Aussie racer Brady Kurtz admits an intense week of physio helped him defy a wrist damage to ship his first-ever FIM Speedway Grand Prix win on the Occasions.com FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow on Saturday.
The 28-year-old, racing in his first full Speedway GP season, topped the rostrum on the iconic Edward Jancarz Stadium forward of Poland’s five-time Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik in second, third-placed British star Dan Bewley and Swedish ace Fredrik Lindgren in fourth place.
Kurtz’s victory is much more outstanding after he suffered a wrist damage when he crashed with Lindgren in warmth 15 of ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Nice Britain – Manchester R5 final Saturday. He spent the week in Poland present process intense physiotherapy – organised by his Polish membership Sparta Wroclaw.
The therapy paid dividends, and the Cowra-born star was happy to observe up a 12-point PGE Ekstraliga most for Wroclaw on Friday with the most important victory of his skilled profession to this point. After reaching 5 SGP finals within the first six rounds of 2025, Kurtz is elated to have topped the podium.
He mentioned: “I’ve misplaced out within the remaining so many occasions that I didn’t know if it was ever coming. I don’t actually know what to say. We now have labored so exhausting for this and it’s so good that it has occurred, and I lastly obtained the job achieved within the remaining.”
Giving an replace on the damage to his left wrist, Kurtz admitted getting it into racing form for the weekend was no simple activity.
“It’s not superb, to be honest,” he mentioned. “Final Sunday, my hand was so swollen – my entire arm was black.
“I used to be in Wroclaw all week getting physio for 5 hours a day. I went to the identical place Woffy (injured triple Speedway GP world champion Tai Woffinden) goes – simply to attempt to get the swelling out of my hand. I couldn’t shut my hand in any respect. It was caught.
“When it got here to dropping the clutch, I used to be fortunate my two fingers on the correct of the hand are good. I used to be having physio for I don’t know what number of hours, however they obtained the job achieved and I used to be able to go.”
Kurtz has now confronted off with Zmarzlik in 4 Speedway GP finals to this point this season, with the Pole prevailing of their first three remaining showdowns in Landshut, Germany on Might 3 and twice in final weekend’s Manchester double-header on Kurtz’s British dwelling monitor.
The Aussie was delighted to come back out on prime in Gorzow – town the place Zmarzlik shot to stardom, raced for 12 seasons and stays an enormous favorite. He mentioned: “It’s good to beat Bartek anytime on any monitor. I mentioned to him that he obtained me twice final week on my dwelling monitor in Manchester. I’ve solely obtained him as soon as, so I nonetheless have some extra to go.”
Kurtz knew solely a lightning begin would deny Zmarzlik victory on the Gorzow monitor the place he has collected three of his report 29 Speedway GP wins.
He mentioned: “I knew my solely choice was to make the beginning as a result of I used to be by no means going to cross Bartek if he obtained in entrance. I feel that was one of many longest races of my life. All I may hear was Bartek behind me. I used to be counting the laps and I used to be glad to lastly see the chequered flag.”
Regardless of Kurtz taking victory, Zmarzlik maintained his pre-weekend Speedway GP World Championship lead of 11 factors after scoring two for ending third within the dash race on Saturday afternoon – in addition to eliminating Kurtz from the Qualifying session when he received their Q1 duel.
The Lublin star was happy with a taking second spot at Edward Jancarz Stadium for a second straight season.
He mentioned: “I’m very comfortable and proud as a result of I used to be within the remaining once more, and I feel it was an excellent job for me and my workforce. Reaching a remaining at all times feels wonderful and Brady did a very nice job at the beginning. He saved going and received his first GP. Huge congrats for that as a result of he ought to keep in mind that the primary one is at all times the perfect.
“It was an excellent evening. I at all times look to attain the factors I want over the 5 heats. I needed to do a very good job, and I felt actually good on this monitor. Perhaps a small mistake within the remaining value me at the beginning, however second place can also be good.
“All the time after I come again to my dwelling monitor in Gorzow, it’s a tremendous feeling. I wish to thank lots of people as a result of they gave me large help, I felt this, and it felt like we went on the monitor collectively for the races.”
Third-placed Bewley left the Edward Jancarz Stadium with 20 championship factors after bagging 16 this night, in addition to scoring a further 4 factors by profitable the afternoon dash race forward of Lindgren in second, Zmarzlik in third and Aussie star Jack Holder in fourth.
He was happy to finish his anticipate a primary Gorzow remaining after coming shut on quite a lot of his three earlier SGP visits. Bewley mentioned: “I’ve topped the warmth rating chart right here earlier than, however I’ve by no means made the ultimate. That was slightly monkey off my again.
“I felt like I made a very good begin within the remaining. It didn’t fairly work out for me. Congrats to Brady and Bartek too. Gorzow is at all times one in every of my favorite tracks. It’s fairly cool. Brady and I are right here with Wroclaw within the Polish league subsequent Friday, in order that was an excellent little bit of follow for us.”
Subsequent up for the world’s prime riders is the Virkvarn FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla on Saturday, July 5. The Virkvarn FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla – the opening spherical of the 2025 FIM Speedway Underneath-21 World Championship – additionally takes place on Friday, July 4 on the Skrotfrag Enviornment.
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Phrases by SGP – Characteristic Picture courtesy of Taylor Lanning
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