Category: Speedway GP

Australian champion Max Fricke was delighted with “one of those memories I will never forget” as he won the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw.

Fricke took the win in front of more than 50,000 spectators at the PGE Narodowy on Saturday night.

A great start from Fricke had him beating Leon Madsen with the Dane pushed back into second, and Swedish rider Fredrik Lindgren took third.

With the Ukrainian invasion by Russia still fresh in the minds of the Polish crowd, there were tifos displaying the flags of both countries ahead of the race, with 100 Ukrainians special guests at the event.

The win was Fricke’s second Speedway GP victory, with his last coming in 2020 at round seven in Torun.

He said: “It’s unreal. It’s unreal to be able to say I have won a GP here in this amazing stadium in front of so many people. I really had to take a few moments, especially after the meeting, to really take in the atmosphere and the crowd. It’s definitely one of those memories I will never forget.

“I haven’t done a lot of time racing in indoor stadiums. I have ridden in them once or twice, but a long time ago. I knew it was going to be a little trickier tonight. I was just able to feel really comfortable with my bikes. My team did a really amazing job tonight and on Friday at Qualifying Practice to get me into this position and get me feeling good on the bike. Once I got out of the starts, I had plenty of speed.”

Fricke became the first competitor to win from outside the Polish top division in recent years.

He acknowledged: “I don’t know if it has been done, so it’s definitely something I can say I have done.

“The most important thing was that I felt really good tonight, regardless of what league I race in. I have been pretty busy and I have been riding a lot, so it was good to bounce back after that first round in Croatia and have a good result.”

Madsen is now on 30 points, two behind current leader Bartosz Zmarzlik, who left at the semi-final stage.

He said: “It’s nice to finally start to feel a little bit better. It hard been hard for the last month with flu and stuff like that, but I am slowly getting my fitness back.

“Tonight it was crazy and it is always crazy in these indoor meetings. The races go just like that – in such a short amount of time.

“You don’t always have time in the pits to affect your races, so it is really stressful and so crazy. I am happy to come second tonight and be up there at the top in the classification – second place and only two points short of the leader. It’s good to be back and I am happy about that.”

Lindgren was pleased with his own return to form, explaining: “I really needed a decent result in Warsaw to bounce back and climb the ladder in the championship table. I am really happy with third tonight. It was a really tough night for me.

“I had some really bad luck – I snapped a chain and crashed in one heat. I was fighting in every heat for every point and I got a bit lucky in the semi-final, to be honest. I was in the final to get on the podium, and that’s the way it is sometimes.”

The next event is the Prague FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague on Saturday, May 28.

SPEEDWAY GP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

1 – Bartosz Zmarzlik 32

2 – Leon Madsen 30

3 Mikkel Michelsen 30

4 Maciej Janowski 29

5 Fredrik Lindgren 24

6 Max Fricke 22

7 Robert Lambert 18

8 Anders Thomsen 15

9 Jason Doyle 15

10 Tai Woffinden 14

11 Matej Zagar 11

12 Pawel Przedpelski 10

13 Jack Holder 10

14 Patryk Dudek 10

15 Martin Vaculik 9

16 Dan Bewley 9

17 Maksym Drabik 4.

WARSAW CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:

1 Max Fricke 20

2 Leon Madsen 18

3 Fredrik Lindgren 16

4 Mikkel Michelsen 14

5 Bartosz Zmarzlik 12

6 Maciej Janowski 11

7 Tai Woffinden 10

8 Pawel Przedpelski 9

9 Robert Lambert 8

10 Jack Holder 7

11 Jason Doyle 6

12 Patryk Dudek 5

13 Maksym Drabik 4

14 Dan Bewley 3

15 Martin Vaculik 2

16 Anders Thomsen 1

17 Jakub Miskowiak 0

18 Vitalii Lysak DNR.

—

Australian champion Max Fricke was delighted with “one of those memories I will never forget” as he won the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw.

Fricke took the win in front of more than 50,000 spectators at the PGE Narodowy on Saturday night.

