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MEDAL BID FOR BEWLEY?

Great Britain star Dan Bewley believes he has to pace to push for a World Championship medal as he lines up in tonight’s Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia in Donji Kraljevec.Bewley admits he needed a couple of rounds to settle in Speedway GP after scoring six in the opening round in Croatia and three in Warsaw.But after racing to his first Speedway GP heat win and semi-final at round three in Prague, Bewley raced to a run of five straight semis and double-figure scores, including unforgettable victories back-to-back victories in Cardiff and Wroclaw in August.Bewley stormed to sixth spot in the final standings to automatically guarantee his place for 2023, and now he would love to climb even higher – with a medal challenge firmly in his sights.He said: “That’s the plan for sure. Looking back at last season, I showed in the Qualifying Practice sessions that speed is not the issue. It’s just the rest of it. I just have to be more consistent and put myself in better positions and see what we can do.“Last year went better than a lot of people expected. It was good. I think it took me a few rounds just to win a heat race. From there in Prague, I felt I could do more and again in Teterow.“Then I had the two wins and it kind of felt ‘I’m here now!’ It was cool just to progress over the season and be back for this year.”

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LAMBERT: SPEEDWAY GP WIN GETTING CLOSER

Great Britain racer Robert Lambert believes he is getting closer to his first Speedway GP win as he gets his 2023 series underway in tonight’s Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia.Lambert stormed to fifth place in the 2022 Speedway GP World Championship and was the highest-finishing British rider ahead of Dan Bewley in sixth and Tai Woffinden in eighth. With the top six riders qualifying for the following year’s Speedway GP, it meant Lambert did not need a wild card pick to secure his spot in the series.The former European champion admits he exceeded his own pre-season expectations. But going into 2023, he would love to join Bewley and Woffinden in the Speedway GP winner’s circle after just missing out with a second place in Vojens and third in Wroclaw last year.He said: “We are very close to getting that first top spot on the podium, but it was definitely a great experience to be on the podium twice last season and I want to add to that throughout this season.“Fifth was one space higher than I expected. I had the goal of getting in the top six to qualify myself for 2023. Getting one step higher was a great achievement. It was a little bit touch and go and nerve-wracking because I didn’t qualify at the qualification round in Glasgow. “I had to do it through the top six. It added a bit of extra pressure and mixed things up. But I managed to achieve the goal I set out to achieve.”Lambert had mixed fortunes in Croatia last year, winning his opening two rides, before recording a third and three fourth places.That was still enough to earn him a healthy 10 championship points. He said: "I didn’t actually do too badly here. I made the semi-final. “The track itself was fairly slick. I kind of struggled with setup, but the points don’t make it look like I struggled too much, which is a good thing. "I have been here many times before for pre-season practice and know the track well, so I am looking forward to the opening round of the Speedway GP series.”

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WOFFINDEN READY FOR SPEEDWAY GP TITLE FIGHT AS 2023 SERIES LAUNCHES IN CROATIA

