Poland’s five-time world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik admitted “I had many questions earlier than the rounds in Manchester” as he answered them with a record-extending twenty ninth Speedway GP victory on Saturday evening.
The 30-year-old topped the rostrum in entrance of 5,999 followers at a sold-out Nationwide Speedway Stadium in ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Nice Britain – Manchester R5, profitable the ultimate forward of Aussie world title rival Brady Kurtz in second, Sweden’s Fredrik Lindgren in third and Aussie ace Jack Holder in fourth place.
In addition to extending his personal document for SGP wins, Zmarzlik achieved one other milestone in his profession as Poland’s most interesting reached his 66th Speedway GP remaining – surpassing mentor and 2010 world champion Tomasz Gollob’s haul of 65. Solely American icon Greg Hancock (92) and Aussie legend Jason Crump (77) have now reached extra SGP finals.
After ending second to Nice Britain’s Dan Bewley in spherical 4 on the Nationwide Speedway Stadium on Friday, Zmarzlik admitted he went into the weekend with questions in regards to the observe, in addition to the bike setups wanted to succeed on Speedway GP’s latest circuit.
He was delighted to reply them by claiming his second FIM British Speedway GP win – including to his triumph at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in 2018.
Zmarzlik, who now holds an 11-point lead over Kurtz on the high of the Speedway GP standings, mentioned: “Successful right here is unbelievable as a result of I had many questions earlier than the rounds in Manchester, however I really feel superb as a result of I’m on high of the rostrum once more in Britain. It feels very nice. I’ve a brand new document – 29 wins is unbelievable. I’m actually proud about this.
“I don’t bear in mind the entire numbers and statistics, however I really feel good. I’m blissful to have made so many finals. I all the time attempt my finest in each assembly – regardless of the place I’m – as a result of I like to race.”
Zmarzlik is being tipped so as to add to his staggering haul of Speedway GP finals and wins however insists he doesn’t really feel below any stress to take action.
“I’m nonetheless younger!” he mentioned. “I’ll do my finest and no person is aware of what number of extra I’ll win. I actually don’t take a look at this. For me, crucial factor is to have enjoyable with my racing.
“I by no means assume, ‘I have to’, solely ‘I can’. I had a variety of enjoyable with my racing in Manchester, and I’m actually, actually blissful. Every thing labored out.”
Subsequent up for Zmarzlik is the Occasions.com FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow subsequent Saturday, which sees the Lublin star return to the Edward Jancarz Stadium – the observe the place he reworked from uncooked rookie into one of many sport’s all-time greats with Stal Gorzow.
Zmarzlik has gained three FIM Gorzow Speedway GPs in 2014, 2020 and 2023 and would love so as to add to that tally after Lindgren handed him within the 2024 remaining there to disclaim him victory.
He mentioned: “I all the time like to return again to the observe, the place I began my speedway. Final yr, I had a unbelievable race with Freddie within the remaining. It’s good to return again to a Polish observe with the GP.”
Third-placed Lindgren loved a positive night as he claimed third place within the Speedway GP standings. He mentioned: “I really feel that total, my night was fairly good. There have been only a few essential moments – I had an opportunity to go straight by means of to the ultimate, for instance, and I failed to do this.
“However I had a fairly superior time driving the quick line on the surface and I feel I went from final to first within the last-chance qualifier.
“I battled laborious, and I want I might have performed extra within the remaining. I’m a little bit bit sick and uninterested in shedding to Bartosz on a regular basis, however he’s tremendous good, and Brady is in tremendous kind this yr as nicely. I’m nonetheless taking part in a little bit of catch-up, and it’s a good struggle.”
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Phrases by SpeedwayGP – Function Picture courtesy of Jarek Pabijan
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