DUDEK LEADS POLAND TO EUROPEAN TEAM GOLD IN GRUDZIADZ

Poland’s former world No.2 Patryk Dudek led the charge as the hosts cruised to FIM European Team Speedway Championship gold in Grudziadz on Saturday.

In FIM Europe’s version of the FIM Speedway World Cup four-team competition, Poland took a commanding victory with 51 points, seeing off runners-up Denmark (35). Sweden bagged bronze on 20, with Czech Republic placed fourth on 13.

Dudek was Poland’s top scorer, dropping just one point from his five rides, while four-time Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik raced to 13 – a total matched by former SGP winner Piotr Pawlicki. His brother Przemyslaw Pawlicki tallied 10, while reserve Wiktor Przyjemski scored one.

Former Speedway GP winner Anders Thomsen impressed for silver medallists Denmark on 14 points from six races, with European individual champion Mikkel Michelsen notching nine, Rasmus Jensen scoring seven and Mads Hansen collecting five.

World No.2 Fredrik Lindgren was Sweden’s star man on 10, with former Speedway GP duo Antonio Lindback and Kim Nilsson scoring four each. Jacob Thorssell tallied two.

Czech Republic’s Speedway GP newcomer Jan Kvech led their scorechart on five along with Vaclav Milik. Daniel Klima collected two points and Adam Bednar one, with Jan Macek failing to score.