Speedway Grand Prix: Fredrik Lindgren storms to win in Gorzow, Bartosz Zmarzlik extends championship lead
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Updated 29/06/2024 at 21:28 GMT
A dramatic Saturday night in Gorzow saw Fredrik Lindgren storm to victory ahead of home favourite Bartosz Zmarzlik in the latest round of Speedway Grand Prix action. The Swede propelled himself up the championship standings but Zmarzlik remains in the lead after rivals Robert Lambert and Jack Holder stuttered on the night. Zmarzlik led in the final but Lindgren produced a superb pass.
'What a ride' - Lindgren makes late pass on Zmarzlik to win in Gorzow
Fredrik Lindgren took his first win of the season in Gorzow, beating Bartosz Zmarzlik to the trophy with a sensational move down the back straight.
"I don't know what to say, it's absolutely awesome," Lindgren commented post-race. "It's so nice to be back on the podium, on the top step.
"This whole day has been like a battle and a rollercoaster. I finished 15th in qualifying and got a pretty tough race number. But I've been fighting and fighting all the way tonight and I did it in the final."
Title defender Zmarzlik dominated proceedings early on on the grippy track, but as the surface started to get more slick, Lindgren as well as the Danish duo of Leon Madsen and Mikkel Michelsen started coming into their own.
The quartet lined up for the final where Zmarzlik took the holeshot at tapes up with Michelsen shadowing him. However, Lindgren committed to a brave line round the outside near the fence to shoot into runner-up spot.
He went to hunt down Zmarzlik and opted for the outside line again to challenge. The Swede pulled off an incredible move to take the lead down the back straight and never let go of it from there to make it six winners from six Grand Prix races so far in 2024.
Despite having to narrowly settle for second on his boyhood track, Zmarzlik made it a fifth consecutive podium finish and continues to lead the championship standings.
"The podium is always the plan for me," he said. "It's very important because the championship is the most important and to make the most points every round. Of course, a win always feels the best, but I'm happy with what I've done today because I've come back to Gorzow and I really love racing here."
Michelsen secured his second rostrum finish of 2024 in third and with that moved up into third place in the overall standings as well.
"I'm definitely having fun, maybe a bit too much fun at times," the Dane said. "We kept it exciting and people on their toes. It's a great result, I'm happy to make the podium again.
"Maybe I risked a bit too much taking Gate 4 for the final. But if you don't risk it, you don't get the biscuits. We gave it our best shot tonight, the boys worked hard in the pit and I just did the easy part out on track."
Meanwhile, the final was over for his compatriot Madsen before it really began with a technical issue early on.
Zmarzlik's championship advantage grew to a healthy 27 points, aided by his previously closest title challengers missing out on big points in Gorzow.
Robert Lambert had a nightmare outing and failed to progress from the heats, falling from second to fifth in the standings.
Jack Holder, championship third going into Gorzow, worked his way up the order after a mediocre start to proceedings. However, he was excluded from his semi-final following an incident with Kai Huckenbeck and left Poland with only nine points added to his tally.
Elsewhere, the evening was over for Tai Woffinden in Heat 8 when he was the unfortunate victim in a four-rider battle. The Brit went wide, touched the barrier with his rear wheel, and was thrown over the handlebars.
Woffinden was recovered from the track by an ambulance but was conscious.
Dan Bewley, the final Brit in the mix, also missed out on the semi-finals with a lack of consistency through the evening.
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