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TORUN SET FOR ACTION-PACKED SPEEDWAY GP FANZONE

There is a full day of entertainment on offer for fans heading to the Marian Rose Motoarena this afternoon as the For Nature Solutions FIM Torun Speedway GP fanzone opens at 14:00 CET – straight after Qualifying Practice. Qualifying Practice gets underway at 13:00 CET, with fans able to access the stadium via the yellow zone – simply buy a programme to gain admission to the session. Fanzone gates then open at 14:00 CET next to the stadium’s green zone – behind bends three and four. All of the Speedway GP riders take part in an autograph session from 16:30 – the perfect opportunity to pick up a signature or a speedway selfie. Fans can meet the Monster Energy athletes and grab some freebies when the Monster Energy Rig Riot kicks off at 16:00. Monster Energy will be on hand with free drinks and lots of photo opportunities throughout the afternoon. There’s the chance to win Speedway GP prizes from 17:35 with games and quizzes on the big screen, plus the chance for fans to test their commentary skills and commentate on an SGP race. Visitors can grab a photo with the FIM Speedway trophies and the We Love Speedway sign. There’s also the opportunity to sit on a speedway bike and there will be a display of vintage bikes. There will be activities for kids and remote-controlled cars for big and little kids. Plus, fans can pick up their brand-new SGP merchandise and food and drink will be available for purchase.

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POLISH SHOOTING STAR CIERNIAK KEEPS COOL TO WIN SGP2 UNDER-21 WORLD TITLE IN TORUN

