Category: Speedway

Zmarzlik stars to seal first Speedway GP win of 2024

June 15, 2024

World Championship leader Bartosz Zmarzlik extended his lead at the top of the SGP Standings with victory in Round 5 in Sweden.

It looked like the event could be cancelled with torrential rain delaying the start by almost two hours.

After a poor first race, Zmarzlik changed his bike and in Heat 9 produced the only win of the night from Gate 9.

Jack Holder was the leader after the 20 heats but was beaten by countryman Max Fricke in the first semi-final, while Zmarzlik beat Robert Lambert in a fantastic race in the second.

Opting to start from Gate 2, Zmarzlik was beaten to the first bend by Fricke but went wide and took the lead in the second lap and after a brief change of lead held on to win his first Grand Prix of the season.

The win sees Zmarzlik extend his lead to 18 points over second-place Holder in the season standings.

Speedway GP of Sweden – LIVE

June 15, 2024

1825: No start until 1900

Sensibly, they have extended the delay confirming there will definitely be no racing until 7pm British ‘Summer’ Time.

1817: No start before 1830

That is 7.30pm local time. And the way it is raining, it is hard to see action until much later than then.

1800: Likely to be a delayed start

There is teeming rain in Malilla and the riders will be unlikely to start on time.

1755: Brit Bewley won last year’s Sweden GP

Dan Bewley took first place in front of Martin Vaculik and Patrick Dudek.

1745: Can anyone close in on Zmarzlik?

After four rounds, Polish star Bartos Zmarzlik is 12 points clear of Australia’s Jack Holder, with our Brit Robert Lambert a point further back.

HELLO AND WELCOME!

Thanks for joining our coverage of the Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden.

Speedway GP – Czech Republic of GP LIVE

June 1, 2024

WHERE CAN I WATCH THE 2024 SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX?

Eurosport and discovery+ will show live coverage of every round of 2024 Speedway Grand Prix action.

Every meeting, including qualifying, will be broadcast in full and will be accessible live-on-demand on discovery+ and Eurosport’s digital platforms.

Eurosport.com will provide live coverage, reaction and video highlights of every single meeting.

‘Sometimes these big things happen’ – Vaculik eyes Czech Speedway GP hat-trick

May 31, 2024

Martin Vaculik hopes to win his third consecutive Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic in Prague on Saturday.

Although he is from across the border, the Slovakian native considers the Czech race to be his home event, and he has won in both the last two events.

Currently seventh in the standings of the World Championship, he hopes to add to his 27 points in pursuit of current leader Bartosz Zmarzlik on 50.

Vaculik used to watch Speedway at the track as a child and speaking to FIMSpeedway.com, he revealed his pride to be racing there once more.

“It just shows that dreams come true,” he said. “This is what is nice about sport. When kids are small and they have their own sporting idols, they support them, watch them and they start dreaming big things. Sometimes these big things happen. It’s amazing.

“This Grand Prix has been so great for me and having two wins here already is such a beautiful feeling. I’m very grateful and thankful for this.

“But those wins are history and now we have something new in front of us. I am just taking it like it is. It’s a new challenge in front of me and I will just enjoy the Prague meeting like always and try my best.”

With plenty of shared history between the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Vaculik is keen to welcome fans from both countries at the weekend.

He added: “So many people from Slovakia will be there and also the Czech fans always support me. It’s always nice to race in Prague. I have so many good memories here. It’s just a place with good energy for me.”

A middling start to the season sees him hopeful to repeat his success.

“I’m in a similar position to where I was last year,” he acknowledged. “Unfortunately, in the last couple of seasons, my first part of the season has not been the best or not what I would have wished.

“But I really hope this tournament will be good again for me. I hope so. I am keeping my fingers crossed for that.”

Watch and stream the 2024 Speedway Grand Prix season on Eurosport and discovery+

Doyle out of Speedway GP Czech Republic after rib and shoulder injury, replaced by Fricke

May 30, 2024

Jason Doyle has been replaced by Max Fricke for the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague this weekend.

The Australian will take part in Saturday’s race as a replacement, who has now officially withdrawn from the event due to injury.

Doyle won the second race of the season in Poland earlier in the month, but suffered an injury after he crashed out in Thursday’s Rowe Motor Oil Premiership race for Ipswich Witches in King’s Lynn.

Fricke will now step in for his compatriot while Doyle recovers from his rib and shoulder injuries, with no date yet scheduled for his comeback.

Fricke took ninth place in the 2023 Speedway GP series and after missing out on a wild card spot for the current campaign, he will hope to make the most of his surprise opportunity this season.

He has two semi-finals to his name in seven appearances at Prague, scoring 13 points in the 2019 meeting.

Doyle currently sits third in the championship and will now almost certainly fall behind his rivals for the lead over the coming events while he is out injured.

Bartosz Marzlik leads the championship with 50 points, two points clear of Jack Holder in second. Robert Lambert sits fourth, six points behind Doyle, who has 47 so far.

Watch and stream the 2024 Speedway Grand Prix season on Eurosport and discovery+

'Hopefully not serious' – Michelsen update after SGP crash as Madsen defends actions

May 15, 2022

Mikkel Michelsen has provided an update on his condition after dramatically crashing out of the final of the Speedway Grand Prix of Poland.

Michelsen was involved in a clash with fellow Danish rider Leon Madsen on the first lap as the two battled for second place behind Max Fricke in first.

The collision sent the 27-year-old flying from his bike across the track and into the safety barriers.

Speedway GP

‘That’s a difficult call’ – Michelsen excluded after crashing out of SGP final in Warsaw

3 HOURS AGO

Michelsen was excluded for the re-race but may not have been in condition to resume regardless after lengthy treatment for an apparent arm injury and having to be helped off the track by medics.

Writing on Instagram later, the Dane assured fans of his health but said he wouldn’t be racing for his country in the European team Speedway championship the following day.

“Not feeling well at the moment but hopefully nothing too serious.

“I have decided to pull out of tomorrow’s European Team Final in Poznan so good luck to the rest of Team DK.”

Ironically, Michelsen was due to race alongside Madsen at the event in Poznan on Sunday in a bumper weekend of action for Polish fans who sold out the 50,000 national stadium for the SGP.

Speaking after the re-race in which he finished second behind Fricke, Madsen insisted he was not to blame for the incident.

“I prefer to make good starts and don’t have to fight so much on the track,” he said. “But if we have to do that, I will do that to win. Those finals are always very tough, everybody gives that 110%.

“I tried to avoid Mikkel, I was leaning, I was going left.

“As you can see, when we went into the corner, I didn’t go straight, I was going left and he kept going left on me.

“We going down the straight side by side, I’m not like behind him or anything. I feel like he kept leaning left on me and I tried to avoid him.

“He kind of like, kept provoking it. I think he knew that if I passed him that was it.”

Asked if there was a chance he might have been excluded from the race, he added: “I’m not the referee. I’m just a rider and I’m just doing my best to win every race and I tried to be fair.

“I also know if you fall off, there’s a there’s a chance that I get excluded and I don’t want that.

“So yeah, it’s tough. It’s the GP, the best riders in the world. Everybody is racing tough and hard and everyone is good here and can win the meeting. That’s why it’s so exciting for the for everyone to watch.”

—

The 2022 Speedway Grand Prix will be available live and ad-free on discovery+. with live race action also on Eurosport 2.

Speedway GP

Speedway GP Warsaw highlights as Fricke takes victory on eventful night

7 HOURS AGO

Speedway GP

Fricke celebrates win he will ‘never forget’ in Warsaw

7 HOURS AGO