POLISH FRONTRUNNER ZMARZLIK ENDS WAIT FOR TETEROW TRIUMPH

Poland’s triple Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik was elated to end his search for a Teterow triumph after topping the Wölk FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Teterow podium on Saturday night.

Zmarzlik won the final ahead of Australian duo Jason Doyle in second place and Jack Holder in third, while Sweden’s Kim Nilsson celebrated his first-ever Speedway GP final, semi-final and heat win on a remarkable night that saw him take fourth place.

After three second places at the Bergring Arena in 2016, 2019 and 2022, as well as a third in 2018, Zmarzlik was delighted to have won Germany’s biggest speedway event – his second victory of the 2023 Speedway GP series after his win at the opening round in Croatia.

Zmarzlik’s win moves him on to 70 championship points and extends his lead at the top of the Speedway GP standings to 12, with Lublin teammate Holder second on 58 after reaching his third straight SGP final. Doyle now holds third place on 54, with Swedish international Fredrik Lindgren fourth on 52.

Polish champion Zmarzlik was delighted to extend his advantage with the 20th Speedway GP win of his career and admits finishing third in the Qualifying Practice time charts made all the difference.

He said: “I am very happy about this because I have been in the final in Teterow many times, but I had never won. Today I did it and I am very proud about this.

“Every meeting is so different, but Qualifying Practice went well so I was able to choose more gates on the inside.

“I started the meeting from the hard gates, and I scored two points from each of those races. I didn’t make too many changes and after I went to the better gates, I won all of my heats. I am very happy about this.

“The good gates helped me a little bit in the meeting, but I also did a good job in the first two races from the bad gates. When everything works well, it doesn’t matter what gate you start from.”

Asked the secret to his many final appearances at the Bergring Arena, Zmarzlik insisted: “I don’t know. I just want to do a very good job at every round. Teterow has been a lucky track for me. I am very happy about this.”

While they are rivals at Speedway GP level, Zmarzlik and Holder are clearly great team mates away from the series. They joined forces to help Gorzow reach the PGE Ekstraliga play-off final in Poland in 2020 and now they are thriving as colleagues in Lublin.

Zmarzlik may be determined to keep Holder at arm’s length in the Speedway GP world title race, but he’s also pleased to see his club teammate in fine form.

He said: “Jack is also having a good season. I am also very happy about this because we race together for Lublin. But when it comes to the GP, we have to do a good job for ourselves.”

Next up for the sport’s biggest stars is the FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow on Saturday, June 24, with the FIM SGP2 of Poland – Gorzow for speedway’s brightest under-21 stars on Friday, June 23.

The Speedway GP event sees Zmarzlik race his first Gorzow round since departing the club at the end of last season, having spent his entire career there up to that point. While the Szczecin-born racer looks forward to his return, he is determined to remain focused on piling up the points.

He said: “This was my track for so many years. I am happy about coming into a GP in Gorzow and I also want to do a good job there. Every meeting for me is the same and I will be fully focused on my riding. This is important for me.”