Great Britain icon Tai Woffinden expects an open fight for the 2023 FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship as the series gets underway in Croatia tonight.The Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia returns to what’s expected to be a packed Speedway Stadion Milenium in Donji Kraljevec, located close to the Hungarian and Slovenian borders, with fans flocking from across Europe to enjoy one of the sport’s finest purpose-built speedway venues. It’s the start of a special season for the sport as speedway celebrates its 100th anniversary since the first meeting at Maitland Showgrounds in New South Wales, Australia on December 15, 1923. Global promoter Warner Bros. Discovery Sports is set to mark that milestone on and off the track, as we honour the legends of yesteryear, celebrate the heroes of today and develop the stars of the future.Last year’s event saw Poland’s triple world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik launch his world title charge with a victory, before leading the Speedway GP World Championship from start to finish. But he faces stiff competition from the likes of 2022 runner-up Leon Madsen of Denmark, world No.3 Maciej Janowski from Poland, Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren, Poland’s former world No.2 Patryk Dudek, and British trio Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Tai Woffinden. TITLE NO.4 FOR TAI?Woffinden finished eighth in 2023 but is determined to recapture the sublime form that saw him win three Speedway GP world titles in 2013, 2015 and 2018.Having seen off Zmarzlik in an epic title race in 2018, Woffinden is hopeful of challenging a man who has lifted the Speedway GP trophy in three of the last four seasons. But he knows he won’t be the only rider up for the challenge.Woffinden said: “I am normally the one that can give him a run for his money. But it’s the World Championship for a reason – you can’t overlook any of the other riders. Everyone is there to do the job.“We start the season with a blank canvas and just get on with it. We will see where we are in a few months. I know where I want to be and what I am capable of doing. We have done all the right things and ticked all the boxes. Now it’s time to get going.”Woffinden is part of golden generation of British riders, which won the 2021 FIM Speedway of Nations world title in Manchester – GB’s first world team title in 32 years.He is joined in the Speedway GP line-up by Robert Lambert, who finished fifth in 2022, and Dan Bewley, who won back-to-back SGPs in Cardiff and Wroclaw on his way to sixth place overall.Woffinden is pleased to see two more Brits making an impact on the world stage. He said: “It’s amazing and props to them both. That’s what it’s all about – getting that opportunity and getting on with it. “They are there at the pointy end, which makes the championship that much more interesting, especially with the other guys in the championship who are doing similar things now or have done in the past. It’s exciting for the sport.”woffinden8264.jpg 2.76 MB MADSEN: SWAPPING SILVER FOR GOLD?Zmarzlik’s closest rival in 2022 was Danish ace Leon Madsen, who finished 33 points behind the world champion.While Madsen reached all 10 Speedway GP semi-finals last term, he only converted five of them into final appearances. The Czestochowa star knows he needs to reach the rostrum more if he is to swap silver for gold.He said: “You need to be consistent, but you also need to get into those finals every time. I’m not sure you need to win, but if you are in the final every time and getting on the podium, you are collecting a lot of points. That’s what you need to be the winner. For sure I will try to get into those finals every time.”Madsen came agonisingly close to gold in 2019, winning three Speedway GPs in Warsaw, Cardiff and Torun, before losing out to Zmarzlik.“I have been very close before,” he said. “If we look back at 2019, I was only two points down on Bartek. If we had been working with the same points system we have now, I would have won.“That gives me confidence and belief that I can win the World Championship. If I can be consistent, get into those finals every time and do a few other things I need to improve, we can get there. We know what those things are. We are working hard on that and implementing some new things on the bike.“Last season we tried some things out and they were working very well. We are bringing that into this season and the pre-season tests have shown some good results. That gives us good belief that we are in a better position than last year.”Zmarzlik and Madsen: The world's top two 2023 TEHNIX FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF CROATIA LINE-UP (in FIM ranking order with rider numbers): 95 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland), 30 Leon Madsen (Denmark), 71 Maciej Janowski (Poland), 66 Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden), 505 Robert Lambert (Great Britain), 99 Dan Bewley (Great Britain), 692 Patryk Dudek (Poland), 108 Tai Woffinden (Great Britain), 54 Martin Vaculik (Slovakia), 69 Jason Doyle (Australia), 155 Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark), 25 Jack Holder (Australia), 46 Max Fricke (Australia), 105 Anders Thomsen (Denmark), 233 Kim Nilsson (Sweden), 16 Matej Zagar (Slovenia – wild card), 17 Nick Skorja (Slovenia – first track reserve), 18 Norbert Magosi (Hungary – second track reserve). CROATIA FANZONEFans visiting the Speedway Stadion Milenium can enjoy the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP fanzone from 12:00 CET, where visitors can take a photo with the Speedway GP trophy and sit on a speedway bike.There will be activities in the Monster Energy zone, a vintage bikes exhibition, attractions for kids, food and beverage stalls and the SGP merchandise shop.Fans have the chance to win Speedway GP prizes at both 15:30 CET and 17:45 CET with our quizzes – with the winner of the 15:30 CET quiz getting the chance to bring the Speedway GP trophy on to the stage with American great Greg Hancock ahead of the evening’s racing.Fans can take a photo with the Monster Energy Girls from 15:45 CET and fans can meet Monster Energy athletes Fredrik Lindgren, Dan Bewley, Patryk Dudek, Tai Woffinden and Jack Holder in the Monster Energy Zone from 16:00 CET.All of the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP stars will be signing autographs in the fanzone from 16:30 CET, before we crown the King and Queen of the Fanzone at 18:00 CET.woffinden_44_8079-ok.jpg 8.81 MB WHERE TO WATCHQualifying Practice: Saturday – 13:00 CETTehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia: 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, plus all the build-up from the pits and reaction after the chequered flag falls, as well as the very best coverage of the racing including pit and on-board cameras, rider reaction times and, coming soon, live speed data.Coverage of Speedway GP is available worldwide with linear coverage of the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP also available in selected countries – see below for more details of where to watch.To check where to follow the action where you live, click HERE. ACROSS EUROPE: Live on the Eurosport AppBRITAIN: Live on discovery, Eurosport App + and Eurosport 2POLAND: Live on Eurosport Extra in PlayerSWEDEN: Live on Kanal 9 and Discovery+ DENMARK: Live on 6’eren and discovery+AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox SportsNEW ZEALAND: Live on RecastUSA/CANADA: Live on RecastGERMANY: Live on ServusTV Motorsports, available on Magenta TV, discovery+ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on discovery+, Eurosport App, Go3 and TV3 Sport channelsCZECH REP: Live on the Eurosport AppSLOVAKIA: Live on RTVS and Eurosport AppCROATIA: Live on SPTV and the Eurosport AppAUSTRIA: Live on discovery+ and the Eurosport AppNORWAY: Live on discovery+FINLAND: Live on discovery+ACROSS THE CARRIBBEAN: Live on SportsMaxACROSS AFRICA: Live on SuperSportACROSS ASIA: Live on beINSPORTSREST OF THE WORLD: Live on Recast

