The speedway world has witnessed another exceptional performance by Bartosz Zmarzlik, as the Polish rider clinched victory at the Latvian Grand Prix held on the track in Riga. With this impressive win, the 28-year-old rider has extended his lead in the overall standings, inching closer to his fourth world championship title.
The Grand Prix series made its return to Latvia after a six-year hiatus, and this time it was hosted at the unfamiliar Riga track – a challenge for many riders who were unfamiliar with its intricacies. Saturday’s races will be remembered not only for this debut on the new track but also for the numerous spills and crashes that marked the day.
One rider who faced a painful initiation with the track was Anders Thomsen. In the second heat, Thomsen collided forcefully with the inflatable barrier, tumbling over to the opposite side of the track. Initial reports suggest that the Danish rider escaped serious injury, but unfortunately, he didn’t return to the racing action.
Riga witnessed several other falls, but none were as severe as the one involving Thomsen. In heat number 6, Ricards Ansviesulis took a tumble, followed by a collision between Francis Gusts and Leon Madsen in the subsequent race, resulting in both riders hitting the dirt. Madsen found himself tangled in another incident in the 12th race, this time involving Andzejs Lebedevs.
The 11th heat showcased a brotherly duel that ended with a fall for Maciej Janowski and disqualification for Bartosz Zmarzlik. The “Magic” rider maneuvered to avoid a collision with the reigning world champion, whose bike slipped into turbulence.
This scenario complicated Zmarzlik’s plans a bit, as he entered the final heat on the edge of advancing to the semifinals. Representing Motor Lublin, Zmarzlik secured a win in the opening race, but subsequent races brought inconsistent results. However, in the 20th race, Zmarzlik managed to outshine Lebedevs, securing his spot in the top eight.
Unfortunately, Zmarzlik’s fellow Polish teammates didn’t manage to replicate his success. While Janowski secured one victory in a highly competitive race, his performance in other heats was inconsistent. Patryk Dudek, on the other hand, showcased greater stability by consistently finishing in second or fourth positions.
In the semifinals, Zmarzlik strategically chose the last gate position, and fortune favored him. Madsen seemingly made the worst gate choice, while Zmarzlik capitalized on his rivals’ distraction at the first turn. Max Fricke and Fredrik Lindgren’s intense battle allowed Zmarzlik to take advantage, a perfect example of the saying, “Where two fight, the third wins.”
The second semifinal race began with another fall, as Dan Bewley went down at the edge of the track. In the rerun, Tai Woffinden emerged victorious, securing his place in the final alongside Martin Vaculik.
The ultimate showdown also saw its share of drama, requiring three attempts to complete. In the first try, Lindgren collided with Zmarzlik right after the start, leading to a fall. In the second attempt, Lindgren lost a piece of his helmet, while Woffinden was disqualified due to an uneven start. The final proper race commenced under Lindgren’s leadership, but Zmarzlik’s brilliance was unmatched. He caught up with Lindgren on the second lap and quickly opened up a substantial lead.
With this resounding victory, Bartosz Zmarzlik has firmly established his dominance on the speedway circuit, inching closer to his fourth world champion title. As the Grand Prix series continues its thrilling journey, fans eagerly anticipate the next chapter in this high-speed saga.