MADSEN: WE JUST HAVE TO BE BETTER

Danish star Leon Madsen is determined to close the gap on triple Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik in 2023, insisting “we just have to be better.”

The Czestochowa star stormed to his second Speedway GP World Championship medal in a season when he reached the semi-finals at every round – a record only matched by Zmarzlik.

But Madsen reached five finals to Zmarzlik’s seven, while the Pole won three rounds in Croatia, Vojens and Malilla and the world No.2’s best performances came when he finished second in both Warsaw and Wroclaw.

Madsen has every reason to look back with pride on a season, which also saw him land his second Speedway European Championship. But he heads into 2023, determined to close the gap on Zmarzlik after finishing 33 points short of the Gorzow man in the Speedway GP title race.

Asked what it will take to reel Zmarzlik in, Madsen admitted: “We just have to be better – it’s as simple as that. Bartek is very good, and he had a tremendous season. Hats off to him for that and congratulations.

“But I am sure that if I can keep progressing like I have done in the second half of the season, I can get closer to beating him next season.”

Madsen is more than happy with one of his best seasons to date. He said: “It was a very, very fine end of the season. I am very happy and proud of what I have achieved this year – a European Championship gold medal and now a World Championship silver medal.

“It has been a very good season for me – probably my best season. It has been a whirlwind in the second half of the season. I have been improving and hopefully we can continue that progress going into next season, be better and hopefully fight harder for that gold medal.”