Poland’s new SGP2 champion Mateusz Cierniak survived a mid-meeting scare to seal the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship at the Nice FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun on Friday. Cierniak went into the round requiring just a semi-final spot to seal the SGP2 crown after winning the opening two rounds of the series in Prague on May 27 and Cardiff on August 14. With two heat wins to his name, Cierniak looked on course to secure the title with three or four rides to spare. But a last place in race 10 left him with work to do. The Lublin star hit back with a second place in race 14, before sealing junior speedway’s biggest prize with another second in heat 18, with his team rushing on to the track to celebrate with one of the sport’s fastest rising stars. The Tarnow-born racer finished third in the Nice FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun final to end the series with 56 points from three rounds. Outgoing World Under-21 champion Jakub Miskowiak won the final to seal the bronze medal with 38. He was pipped to silver by Czech racer Jan Kvech, who exited at the semi-final stage with 11 points but did enough to hold on to second place with 39 in total. The night belonged to Cierniak, though. The delighted Pole, who teamed up with Miskowiak to win the FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 with his country in July, was glad to make it a team and individual world under-21 title double in 2022. He said: “I made it and I am so happy. I won my first and second heats and I felt very good on my bike – very confident on the bike. But later, I don’t know what happened. “For sure, the track changed a little bit, so I lost my good setup. Even up to the final, I was still working on it. I don’t know what happened. I changed bike and did everything I had to do. “I want to say thank you very much everyone – my club, my family, my tuner, my coaches and everyone who has helped me and supported me all season.” Cierniak was the only rider on the podium who is eligible to race in the 2023 SGP2 series. Asked about his chances of winning back-to-back titles, he said: “Why not? “A lot of riders from this series finish their junior careers this season. But it will not be easy to win again because everyone here is a very good rider. But I like racing with everyone so much. If I have the chance to win a second gold medal, I will try to do it.” Runner-up Kvech missed out on the final for the first time this season, after taking fourth place in both Prague and Cardiff. But he was pleased to add SGP2 silver to the SON2 silver medal he won with the Czech Republic in July. He said: “This wasn’t the best meeting for me, but in the general classification, I was second. It’s an amazing moment for me and so cool. “I was a little bit unlucky at times during the series. After three rounds, I wasn’t on the podium. I was fourth two times and today I felt good on the bike. But I had problems from the starts. That was the key factor today.” Miskowiak won the 2021 FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship and was pleased to follow that with 2022 SGP2 bronze on a night when he surged from eighth place before the meeting to third in the final standings. He said: “We were trying to find the best setup with my team, my uncle and all the mechanics. We found the speed – that was pretty much fine by the end of the meeting. “Getting a second medal in the World Under-21 Championship is something I am very proud of. I would have loved to be on top of the rostrum, but I had a very tough situation in terms of points after two rounds. I had only 18 points before Torun. I knew I had to do something special tonight just to get a chance to get a medal, so winning a medal is good.” Miskowiak also lines up in the For Nature Solutions FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun on Saturday night, replacing the injured Max Fricke to make his full Speedway GP debut over at least five rides. “I am hoping to have a good night with the Speedway GP riders,” he said. “It will be a privilege and a big honour to race with the top stars on the world stage. I will try to learn as much as I can and present myself in the best possible way I can. I would love to be competitive against the top riders in the world.” Polish racer Wiktor Lampart fell agonisingly short of winning the silver medal. After winning all five of his heats and the semi-final, the Lublin star went into the final knowing that victory on the night would see him snatch second spot overall from Kvech on countback. He was leading the final comfortably when Mateusz Swidnicki crashed on lap three, forcing referee Jesper Steentoft to stop the race. Lampart could not hit the front in the re-run, though, with Miskowiak denying him a sensational seven-ride maximum. But Lampart was still content with a fine display. He said: “The night has been great. My performance in the third round was very good. I won all the heats, but unfortunately, I had an unlucky final heat. What happened in the final wasn’t my fault. I was just unlucky it was stopped. “I didn’t know what to think when the red lights came on. I was just going for it. I was just thinking ‘I have to win the final again.’ But I think I chose the wrong place to start. I didn’t make a good start and it was very hard to overtake.” The spotlight switches to the sport’s senior stars on Saturday as the For Nature Solutions FIM Torun Speedway GP brings the curtain down on the 2022 FIM Speedway season – the first under new global promoter Discovery Sports Events. Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik may have secured his third Speedway GP World Championship, with Denmark’s Leon Madsen closing on the silver medal. But with just eight points separating the riders placed third to seventh, the likes of Patryk Dudek, Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley, Fredrik Lindgren and Maciej Janowski are set to deliver an epic battle for bronze – as well as the final automatic qualification places for the 2023 series. SGP2 FIM SPEEDWAY UNDER-21 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS: 1 Mateusz Cierniak 56, 2 Jan Kvech 39, 3 Jakub Miskowiak 38, 4 Wiktor Lampart 37, 5 Benjamin Basso 37, 6 Kevin Juhl Pedersen 27, 7 Petr Chlupac 24, 8 Mateusz Swidnicki 22, 9 Tom Brennan 22, 10 Francis Gusts 18, 11 Jonas Knudsen 15, 12 Timi Salonen 14, 13 Gustav Grahn 12, 14 Casper Henriksson 11, 15 Leon Flint 10, 16 Wiktor Przyjemski 9, 17 Norick Blodorn 9, 18 Keynan Rew 8, 19 Daniel Klima 8, 20 Krzysztof Lewandowski 7, 21 Jason Edwards 6, 22 Drew Kemp 5, 23 Celina Liebmann 3, 24 Bruno Belan 1. NICE FIM SGP2 OF POLAND – TORUN POINTS: 1 Jakub Miskowiak 20, 2 Wiktor Lampart 18, 3 Mateusz Cierniak 16, 4 Mateusz Swidnicki 14, 5 Benjamin Basso 12, 6 Jan Kvech 11, 7 Tom Brennan 10, 8 Wiktor Przyjemski 9, 9 Keynan Rew 8, 10 Krzysztof Lewandowski 7, 11 Daniel Klima 6, 12 Kevin Juhl Pedersen 5, 13 Petr Chlupac 4, 14 Casper Henriksson 3, 15 Timi Salonen 2, 16 Jonas Knudsen 1, 17 Celina Liebmann 0, 18 Mateusz Affelt DNR.  

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LAMBERT'S FRUSTRATION AFTER BELLE VUE DEAL BLOCKED

Great Britain ace Robert Lambert admits British Speedway bosses’ decision to block his SGB Premiership return with Belle Vue has put “a big downer on the future”. Lambert took to Twitter this morning, sharing an image of what should have been his Aces race suit after the Manchester club recruited him to replace injured Aussie star Max Fricke for the play-offs. But British Speedway Promoters Ltd are said to have prevented the deal from going ahead and he will not line up in their SGB Premiership play-off semi-final, second leg at home to Ipswich on Monday. While the move would take place outside of the transfer window, it was believed Aces had the right to sign a replacement for a rider with a long-term injury. But British Speedway’s board of directors also has the discretion to reject any team declaration not deemed to be in the interests of the sport in the UK. There’s no doubt that Lambert’s fans would love to see him back in his homeland – even more so if he lands a Speedway GP World Championship medal at the For Nature Solutions FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun on Saturday. Lambert was certainly frustrated with the decision to halt the move. Alongside the image of the Aces race suit, he tweeted: “How cool does this look? “Should be wearing this Monday but thanks to British Speedway I’ve wasted money on bikes, flights etc for them to not allow me to race when the team was put forwards. Many want me back in British Speedway, but this put a big downer on the future.” Lambert will bid to make up for that disappointment by bagging Speedway GP bronze on his Polish home track Torun. He is fourth in the standings on 97 points – just three short of third-placed Torun team mate Patryk Dudek, who needs first or second spot to make certain of the bronze medal.