A great start from Fricke had him beating Leon Madsen with the Dane pushed back into second, and Swedish rider Fredrik Lindgren took third.

With the Ukrainian invasion by Russia still fresh in the minds of the Polish crowd, there were tifos displaying the flags of both countries ahead of the race, with 100 Ukrainians special guests at the event.

The win was Fricke’s second Speedway GP victory, with his last coming in 2020 at round seven in Torun.

He said: “It’s unreal. It’s unreal to be able to say I have won a GP here in this amazing stadium in front of so many people. I really had to take a few moments, especially after the meeting, to really take in the atmosphere and the crowd. It’s definitely one of those memories I will never forget.

“I haven’t done a lot of time racing in indoor stadiums. I have ridden in them once or twice, but a long time ago. I knew it was going to be a little trickier tonight. I was just able to feel really comfortable with my bikes. My team did a really amazing job tonight and on Friday at Qualifying Practice to get me into this position and get me feeling good on the bike. Once I got out of the starts, I had plenty of speed.”

Fricke became the first competitor to win from outside the Polish top division in recent years.

He acknowledged: “I don’t know if it has been done, so it’s definitely something I can say I have done.

“The most important thing was that I felt really good tonight, regardless of what league I race in. I have been pretty busy and I have been riding a lot, so it was good to bounce back after that first round in Croatia and have a good result.”

Madsen is now on 30 points, two behind current leader Bartosz Zmarzlik, who left at the semi-final stage.

He said: “It’s nice to finally start to feel a little bit better. It hard been hard for the last month with flu and stuff like that, but I am slowly getting my fitness back.

“Tonight it was crazy and it is always crazy in these indoor meetings. The races go just like that – in such a short amount of time.

“You don’t always have time in the pits to affect your races, so it is really stressful and so crazy. I am happy to come second tonight and be up there at the top in the classification – second place and only two points short of the leader. It’s good to be back and I am happy about that.”

Lindgren was pleased with his own return to form, explaining: “I really needed a decent result in Warsaw to bounce back and climb the ladder in the championship table. I am really happy with third tonight. It was a really tough night for me.

“I had some really bad luck – I snapped a chain and crashed in one heat. I was fighting in every heat for every point and I got a bit lucky in the semi-final, to be honest. I was in the final to get on the podium, and that’s the way it is sometimes.”

The next event is the Prague FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague on Saturday, May 28.

SPEEDWAY GP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

1 – Bartosz Zmarzlik 32

2 – Leon Madsen 30

3 Mikkel Michelsen 30

4 Maciej Janowski 29

5 Fredrik Lindgren 24

6 Max Fricke 22

7 Robert Lambert 18

8 Anders Thomsen 15

9 Jason Doyle 15

10 Tai Woffinden 14

11 Matej Zagar 11

12 Pawel Przedpelski 10

13 Jack Holder 10

14 Patryk Dudek 10

15 Martin Vaculik 9

16 Dan Bewley 9

17 Maksym Drabik 4.

WARSAW CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:

1 Max Fricke 20

2 Leon Madsen 18

3 Fredrik Lindgren 16

4 Mikkel Michelsen 14

5 Bartosz Zmarzlik 12

6 Maciej Janowski 11

7 Tai Woffinden 10

8 Pawel Przedpelski 9

9 Robert Lambert 8

10 Jack Holder 7

11 Jason Doyle 6

12 Patryk Dudek 5

13 Maksym Drabik 4

14 Dan Bewley 3

15 Martin Vaculik 2

16 Anders Thomsen 1

17 Jakub Miskowiak 0

18 Vitalii Lysak DNR.

—

Australian champion Max Fricke was delighted with “one of those memories I will never forget” as he won the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw.

Fricke took the win in front of more than 50,000 spectators at the PGE Narodowy on Saturday night.

A great start from Fricke had him beating Leon Madsen with the Dane pushed back into second, and Swedish rider Fredrik Lindgren took third.

With the Ukrainian invasion by Russia still fresh in the minds of the Polish crowd, there were tifos displaying the flags of both countries ahead of the race, with 100 Ukrainians special guests at the event.

The win was Fricke’s second Speedway GP victory, with his last coming in 2020 at round seven in Torun.

He said: “It’s unreal. It’s unreal to be able to say I have won a GP here in this amazing stadium in front of so many people. I really had to take a few moments, especially after the meeting, to really take in the atmosphere and the crowd. It’s definitely one of those memories I will never forget.

“I haven’t done a lot of time racing in indoor stadiums. I have ridden in them once or twice, but a long time ago. I knew it was going to be a little trickier tonight. I was just able to feel really comfortable with my bikes. My team did a really amazing job tonight and on Friday at Qualifying Practice to get me into this position and get me feeling good on the bike. Once I got out of the starts, I had plenty of speed.”

Fricke became the first competitor to win from outside the Polish top division in recent years.

He acknowledged: “I don’t know if it has been done, so it’s definitely something I can say I have done.

“The most important thing was that I felt really good tonight, regardless of what league I race in. I have been pretty busy and I have been riding a lot, so it was good to bounce back after that first round in Croatia and have a good result.”

Madsen is now on 30 points, two behind current leader Bartosz Zmarzlik, who left at the semi-final stage.

He said: “It’s nice to finally start to feel a little bit better. It hard been hard for the last month with flu and stuff like that, but I am slowly getting my fitness back.

“Tonight it was crazy and it is always crazy in these indoor meetings. The races go just like that – in such a short amount of time.

“You don’t always have time in the pits to affect your races, so it is really stressful and so crazy. I am happy to come second tonight and be up there at the top in the classification – second place and only two points short of the leader. It’s good to be back and I am happy about that.”

Lindgren was pleased with his own return to form, explaining: “I really needed a decent result in Warsaw to bounce back and climb the ladder in the championship table. I am really happy with third tonight. It was a really tough night for me.

“I had some really bad luck – I snapped a chain and crashed in one heat. I was fighting in every heat for every point and I got a bit lucky in the semi-final, to be honest. I was in the final to get on the podium, and that’s the way it is sometimes.”

The next event is the Prague FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague on Saturday, May 28.

SPEEDWAY GP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

1 – Bartosz Zmarzlik 32

2 – Leon Madsen 30

3 Mikkel Michelsen 30

4 Maciej Janowski 29

5 Fredrik Lindgren 24

6 Max Fricke 22

7 Robert Lambert 18

8 Anders Thomsen 15

9 Jason Doyle 15

10 Tai Woffinden 14

11 Matej Zagar 11

12 Pawel Przedpelski 10

13 Jack Holder 10

14 Patryk Dudek 10

15 Martin Vaculik 9

16 Dan Bewley 9

17 Maksym Drabik 4.

WARSAW CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:

1 Max Fricke 20

2 Leon Madsen 18

3 Fredrik Lindgren 16

4 Mikkel Michelsen 14

5 Bartosz Zmarzlik 12

6 Maciej Janowski 11

7 Tai Woffinden 10

8 Pawel Przedpelski 9

9 Robert Lambert 8

10 Jack Holder 7

11 Jason Doyle 6

12 Patryk Dudek 5

13 Maksym Drabik 4

14 Dan Bewley 3

15 Martin Vaculik 2

16 Anders Thomsen 1

17 Jakub Miskowiak 0

18 Vitalii Lysak DNR.

—

Max Fricke took a shock win at the FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Poland in front of a massive crowd of 50,000 fans. It looked as if it would be Bartosz Zmarzlik’s to lose after a stellar performance during Friday night’s qualifying.

Going into race day, Zmarzlik stormed to the top of the standings after 20 heats but hadn’t done it easily. Maciej Janowski and Leon Madsen had given the Polish rider a tough time all evening, but as the evening went on, the pair dropped off, leaving Zmarzlik on top.

