Speedway GP: Robert Lambert hopes to use ‘weird and wonderful’ Cardiff atmosphere as springboard for rest of season

Robert Lambert believes the raucous atmosphere at the Principality Stadium could be a motivating factor as he chases a first Speedway Grand Prix win.

The latest round of action hits Cardiff with Lambert looking to impress in his home race and climb back up the standings in this year’s competition.

Speaking exclusively to Eurosport, Lambert explained why the Cardiff round is so highly-anticipated.

“I think it’s just one of the meetings on the calendar which we’re always waiting for and looking forward to coming up in the season,” he said. “It’s such a big event and also on home soil so I think there’s a special feeling in my belly, ready to go out on the track and perform in front of the home fans.

On what makes the meeting particularly special for fans and riders alike, he added: “I think it’s a combination of a few things. The build-up from Thursday night, people arriving in Cardiff and there’s this atmosphere in the town, there’s a buzz about it and then you’ve got this massive stadium where you’ve got a speedway track and that’s just incredible.

“And I think the shape of the stadium and how the chairs echo around the stadium is something which makes a weird and wonderful noise which we love to hear when we’re on the bikes.

“Maybe the first time I was in Cardiff, it was quite intimidating and too much to probably take in. But now you need to choose your moments when you can stand there and sort of look around and take a deep breath and take in the moment.

“When the helmet is on, you don’t really hear the fans unless when you’re sitting at the start. But when you’re racing, you don’t really hear it. I think as soon as you drop a clutch, all that noise goes out the window.

“They can definitely be a motivation, some motivation. If you’re not doing so well, and you just have a look around the stadium and think, ‘Wow, this is incredible’.”

After an impressive start to the season in which he snatched second place in the opening race in Donji Kraljevec, Croatia, Lambert has struggled to build on that performance and currently sits eighth in the standings.

Reflecting on his campaign to date, the 25-year-old admits the season hasn’t quite gone to plan but is determined to finish strongly in the remaining three races and seal automatic qualification for next year’s edition with a top-six finish.

“I’ve not really got into the finals I was hoping for,” he confesses. “Had a great first round and got second place in Croatia. I was hoping that was things to come for the rest of the season. But it hasn’t quite worked out that way. We got three more rounds to go. I pulled it out of the bag last year, and hopefully we try and do that again.

“I definitely want to be in the top six. The goal at the beginning this season was a medal, that’s kind of still in reach but we need to have a couple of good performances from myself.”

Lambert is currently nine points behind sixth place and compatriot Dan Bewley, who coincidentally triumphed in Cardiff last time out.

To claw his way back up the table, Lambert is aware that he needs to put in a similar performance to his Great Britain team-mate on home soil.

“I’m definitely going to be aiming to get to the final obviously,” he says. “This is where the big points are in the Grand Prix series, and big points is what I need to collect.

“I’m definitely confident. I believe I can do it. I’ve done it before and I’m not racing at this level for no reason. I have confidence in myself that I can perform and do a good job to finish the season in the top six and qualify myself for the 2024 Grand Prix series.”