LAMBERT: SPEEDWAY GP WIN GETTING CLOSER

Great Britain racer Robert Lambert believes he is getting closer to his first Speedway GP win as he gets his 2023 series underway in tonight’s Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia.

Lambert stormed to fifth place in the 2022 Speedway GP World Championship and was the highest-finishing British rider ahead of Dan Bewley in sixth and Tai Woffinden in eighth. With the top six riders qualifying for the following year’s Speedway GP, it meant Lambert did not need a wild card pick to secure his spot in the series.

The former European champion admits he exceeded his own pre-season expectations. But going into 2023, he would love to join Bewley and Woffinden in the Speedway GP winner’s circle after just missing out with a second place in Vojens and third in Wroclaw last year.

He said: “We are very close to getting that first top spot on the podium, but it was definitely a great experience to be on the podium twice last season and I want to add to that throughout this season.

“Fifth was one space higher than I expected. I had the goal of getting in the top six to qualify myself for 2023. Getting one step higher was a great achievement. It was a little bit touch and go and nerve-wracking because I didn’t qualify at the qualification round in Glasgow. 

“I had to do it through the top six. It added a bit of extra pressure and mixed things up. But I managed to achieve the goal I set out to achieve.”

Lambert had mixed fortunes in Croatia last year, winning his opening two rides, before recording a third and three fourth places.

That was still enough to earn him a healthy 10 championship points. He said: "I didn’t actually do too badly here. I made the semi-final. 

“The track itself was fairly slick. I kind of struggled with setup, but the points don’t make it look like I struggled too much, which is a good thing. 

"I have been here many times before for pre-season practice and know the track well, so I am looking forward to the opening round of the Speedway GP series.”