Fricke had snuck himself into the top eight after a disappointing start to his evening and took to the track to compete in the first semi-final of the night against Zmarzlik, Pawel Przedpelski and Fredrik Lindgren.

Zmarzlik stormed ahead but a costly mistake allowed Fricke to get by. It looked as if Zmarzlik would get second, but another mistake left Zmarzlik heartbroken and out of the finals. Fricke was a shock entry to the decider, along with Lindgren.

The second semi-final saw both Tai Woffinden and crucially for the 50,000-strong home support, Janowski miss out of the final, meaning no Polish rider could compete for the win. Mikkel Michelsen and Madsen flew the Danish flag in the final four.

The final showdown between Fricke, Michelsen, Madsen and Lindgren didn’t go down smoothly. Fricke went flying out of the gates, but the race was red-flagged due to contact between Michelsen and Madsen.

Michelsen went flying off his bike, but was ultimately found at fault for the collision and was excluded from the final.

Just like the first attempt, Fricke flew out of the gate and never looked back, sailing away to his first win of the year. Madsen was able to claim second, and Lindgren was third-placed on the night.

Championship Standings After Two Races

1 – Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 32pts

2 – Leon Madsen (Denmark) 30pts

3 – Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 30pts

4 – Maciej Janowski (Poland) 29pts

5 – Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) 24pts

6 – Max Fricke (Australia) 22pts

7 – Robert Lambert (United Kingdom) 18pts

8 – Jason Doyle (Australia) 15pts

9 – Anders Thomsen (Denmark) 15pts

10 – Tai Woffinden (United Kingdom) 10pts

11 – Matej Zagar (Slovakia) 11pts

12 – Pawel Przedpelski (Poland) 10pts

13 – Jack Holder (Australia) 10pts

14 – Patryk Dudek (Poland) 10pts

15 – Martin Vaculik (Slovakia) 9pts

16 – Dan Bewley (United Kingdom)9pts

—

Max Fricke took a shock win at the FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Poland in front of a massive crowd of 50,000 fans. It looked as if it would be Bartosz Zmarzlik’s to lose after a stellar performance during Friday night’s qualifying.

Going into race day, Zmarzlik stormed to the top of the standings after 20 heats but hadn’t done it easily. Maciej Janowski and Leon Madsen had given the Polish rider a tough time all evening, but as the evening went on, the pair dropped off, leaving Zmarzlik on top.

Fricke had snuck himself into the top eight after a disappointing start to his evening and took to the track to compete in the first semi-final of the night against Zmarzlik, Pawel Przedpelski and Fredrik Lindgren.

Zmarzlik stormed ahead but a costly mistake allowed Fricke to get by. It looked as if Zmarzlik would get second, but another mistake left Zmarzlik heartbroken and out of the finals. Fricke was a shock entry to the decider, along with Lindgren.

The second semi-final saw both Tai Woffinden and crucially for the 50,000-strong home support, Janowski miss out of the final, meaning no Polish rider could compete for the win. Mikkel Michelsen and Madsen flew the Danish flag in the final four.

The final showdown between Fricke, Michelsen, Madsen and Lindgren didn’t go down smoothly. Fricke went flying out of the gates, but the race was red-flagged due to contact between Michelsen and Madsen.

Michelsen went flying off his bike, but was ultimately found at fault for the collision and was excluded from the final.

Just like the first attempt, Fricke flew out of the gate and never looked back, sailing away to his first win of the year. Madsen was able to claim second, and Lindgren was third-placed on the night.

Championship Standings After Two Races

1 – Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 32pts

2 – Leon Madsen (Denmark) 30pts

3 – Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 30pts

4 – Maciej Janowski (Poland) 29pts

5 – Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) 24pts

6 – Max Fricke (Australia) 22pts

7 – Robert Lambert (United Kingdom) 18pts

8 – Jason Doyle (Australia) 15pts

9 – Anders Thomsen (Denmark) 15pts

10 – Tai Woffinden (United Kingdom) 10pts

11 – Matej Zagar (Slovakia) 11pts

12 – Pawel Przedpelski (Poland) 10pts

13 – Jack Holder (Australia) 10pts

14 – Patryk Dudek (Poland) 10pts

15 – Martin Vaculik (Slovakia) 9pts

16 – Dan Bewley (United Kingdom)9pts

—

Max Fricke took a shock win at the FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Poland in front of a massive crowd of 50,000 fans. It looked as if it would be Bartosz Zmarzlik’s to lose after a stellar performance during Friday night’s qualifying.

