday, I had another crash and was knocked out for about a minute. “I have really bad concussion. I don’t remember anything between preparing the rut in heat seven and walking to podium to receive the medal. I have had a headache since Sunday! “I came back too soon and paid the price; my season is over, and I need time to let my body recover and rest! Thank you for your support.”Everyone involved in FIM Speedway wishes Tai a speedy recovery.
JOIN INFINITE REALITY FOR EXCLUSIVE FIM SPEEDWAY METAVERSE WALKTHROUGH
As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, FIM Speedway is looking towards the future with a preview of the first-ever FIM Speedway Metaverse Season, expanding on its mission to engage fans in new and exciting ways and to further expand its community. As the global promoter of FIM Speedway, the events division of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe has teamed with Infinite Reality (iR) to explore new ways to provide interactive fan engagement opportunities through Web3 technology to further engage the international speedway community.Infinite Reality’s chief innovation officer Elliott Jobe and CEO of Infinite Reality Europe, François Ribeiro, provide an exclusive walkthrough of the FIM Speedway Metaverse and some of its features.
sgp News
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