ZMARZLIK TELLS BEWLEY TO ENJOY THAT FIRST-WIN FEELING

Speedway GP World Championship leader Bartosz Zmarzlik told Cardiff hero Dan Bewley to enjoy the moment after he became the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff’s first home winner in 15 years last Saturday.

Zmarzlik knows better than most how it feels to top the podium on home shale, having won the FIM Gorzow Speedway GP twice – achieving his first victory as a wild card in 2014 to become the youngest-ever SGP winner at 19 years and 140 days old.

Bewley was already an FIM Speedway of Nations world champion, but his Principality Stadium triumph will always go down as one of the biggest wins of his career.

Zmarzlik zoomed over to the Cumbrian on the slow-down lap and was quick to congratulate him, and make sure he was taking it all in.

The Pole said: “After the final, I came to Dan and said to him ‘mate, you must remember this. You only feel what you feel now when you do it the first time.’”

Zmarzlik was elated to reach his fifth final in as many visits to the Principality Stadium. He said: “When I look at my history and what I have done in Cardiff, I have been in the final every time and I am very happy and proud about this.

“Almost every time I have been on the podium in Cardiff. In 2017, I was in third position in the last corner and then I was fourth, so I nearly made the podium then too.

“Last Saturday I was second and I am very happy. I had gate three in the final and gate three is very hard. But I made a really good start from three.

“I was not so happy after practice, but Saturday was a new day. I scored points in Cardiff and this is the most important thing for me. We have four rounds to go and I am focused for these.”

Zmarzlik is now 22 points clear at the top of the Speedway GP standings, having reached his fourth final of the season.

Despite winning five rounds in 2021, Zmarzlik has one victory to his name so far this season – claimed at round one in Croatia. But he insists reaching semis and finals is the priority.

He said: “My plan for this season is I don’t have to win everything – I just need to always score the points and get to the semi-finals and final. This is important and I am focused on this.”