Going into race day, Zmarzlik stormed to the top of the standings after 20 heats but hadn’t done it easily. Maciej Janowski and Leon Madsen had given the Polish rider a tough time all evening, but as the evening went on, the pair dropped off, leaving Zmarzlik on top.

Fricke had snuck himself into the top eight after a disappointing start to his evening and took to the track to compete in the first semi-final of the night against Zmarzlik, Pawel Przedpelski and Fredrik Lindgren.

Zmarzlik stormed ahead but a costly mistake allowed Fricke to get by. It looked as if Zmarzlik would get second, but another mistake left Zmarzlik heartbroken and out of the finals. Fricke was a shock entry to the decider, along with Lindgren.

The second semi-final saw both Tai Woffinden and crucially for the 50,000-strong home support, Janowski miss out of the final, meaning no Polish rider could compete for the win. Mikkel Michelsen and Madsen flew the Danish flag in the final four.

The final showdown between Fricke, Michelsen, Madsen and Lindgren didn’t go down smoothly. Fricke went flying out of the gates, but the race was red-flagged due to contact between Michelsen and Madsen.

Michelsen went flying off his bike, but was ultimately found at fault for the collision and was excluded from the final.

Just like the first attempt, Fricke flew out of the gate and never looked back, sailing away to his first win of the year. Madsen was able to claim second, and Lindgren was third-placed on the night.

Championship Standings After Two Races

1 – Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 32pts

2 – Leon Madsen (Denmark) 30pts

3 – Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 30pts

4 – Maciej Janowski (Poland) 29pts

5 – Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) 24pts

6 – Max Fricke (Australia) 22pts

7 – Robert Lambert (United Kingdom) 18pts

8 – Jason Doyle (Australia) 15pts

9 – Anders Thomsen (Denmark) 15pts

10 – Tai Woffinden (United Kingdom) 10pts

11 – Matej Zagar (Slovakia) 11pts

12 – Pawel Przedpelski (Poland) 10pts

13 – Jack Holder (Australia) 10pts

14 – Patryk Dudek (Poland) 10pts

15 – Martin Vaculik (Slovakia) 9pts

16 – Dan Bewley (United Kingdom)9pts

—

Max Fricke took a shock win at the FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Poland in front of a massive crowd of 50,000 fans. It looked as if it would be Bartosz Zmarzlik’s to lose after a stellar performance during Friday night’s qualifying.

Going into race day, Zmarzlik stormed to the top of the standings after 20 heats but hadn’t done it easily. Maciej Janowski and Leon Madsen had given the Polish rider a tough time all evening, but as the evening went on, the pair dropped off, leaving Zmarzlik on top.

Fricke had snuck himself into the top eight after a disappointing start to his evening and took to the track to compete in the first semi-final of the night against Zmarzlik, Pawel Przedpelski and Fredrik Lindgren.

Zmarzlik stormed ahead but a costly mistake allowed Fricke to get by. It looked as if Zmarzlik would get second, but another mistake left Zmarzlik heartbroken and out of the finals. Fricke was a shock entry to the decider, along with Lindgren.

The second semi-final saw both Tai Woffinden and crucially for the 50,000-strong home support, Janowski miss out of the final, meaning no Polish rider could compete for the win. Mikkel Michelsen and Madsen flew the Danish flag in the final four.

The final showdown between Fricke, Michelsen, Madsen and Lindgren didn’t go down smoothly. Fricke went flying out of the gates, but the race was red-flagged due to contact between Michelsen and Madsen.