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FIM CROATIAN SPEEDWAY GP | WHERE TO WATCH

Don’t miss the first action of the 2023 FIM Speedway Grand Prix season – here is where you can catch the Tehnix FIM Speedway GP of Croatia live …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, plus all the build-up from the pits and reaction after the chequered flag falls, as well as the very best coverage of the racing including pit and on-board cameras, rider reaction times and, coming soon, live speed data.Linear coverage of the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP is available in selected countries – see below for more details of where to watch.For viewers in nations without a Speedway GP broadcaster, you can catch all the racing live and free on streaming platform Recast.tv, ensuring viewers all around the world can enjoy the best motorcycling show on track.To check where to follow the action where you live, click HERE. ACROSS EUROPE: Live on the Eurosport AppBRITAIN: Live on discovery, Eurosport App + and Eurosport 2POLAND: Live on Eurosport Extra in PlayerSWEDEN: Live on Kanal 9 and Discovery+ DENMARK: Live on 6’eren and discovery+AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox SportsNEW ZEALAND: Live on RecastUSA/CANADA: Live on RecastGERMANY: Live on ServusTV Motorsports, available on Magenta TV, discovery+ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on discovery+, Eurosport App, Go3 and TV3 Sport channelsCZECH REP: Live on the Eurosport AppSLOVAKIA: Live on RTVS and Eurosport AppCROATIA: Live on SPTV and the Eurosport AppAUSTRIA: Live on discovery+ and the Eurosport AppNORWAY: Live on discovery+FINLAND: Live on discovery+ACROSS THE CARRIBBEAN: Live on SportsMaxACROSS AFRICA: Live on SuperSportACROSS ASIA: Live on beINSPORTSREST OF THE WORLD: Live on Recast

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FIM CROATIAN SPEEDWAY GP FANZONE LINE-UP

Fans in Croatia can get their 2023 FIM Speedway Grand Prix season started early with an action-packed fanzone at Donji Kraljevec’s Speedway Stadion Milenium from 12:00 CET today.Make a day of it at the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP with Qualifying Practice at 13:00 CET and the first Speedway GP of the year getting underway at 19:00 CET.Away from the track, there’s plenty of entertainment in the fanzone, where visitors can take a photo with the Speedway GP trophy and sit on a speedway bike. There will also be activities in the Monster Energy zone, a vintage bikes exhibition, attractions for kids, food and beverage stalls and the SGP merchandise shop.Fans have the chance to win Speedway GP prizes at both 15:30 CET and 17:45 CET with our quizzes.There’s a unique prize up for grabs in the 15:30 CET quiz, as the winner gets the chance to bring the Speedway GP trophy on to the stage with American great Greg Hancock ahead of the evening’s racing.Take a photo with the Monster Energy Girls from 15:45 CET and meet Monster Energy athletes Fredrik Lindgren, Dan Bewley, Patryk Dudek, Tai Woffinden and Jack Holder in the Monster Energy Zone from 16:00 CET.All of the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP stars will be signing autographs in the fanzone from 16:30 CET, before we crown the King and Queen of the Fanzone at 18:00 CET.Start your season in style and join us in the Tehnix FIM Croatian Speedway GP fanzone!

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MEDAL BID FOR BEWLEY?

LAMBERT: SPEEDWAY GP WIN GETTING CLOSER

WOFFINDEN READY FOR SPEEDWAY GP TITLE FIGHT AS 2023 SERIES LAUNCHES IN CROATIA

FIM CROATIAN SPEEDWAY GP | WHERE TO WATCH

FIM CROATIAN SPEEDWAY GP FANZONE LINE-UP