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POLES SEEK GOLDEN DOUBLE IN TORUN FINALE

Poland could celebrate two world champions this weekend as the sport’s biggest stars and its next generation of racers line-up in the FIM Speedway season finale at Torun’s Marian Rose Motoarena on Friday and Saturday. National hero Bartosz Zmarzlik collects his third SGP world title at the For Nature Solutions FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun on Saturday night after sealing top spot in Malilla, Sweden on September 17. But the stakes are still high for his rivals as a dramatic race for the rostrum and the 2023 Speedway GP qualification places reaches its climax in front of a full house in Torun. Denmark’s Leon Madsen bids to secure silver, while Poland’s Patryk Dudek, Great Britain duo Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley, Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren and Polish ace Maciej Janowski all go wheel to wheel in a close battle for bronze. Ahead of Saturday’s Speedway GP showdown, Polish young gun Mateusz Cierniak bids to seal the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship in the Nice FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun on Friday when the sport’s most talented young guns take to the track, as part of Discovery Sports Events’ vision to shine a spotlight on FIM Speedway’s future stars. This is the eighth time the Speedway GP world champion has lifted the trophy in Torun, but history will be made this weekend as the Speedway GP and SGP2 world champions are crowned at the same venue on the same weekend for the very first time. As one of the world’s finest track-racing stadiums, the Marian Rose Motoarena is one of the most popular destinations on the Speedway GP tour. And with the addition of an historic but lively city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Torun is one of the ultimate FIM Speedway city breaks. RACE FOR THE ROSTRUM National hero Zmarzlik collects his third Speedway GP World Championship trophy in just four seasons after storming to victory at the Kaeser FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla two weeks ago. Madsen hopes to join him on the podium as he heads to Torun requiring just four championship points to guarantee silver – his first Speedway GP World Championship medal since 2019. That night saw him top the Torun podium with an unforgettable seven-ride, 21-point maximum. After lifting the Speedway European Championship at Czech track Pardubice last Friday, he will bid to end a fine 2022 season with another champagne moment at the Motoarena. Madsen may hold a 17-point advantage over third-placed Dudek, but the battle for bronze and the top-six automatic qualification places could not be closer. Dudek leads the race on 100 points in third as he lines up on his Polish home track. But his Torun team mate Lambert bids to overhaul him, standing just three points behind in fourth on 97. After reaching two podiums in his last three rounds, the GB star has made a late surge towards the top three. His compatriot Bewley is also in the running. Back-to-back Speedway GP wins in Cardiff and Wroclaw in August left him third overall. But the Cumbrian managed just two points at the last round in Malilla, which dropped him back to fifth place on 93 points. But with 20 up for grabs in Torun, he could still overhaul Dudek and Lambert with a big performance, as could Lindgren and Janowski. Lindgren holds the sixth and final automatic qualification place for the 2023 Speedway GP series, but he is tied on 92 points with Janowski in seventh and is only placed higher by virtue of having more third-place finishes than the Pole. Neither rider has won a round and both have one second place to their name. While both have an outside chance of bagging bronze, they will at least be determined to punch their ticket for 2023 by finishing in the top six. Triple world champion Tai Woffinden is also in qualification contention in eighth spot on 88 points, with Australia’s Jason Doyle the only other rider with a mathematical chance to finish inside the top six. He is ninth on 76 points. Those riders who fall short of the top six still have the chance to show their class in Torun and persuade the SGP Commission to hand them one of the six permanent wild-card places for 2023. The line-up is completed by the top three from the FIM GP Challenge in Glasgow on August 20 – Sweden’s Kim Nilsson, Bewley and Aussie star Jack Holder. Should Bewley finish inside the Speedway GP top six on Saturday, his qualification place from Glasgow passes to Australian champion Max Fricke, who was fourth in the Challenge and misses the Torun round due to injury. He is replaced by Poland’s Jakub Miskowiak, the 2021 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion, who makes his first full Speedway GP appearance after debuting as a track reserve in Warsaw in May. He also lines up in Friday’s SGP2 event. 2022 FOR NATURE SOLUTIONS FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF POLAND – TORUN LINE-UP (in FIM ranking order with rider numbers): 95. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland), 71. Maciej Janowski (Poland), 66. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden), 108. Tai Woffinden (Great Britain), 30. Leon Madsen (Denmark), 515. Jakub Miskowiak (Poland – substitute for 46. Max Fricke), 69. Jason Doyle (Australia), 505. Robert Lambert (Great Britain), 29. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia – substitute for 105. Anders Thomsen), 54. Martin Vaculik (Slovakia), 323. Pawel Przedpelski (Poland), 155. Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark), 692. Patryk Dudek (Poland), 25. Jack Holder (Australia), 99. Dan Bewley (Great Britain), 16. Kacper Woryna (Poland – wild card), 17. Krzysztof Lewandowski (Poland – first track reserve), 18. Mateusz Affelt (Poland – second track reserve). CLEAN SWEEP FOR CIERNIAK? While Poland is guaranteed a Speedway GP champion on Saturday, SGP2 leader Cierniak still has work to do on Friday night to secure his first FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship. The Tarnow-born sensation won the opening two rounds in Prague and Cardiff, and he will claim the crown if he reaches the Nice FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun semi-finals tonight, which would guarantee him the nine points needed to take top spot. He is also bidding for an unforgettable clean sweep of three SGP2 victories in a year when he has already won SON2 FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship gold in Vojens with the Polish national team and helped his Polish club Lublin lift their first-ever PGE Ekstraliga championship. Czech charger Jan Kvech will hope to spoil the Polish party as he stands second on 28 points after finishing fourth in the opening two rounds. Third place in Cardiff leaves Denmark’s Benjamin Basso third overall on 25. He heads to Torun buoyed by lifting the Danish Under-21 Championship in Grindsted last week. He finished just ahead of Kevin Juhl Pedersen, who is fourth in the SGP2 standings on 22. Czech racer Petr Chlupac is still in the medal race – he is fifth on 20 points, with Poland’s Wiktor Lampart sixth on 19 and reigning champion Miskowiak eighth on 18 as he prepares to line up in both the SGP2 and Speedway GP rounds in Torun this weekend. Seventh-placed Francis Gusts sits out due to a knee injury, while Sweden’s Gustav Grahn is missing following thumb surgery. Great Britain’s Tom Brennan and Australia’s Keynan Rew step in. 2022 NICE FIM SGP2 OF POLAND – TORUN LINE-UP (in FIM ranking order with rider numbers): 196. Kevin Juhl Pedersen (Denmark), 127. Keynan Rew (Australia – substitute for 2. Francis Gusts), 201. Jan Kvech (Czech Republic), 717. Daniel Klima (Czech Republic), 43. Casper Henriksson (Sweden), 108. Mateusz Swidnicki (Poland), 842. Mateusz Cierniak (Poland), 515. Jakub Miskowiak (Poland), 408. Jonas Knudsen (Denmark), 47. Wiktor Lampart (Poland), 505. Wiktor Przyjemski (Poland), 44. Petr Chlupac (Czech Republic), 281. Timi Salonen (Finland), 92. Benjamin Basso (Denmark), 27. Tom Brennan (Great Britain – substitute for 118. Gustav Grahn), 16. Krzysztof Lewandowski (Poland – wild card), 17. Celina Liebmann (Germany – first track reserve), 18. Mateusz Affelt (Poland – second track reserve). TORUN FANZONE There is a full day of entertainment on offer for fans heading to the Marian Rose Motoarena on Saturday as the For Nature Solutions FIM Torun Speedway GP fanzone opens between Qualifying Practice and the evening’s racing. Gates open at 14:00 CET in the fanzone area next to the stadium’s green zone – behind bends three and four. There is no fanzone ahead of Friday’s SGP2. All of the Speedway GP riders take part in an autograph session from 16:30 – the perfect opportunity to pick up a signature or a speedway selfie. Fans can meet the Monster Energy athletes and grab some freebies when the Monster Energy Rig Riot kicks off at 16:00. Monster Energy will be on hand with free drinks and lots of photo opportunities throughout the afternoon. There’s the chance to win Speedway GP prizes from 17:35 with games and quizzes on the big screen, plus the chance for fans to test their commentary skills and commentate on an SGP race. Visitors can grab a photo with the FIM Speedway trophies and the We Love Speedway sign. There’s also the opportunity to sit on a speedway bike and there will be a display of vintage bikes. There will be activities for kids and remote-controlled cars for big and little kids. Plus, fans can pick up their brand-new SGP merchandise and food and drink will be available for purchase. WHERE TO WATCH Nice FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun: Friday – 19:00 CET Qualifying Practice: Saturday – 13:00 CET For Nature Solution FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun: October 1 – 19:00 CET Fans with access to Discovery+ or the Eurosport App, available in selected countries, can enjoy full live coverage of all the FIM Speedway action this year, featuring Qualifying Practice, a documentary series and other innovative features, including live data such as rider heartbeat. Coverage of the Nice FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun is available live on Discovery+ and the Eurosport App. Linear coverage of the For Nature Solutions FIM Torun Speedway GP is also available in selected countries – see below for more details of where to watch. ACROSS EUROPE: Live on the Eurosport App BRITAIN: Live on Discovery+ and Eurosport 2 POLAND: Live on TTV and Eurosport Extra SWEDEN: Live on Discovery+ DENMARK: Live on Discovery+ AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox Sports NEW ZEALAND: Live on Sky Sport USA: Live on beIN SPORTS GERMANY: Live on the Eurosport App CZECH REP: Live on the Eurosport App CROATIA: Live on the Eurosport App NORWAY: Live on Discovery+ FINLAND: Live on Discovery+ ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on Discovery+ and Go3 SELECTED ASIAN MARKETS: Coverage on beIN SPORTS   2022 FIM SPEEDWAY GP CALENDAR The 2022 FIM Speedway World Championship includes: April 30: Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia – Donji Kraljevec May 14: Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw May 28: Prague FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic June 4: Wölk FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Teterow June 25: 3W FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow August 13: FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff August 27: Betard FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw September 10: FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens, sponsored by ECCO September 17: Kaeser FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla October 1: For Nature Solutions FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun

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WOFFY MAKES SWEDISH COMEBACK WITH VASTERVIK FOR 2023

Great Britain international Tai Woffinden returns to Sweden in 2023 after joining Bauhaus Elitserien side Vastervik. The triple world champion opted to compete for Danish side Esbjerg instead of signing a Swedish deal for 2022. But next season sees him make a blockbuster Bauhaus Elitserien comeback with Vastervik, managed by Swedish national team boss Morgan Andersson. The contract will guarantee Woffinden more regular action away from Speedway GP and his PGE Ekstraliga commitments for Wroclaw. The Scunthorpe-born star, who lines up in Saturday’s For Nature Solutions FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun, admits a move to the Swedish coastal club has been on the cards for some time. He told the Vastervik official website: “I am very happy to be back in Sweden next year and really look forward to doing a full season in the Bauhaus league. “Morgan and I have been discussing the Swedish league and Västervik for the past few years so when I decided to expand my competition calendar for 2023, Västervik was my first choice. “I’m really looking forward to working with Morgan and the club in our quest to challenge for gold.” Andersson believes Woffinden’s presence will only lift his 2023 side. He said: “I am very pleased to get Tai into the team with his character. You also get one of the world’s best team riders. “We have had discussions in previous years but unfortunately did not come to an agreement, so it was of course positive when Tai declared that he was ready for Sweden again. “With all the experience that Tai has acquired through all his years among the world’s elite, I am convinced that he can lift the other riders. I am very much looking forward to having the chance to work with Tai as I know what qualities he possesses both on and off the track.”

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TORUN SET FOR ACTION-PACKED SPEEDWAY GP FANZONE

POLISH SHOOTING STAR CIERNIAK KEEPS COOL TO WIN SGP2 UNDER-21 WORLD TITLE IN TORUN

LAMBERT'S FRUSTRATION AFTER BELLE VUE DEAL BLOCKED

POLES SEEK GOLDEN DOUBLE IN TORUN FINALE

WOFFY MAKES SWEDISH COMEBACK WITH VASTERVIK FOR 2023