Michelsen went flying off his bike, but was ultimately found at fault for the collision and was excluded from the final.

Just like the first attempt, Fricke flew out of the gate and never looked back, sailing away to his first win of the year. Madsen was able to claim second, and Lindgren was third-placed on the night.

Championship Standings After Two Races

1 – Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 32pts

2 – Leon Madsen (Denmark) 30pts

3 – Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 30pts

4 – Maciej Janowski (Poland) 29pts

5 – Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) 24pts

6 – Max Fricke (Australia) 22pts

7 – Robert Lambert (United Kingdom) 18pts

8 – Jason Doyle (Australia) 15pts

9 – Anders Thomsen (Denmark) 15pts

10 – Tai Woffinden (United Kingdom) 10pts

11 – Matej Zagar (Slovakia) 11pts

12 – Pawel Przedpelski (Poland) 10pts

13 – Jack Holder (Australia) 10pts

14 – Patryk Dudek (Poland) 10pts

15 – Martin Vaculik (Slovakia) 9pts

16 – Dan Bewley (United Kingdom)9pts

—

Australian Max Fricke won a dramatic Speedway Grand Prix of Poland in Warsaw with a spectacular performance in a re-started final.

Fricke finished ahead of Denmark’s Leon Madsen and Swedish veteran Fredrik Lindgren.

The race had to be restarted after Mikkel Michelsen was excluded having been deemed to have caused a collision with compatriot Madsen.

Fricke had started fantastically in the initial race and there questions over whether he could do that same second time around.

However, the 26-year-old showed no signs of feeling the pressure and cruised to victory ahead of his rivals.

More to follow…

Max Fricke took a shock win at the FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Poland in front of a massive crowd of 50,000 fans. It looked as if it would be Bartosz Zmarzlik’s to lose after a stellar performance during Friday night’s qualifying.

Going into race day, Zmarzlik stormed to the top of the standings after 20 heats but hadn’t done it easily. Maciej Janowski and Leon Madsen had given the Polish rider a tough time all evening, but as the evening went on, the pair dropped off, leaving Zmarzlik on top.

Fricke had snuck himself into the top eight after a disappointing start to his evening and took to the track to compete in the first semi-final of the night against Zmarzlik, Pawel Przedpelski and Fredrik Lindgren.

Zmarzlik stormed ahead but a costly mistake allowed Fricke to get by. It looked as if Zmarzlik would get second, but another mistake left Zmarzlik heartbroken and out of the finals. Fricke was a shock entry to the decider, along with Lindgren.

The second semi-final saw both Tai Woffinden and crucially for the 50,000-strong home support, Janowski miss out of the final, meaning no Polish rider could compete for the win. Mikkel Michelsen and Madsen flew the Danish flag in the final four.

The final showdown between Fricke, Michelsen, Madsen and Lindgren didn’t go down smoothly. Fricke went flying out of the gates, but the race was red-flagged due to contact between Michelsen and Madsen.

Michelsen went flying off his bike, but was ultimately found at fault for the collision and was excluded from the final.

Just like the first attempt, Fricke flew out of the gate and never looked back, sailing away to his first win of the year. Madsen was able to claim second, and Lindgren was third-placed on the night.

Championship Standings After Two Races

1 – Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 32pts

2 – Leon Madsen (Denmark) 30pts

3 – Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 30pts

4 – Maciej Janowski (Poland) 29pts

5 – Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) 24pts

6 – Max Fricke (Australia) 22pts

7 – Robert Lambert (United Kingdom) 18pts

8 – Jason Doyle (Australia) 15pts

9 – Anders Thomsen (Denmark) 15pts

10 – Tai Woffinden (United Kingdom) 10pts

11 – Matej Zagar (Slovakia) 11pts

12 – Pawel Przedpelski (Poland) 10pts

13 – Jack Holder (Australia) 10pts

14 – Patryk Dudek (Poland) 10pts

15 – Martin Vaculik (Slovakia) 9pts

16 – Dan Bewley (United Kingdom)9pts

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