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MICHELSEN LEAVES POLISH CHAMPIONS LUBLIN

Danish racer Mikkel Michelsen has confirmed his departure from PGE Ekstraliga champions Lublin after inking his name in club history. Michelsen has played pivotal role in Lublin’s astonishing ascent to the top of the sport since joining them after they gained PGE Ekstraliga promotion for 2019. The club came within touching distance of their first-ever top-tier title in 2021, but they went all the way this year, topping the table and defeating Gorzow in the play-off final to achieve the greatest season in the club’s history. Michelsen captained the side and it is unclear where he will go next, although press reports in Poland have linked him with a move to Czestochowa, with his place at Lublin rumoured to be going to triple world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik. Posting on his social media accounts, Michelsen paid an emotional tribute to the fans and reflected fondly on a fine four years which have seen him win two Speedway European Championships and establish himself in Speedway GP. He wrote: “Dear Lublin, Don’t know where to start but after four years my time in Lublin is done for now. It has been a hell of a journey and I’m forever grateful for everything we have been through and accomplished together, surviving in the Ekstraliga in 2019, missing the play-offs in 2020 by one point (and battling the pandemic), winning silver in 2021 and now finishing the chapter by becoming Polish champions in 2022. “No-one ever believed that we could do what we have done and I’m honoured to have been able to be a part of writing history and bringing a gold medal to the club, city and the fans. “Motor fans will forever have a special place in my heart and no-one will ever come close to creating that kind of atmosphere, support and passion and I will never forget that. “There are always two sides of a story but I won’t get into the details. All I can say is that it hurts to be leaving, but that’s the way sport works sometimes. “Lublin I love you and I will never forget the love and support you have been giving me for the last four years. Thank you to the club, managers, track staff and everyone involved in the club. “It has been an amazing ride and I wish you all the best in the future. Lots of love, MM.”

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BEWLEY MAKES EMOTIONAL EDINBURGH RETURN FOR ARMADALE FAREWELL

Speedway GP star Dan Bewley admits he will have “a tear in my eye” as he returns to first professional club Edinburgh for what could be Monarchs’ last-ever meeting on Saturday evening. Bewley started his racing career with the Belle Vue Colts in the British National League in 2016, but his heroics in Manchester quickly saw him snapped up by SGB Championship side Edinburgh that year. It was the start of an incredible journey that culminated in Bewley ending the country’s 15-year wait for a home winner of the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff on August 13, before he made it back-to-back victories at the Betard FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw two weeks later. FIM Speedway of Nations world champion Bewley returned to Scotland earlier this summer to finish second at the FIM GP Challenge in Glasgow, securing his SGP spot for 2023. But Edinburgh also holds fond memories for the Cumbrian. Armadale stages the Ratho Coaches Scottish Open tonight, which could be the stadium’s last-ever speedway event, with the venue set to be sold off. Despite exciting plans for a new West Lothian Community Stadium suffering a major setback when Monarchs lost out in the battle to secure the site they identified, Bewley hopes the Monarchs realise their dream of finding a new home. Posting an emotional message on Instagram on Friday evening, he wrote: “Will have a tear in my eye. Sad to see @edinmonarchs close after this season, hope they can find somewhere new. “I have so much I would like to say but I’ll save it for later. Some of my best memories looking back came from then. I hope this isn’t the end of the club.” Bewley is joined in the Scottish Open by the likes of former Speedway GP riders Chris Harris and Craig Cook, plus Monarchs favourite Sam Masters, Josh Pickering, Richie Worrall, Richard Lawson, Aaron Summers, Justin Sedgmen and Leon Flint.

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SMEKTALA EXTENDS VASTERVIK STAY

Polish racer Bartosz Smektala has extended his stay at “second home” Vastervik into 2023. The former FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion first joined the coastal club in 2018, missing only the 2020 season due to the pandemic. Smektala, who averaged 2.041 points per race for the club this season, is set to team up with triple world champion Tai Woffinden and club boss Morgan Andersson, who is also Swedish national coach. The club finished third in the main Bauhaus Elitserien standings, but exited the play-offs at the quarter finals, losing to Rospiggarna. Smektala hopes to make up for that next season as he returns to the club which has become his home in Sweden. He told the Vastervik official website: “It is a great joy to continue at the club and it feels like Vastervik is my second home. “I enjoy the club, which is very well organised, and I feel the cooperation with Morgan has meant a lot in my career and we work excellently together. “This year’s season was good to begin with but unfortunately, we lacked form in the team during the last part of the season when the medals are awarded. I hope that next season will be the best during my years at the club so that we can challenge for the championship. “In conclusion, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved in the club for the always warm welcome you get when you join Vastervik.” Andersson is pleased with how Smektala has progressed in Vastervik colours and is delighted to bring him back. He said: “Getting Bartosz for 2023 was high on the wish list as he was very consistent during the year and increased his results, especially away from home where he had problems in the past with certain tracks. He is very professional, easy to work with and you feel that the club is close to his heart.”

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LEMON ELATED AS ACES END 29-YEAR TITLE WAIT

Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon admits it was “elation beyond belief” as the Aces ended their 29-year wait for a league title with a nail-biting 91-89 triumph over Sheffield. The Tigers won Thursday’s SGB Premiership Grand Final, second leg 50-40, but Aces’ 51-39 victory at Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium on Monday saw them make history and lift a record 13th British title. There was high drama throughout the night at Owlerton and referee Christina Turnbull was kept very busy as neither side gave an inch on the shale. Two exclusions for 2021 British champion Adam Ellis proved very expensive for Sheffield after he was adjudged to have brought down Aces’ Tom Brennan in heat three and then Brady Kurtz in race five. Speedway GP star Robert Lambert topped the Belle Vue scorechart on 10 points, with Brennan notching nine and Norick Blodorn playing a starring role at reserve on seven paid 11. Brennan and Blodorn joined forces for the 3-3 that sealed the trophy in heat 14, sending the Aces fans wild. Lemon joined his riders in celebrating with the Belle Vue contingent and was delighted to celebrate his first league title as Aces boss – capping off an incredible year, which also saw him lead Australia to their first world team championship in 20 years at the FIM Speedway of Nations in July. The ecstatic Aussie said: “It’s elation beyond belief – I just didn’t think this could happen. So much hard work has gone into this. “Me and Matej (Zagar) go back to 2006 (at Reading) when we had our dreams dashed (at Peterborough) by a single point. I couldn’t have borne coming here and losing another final. “There are just so many people to thank – our owners Tony Rice and Robin Southwell and our sponsors and partners. “The fans have waited 29 years for this. Look at them! They are loving it. They deserve it; they have been great. “We’ve had ups and downs over the years and worked really hard. Credit to Adrian Smith, our former CEO, he put the ship back in place. ATPI and Rentruck have been backers for years and years. “The boys just rode their socks off tonight and all season. We lost Charles Wright and Reggie (Jye Etheridge) to injury on Monday. Our backs have been against the wall. We lost Max Fricke for the play-offs and I thought ‘here we go again! It’s déjà vu.’ But we brought Robert Lambert in as a replacement, and he has been a star. “Credit to Sheffield – they have come back to the top level and well done to them and their fans. Credit to Ipswich and Wolverhampton too for making the play-offs.” Polish racer Tobiasz Musielak led the Sheffield scoring on 10 paid 11 points, with Jack Holder notching nine paid 10 and Lewis Kerr nine. Gutted Tigers boss Simon Stead jointly managed Great Britain to FIM SON silver this summer alongside Oliver Allen, as Lemon’s Roos pipped them to gold in the Grand Final. He was gutted his club side also fell at the final hurdle in their quest for what would have been the club’s first-ever top-flight title on a night he felt some key decisions went against the Tigers. He said: “We are obviously just disappointed. I think the referee robbed us of an epic heat 15. But it is the way it is. We have had some rough luck over the course of the two meetings with the refereeing decisions. There is nothing we can do about that. We can’t race the ref. “It has been a great final. Congratulations to Mark and Belle Vue. We will be back next year for more.” Photo: Taylor Lanning

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LANDSHUT DEAL LIFTS SPEEDWAY GP NEWCOMER NILSSON

Swedish star Kim Nilsson hopes the stability of a new deal with Landshut can help him impress in Speedway GP in 2023. Nilsson was the shock winner of the FIM GP Challenge in Glasgow on August 20, becoming the one and only new rider in the Speedway GP line-up for next season. This inevitably put him on the transfer radar of a number of clubs, but Nilsson has agreed to extend his stay with German outfit Landshut, which competes in the Polish First Division. There’s no doubt the 2023 season will be the biggest test of Nilsson’s career so far as he joins Swedish icon Fredrik Lindgren in flying his country’s flag on the sport’s biggest stage. This seismic change prompted Nilsson to seek some stability in Bavaria. He told the Landshut club’s official website: “Next year I’ll be in the Grand Prix, a lot will be new and maybe not easy. That’s why it’s all the more important for me to have a club and an environment where everything fits. That’s why I didn’t think twice and decided to go to Landshut.” While Nilsson admits there was interest from elsewhere, he admits agreeing terms with Landshut was an easy decision. He said: “When you’re in the Grand Prix, there are of course some requests. But I feel very comfortable in Landshut and it’s great fun. “The club and those responsible do an excellent job and ensure a perfect environment for us riders. Our fans are outstanding and ensure a great atmosphere, especially at our home races. I’m already looking forward to 2023.” Devils team boss Bernhard Muggenthaler believes Nilsson’s return will boost his side on and off the track. He said: “Signing Kim is a real stroke of luck for our team. With his experience, his likeable and open nature, he is also an important part of our team off the track, and our young riders in particular can learn a lot from Kim and benefit from it. “About his class as a rider, we don’t have to talk long. His Grand Prix qualification shows his capabilities. That’s why we are particularly proud to have an active GP rider in the team next year.”

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MICHELSEN LEAVES POLISH CHAMPIONS LUBLIN

BEWLEY MAKES EMOTIONAL EDINBURGH RETURN FOR ARMADALE FAREWELL

SMEKTALA EXTENDS VASTERVIK STAY

LEMON ELATED AS ACES END 29-YEAR TITLE WAIT

LANDSHUT DEAL LIFTS SPEEDWAY GP NEWCOMER NILSSON