Speedway GP Riga: Zmarzlik back on top – title race remains wide open

At the Grand Prix in Riga, all eyes were on the intensifying title race in the Speedway World Championship; the three favourites, Bartosz Zmarzlik, Brady Kurtz and Robert Lambert, were well on course for the day’s final after the opening heats. However, as only two of the three could secure direct qualification, everything came down to the final heat, ahead of which Kurtz led with eleven points, ahead of Lambert and Zmarzlik, who each had ten points.

Kurtz threw away Heat 19 when he was blocked by the Danes Michael Jepsen Jensen and Leon Madsen and was then unable to get past wildcard rider Daniils Kolodinskis. As the Australian failed to score any points, he handed the final to Zmarzlik and Lambert on a plate. The pair seized the opportunity by finishing first and second, leaving Kurtz to face the Last-Chance Qualifier. The 29-year-old breezed through this detour and progressed to the final alongside Kacper Woryna, who won the second Last-Chance Qualifier and recorded his best result since his victory in Landshut.

Titelverteidiger und WM-Leader Bartosz Zmarzlik

Foto: jarek pabijan

Brady Kurtz’s tactics didn’t pay off

In the final, Kurtz had to start from the very outside, whilst Zmarzlik, having scored the most points in the heats, chose the inside starting position and got away just as well from there as Kurtz, who tried to pull ahead of Zmarzlik. The Australian’s aggressive manoeuvre didn’t pay off, as Zmarzlik maintained the upper hand and emerged from the first corner in the lead, whilst Kurtz dropped back to third place behind Lambert.

With his victory, world champion Zmarzlik reclaimed sole leadership of the championship standings with two races remaining, and now sits four points ahead of Brady Kurtz. Despite his second place, Lambert lost some ground and is now in third place, ten points behind Zmarzlik.

Kai Huckenbeck from Werlter, who stepped in at short notice for Dominik Kubera, recorded a solid result with five points and twelfth place, particularly given that he had been involved in a crash in the Polish league just a few days earlier.

Kai Huckenbeck vor Zmarzlik (gelb) und Lindgren (weiß)

Foto: jarek pabijan

Results: Speedway Grand Prix, Riga/LV: