Speedway Grand Prix Malilla recap – Britain’s Dan Bewley lands stunning victory, Bartosz Zmarzlik out in semis

BEWLEY WINS IN MALILLA

It’s a first win of the season for Dan Bewley here in Sweden.

FINAL: BEWLEY, VACULIK, DUDEK, LINDGREN

Martin Vaculik got off to a great start and hogged P1. Fredrik Lindgren fought hard and collided with his opponent, causing a heavy crash and bringing out the red flag.

At the restart, Vaculik once more hogged the inside line and held the lead, looking set to claim the win. Out of nowhere though, Dan Bewley, who had been working the outside line for the better part of the race, dived down tight on the inside to sneak into the lead and bag his first triumph of the season.

GATE SELECTION FINAL

Dan Bewley, Patryk Dudek, Fredrik Lindgren, Martin Vaculik

SEMI-FINAL 2: DUDEK, VACULIK, ZMARZLIK, LAMBERT

Martin Vaculik made a great start but was under pressure from Patryk Dudek round the outside to claim the position. Bartosz Zmarzlik was fighting hard in third, but could not create a chance to move up the order. Robert Lambert completed the semi-final in fourth.

SEMI-FINAL 1: LINDGREN, BEWLEY, FRICKE, HOLDER

Fredrik Lindgren took the lead down the inside but had Jack Holder to contend with. Slightly too aggressive, Holder fell to the back of the field, Bewley the one to capitalise and chase the Swede in second. No serious chance to attack manifested, so it was second for the Brit who secured his first final appearance in 2023. Max Fricke was third while Jack Holder could not recover from fourth.

GATE SELECTION SEMI-FINALS

Semi-final 1: Dan Bewley, Jack Holder, Fredrik Lindgren, Max Fricke

Semi-final 2: Robert Lambert, Patryk Dudek, Martin Vaculik, Bartosz Zmarzlik

HEAT 20: LINDGREN, HOLDER, JANOWSKI, WOFFINDEN

The inside line once more worked a treat for Fredrik Lindgren, although he could not shake off Jack Holder who kept attacking for the lead. Maciej Janowski was left in third while a frustrating heat for Tai Woffinden saw him in fourth.

HEAT 19: FRICKE, BEWLEY, LAMBERT, LEBEDEVS

Max Fricke nailed the start and was up and away in the lead. Andzejs Lebedevs dropped a dive bomb on Robert Lambert for second while Dan Bewley fell into fourth. The bottom three kept battling and Bewley just managed to steal a point in the dying moments.

However, Lebedevs was ranked as last due to a previous tape exclusion.

HEAT 18: ZMARZLIK, VACULIK, DUDEK, THORSSELL

Bartosz Zmarzlik made a great start down the inside for the lead and was stalked by Martin Vaculik. Zmarzlik defended for his life and managed to maintain the position. Patryk Dudek was in third without a fighting chance while Jakob Thorssell had to settle for fourth.

HEAT 17: MICHELSEN, THOMSEN, MADSEN, DOYLE

Mikkel Michelsen just about held off Jason Doyle in an aggressive starting lap and maintained the lead. Things got worse for Doyle though who fell into last place behind Anders Thomsen and Leon Madsen.

STANDINGS AFTER 16 HEATS

Here is how things are looking with only one block of races to go:

HEAT 16: ZMARZLIK, LAMBERT, WOFFINDEN, THOMSEN

Bartosz Zmarzlik held the inside line to refuse Robert Lambert who kept piling up the pressure. The duo battled relentlessly, but there was no beating Zmarzlik. Tai Woffinden was chasing throughout while Anders Thomsen was stuck in fourth.

HEAT 15: FRICKE, THORSSELL, JANOWSKI, DOYLE

Jack Thorssell rode an aggressive first turn down the inside for the lead, but Max Fricke made the best of the outside line to hit the front. Maciej Janowski put pressure on Thorssell but couldn’t beat the Swede, eventually having to fight to keep Jason Doyle behind him instead.

HEAT 14: DUDEK, HOLDER, MICHELSEN, HJEMLAND, (LEBEDEVS)

A jump start from Andzejs Lebedevs stopped the heat prematurely and excluded the Latvian from the restart. Filip Hjemland came in as a replacement.

Patryk Dudek used the inside line to take the lead at the start and never gave it up. Jack Holder dived down the inside to get the better of Mikkel Michelsen while Hjelmland came home in fourth.

HEAT 13: LINDGREN, VACULIK, BEWLEY, MADSEN

Martin Vaculik made a great start, but Fredrik Lindgren cut down the inside to claim the lead. The duo stuck close together, but Lindgren held on to the position. Dan Bewley looked in contention early on but lost touch in the late stages, holding only Leon Madsen behind him.

STANDINGS AFTER 12 HEATS

Three blocks of races in and Martin Vaculik is immaculate at the top.

HEAT 12: VAKULIC, LEBEDEVS, WOFFINDEN, DOYLE

Martin Vakulic fired himself into the lead on lap one and never looked in serious danger. Andzejs Lebedevs was the only rider able to follow but never got in contention for any meaningful attack. Tai Woffinden had to settle for third while Jason Doyle was left in fourth.

HEAT 11: LINDGREN, ZMARZLIK, FRICKE, MICHELSEN

Bartosz Zmarzlik and Fredrik Lindgren battled at the start, Max Fricke briefly capitalising to take the lead. Lindgren fought back though and cut into the lead while Zmarzlik too bounced back into second. Mikkel Michelsen completed the heat.

HEAT 10: THOMSEN, BEWLEY, DUDEK, JANOWSKI

Dan Bewley took the lead at the start but was under immediate pressure from Anders Thomsen who pulled off a move for the lead. Patryk Dudek used the outside line to close in on Bewley and only just missed out. Maciej Janowski came home in fourth.

HEAT 9: HOLDER, LAMBERT, THORSSELL, MADSEN

Jack Holder and Jakob Thorssell went side-by-side at the start with the Aussie coming out the better. Robert Lambert was in place to pounce on Thorssell’s lost momentum and claim second from him while Leon Madsen rounded things out.

STANDINGS AFTER EIGHT HEATS

Martin Vaculik leads with eight heats in the book. Here is how things are looking:

HEAT 8: WOFFINDEN, THORSSELL, BEWLEY, MICHELSEN

Jakob Thorssell found a great outside line to take the lead at the start but was swiftly stalked by Tai Woffinden who pounced late in the heat. Dan Bewley had to settle for third, but managed to keep Mikkel Michelsen behind him.

HEAT 7: VACULIK, THOMSEN, FRICKE, HOLDER

Martin Vaculik smashed the start from Gate 3 and was up and away. A fierce three-way fight ensued behind him, culminating in Anders Thomsen clinching third ahead of Max Fricke while Jack Holder faded in the crucial stages.

HEAT 6: DUDEK, LAMBERT, LINDGREN, DOYLE

A furious start took Patryk Dudek wide and he made the best of the line to maintain the lead. Robert Lambert was the only rider somewhat able to keep up while Fredrik Lindgren and Jason Doyle were left without a fighting chance, but the Swede at least managed to salvage third.

HEAT 5: SMARZLIK, LEBEDEVS, MADSEN, JANOWSKI

Andzejs Lebedevs made a great start from the inside, but Bartosz Smarzlik pulled off a great manoeuve round the outside to take the lead and pull away. Lebedevs was under hot pressure from Leon Madsen but held the Dane behind him. Maciej Janowski never recovered from an error early in the heat.

STANDINGS AFTER FOUR HEATS

Here is how things are standing after four heats:

HEAT 4: LINDGREN, LEBEDEVS, THORSSELL, THOMSEN

First lap turn three again as Jakob Thorssell is forced to the outside and touches the barrier, going down in big fashion. Controversially, Anders Thomsen, who himself was forced wide by Fredrik Lindgren is excluded from the restart.

Lindgren and Thorssell contested for the lead at the restart with the former coming out top. Thorssell, in consequence, lost some momentum and Andzejs Lebedevs was in place to capitalise.

HEAT 3: BEWLEY, HOLDER, DOYLE, ZMARZLIK

Jack Holder took the holeshot chased by Bartosz Zmarzlik and when they make contact, the Pole goes down. The red flag comes out and the heat restarts with only three riders on the starting line.

Holder made another great start, but Dan Bewley overtook around the outside and comfortably held the Aussie off. Jason Doyle completed the field.

HEAT 2: VACULIK, LAMBERT, MICHELSEN, JANOWSKI

Martin Vaculik nailed the start from Gate 2 and managed to hold off Robert Lambert who was stalking him throughout. Behind, Mikkel Michelsen beat Maciej Janowski to third.

HEAT 1: FRICKE, DUDEK, MADSEN, WOFFINDEN

Max Fricke got off to an electric start from Gate 3 and never surrendered the position while Patryk Dudek pulled off some great moves to make his way up to second. Leon Madsen came home in third while Tai Woffinden found himself stuck at the end of the field.

WHEN IN SWEDEN …

We’re about to go racing in Malilla, but before the action gets underway, here’s a chance to catch up on your local speedway lingo with Filip Hjemland and Fredrik Lindgren:

WEATHER REPORT

It’s a pleasant evening in Malilla’s Skrotfrag Arena at just over 20 degrees Celsius. It’s a bit windy, but no rain is in sight. Everything is set for a great Grand Prix here!

HEAT CARD

Here’s the line-up for tonight:

LEBEDEVS FASTEST IN QUALIFYING PRACTICE

Starting the day with a bit of a surprise, Andzejs Lebedevs set the fastest time in qualifying practice earlier. Maciej Janowski and Bartosz Zmarzlik followed closely behind while Dan Bewley was the fastest Brit in fourth.

• 1. Andzejs Lebedevs 13.895
• 2. Maciej Janowski +0.013
• 3. Bartosz Zmarzlik +0.017
• 4. Dan Bewley +0.076
• 5. Leon Madsen +0.117
• 6. Fredrik Lindgren +0.120
• 7. Tai Woffinden +0.156
• 8. Mikkel Michelsen +0.182
• 9. Patryk Dudek +0.246
• 10. Jack Holder +0.286
• 11. Anders Thomsen +0.339
• 12. Jacob Thorssell +0.347
• 13. Robert Lambert +0.366
• 14. Martin Vaculik +0.368
• 15. Jason Doyle +0.412
• 16. Max Fricke +0.415
• 17. Casper Henriksson +o.419
• 18. Filip Hjemland +0.579

ZMARZLIK LEADS CHAMPIONSHIP, LINDGREN LOOKING TO POUNCE ON HOME SOIL

Bartosz Zmarzlik has established a healthy lead at the top of the championship standings, but all eyes will be on local rider Fredrik Lindgren today – can he cut his points deficit on home soil?

Here’s a reminder of how things are looking in the table:

• 1. Bartosz Zmarzlik 90
• 2. Jack Holder 69
• 3. Fredrik Lindgren 68
• 4. Jason Doyle 68
• 5. Leon Madsen 60
• 6. Robert Lambert 54
• 7. Martin Vaculik 51
• 8. Dan Bewley 49
• 9. Tai Woffinden 41

HELLO AND WELCOME!

Good morning, good evening, wherever you’re watching in the world! Everything is set for the 2023 Speedway Grand Prix’s Round 6 in Malilla with the racing action to start in Sweden in under half an hour. Stick around for live build-up and coverage, and don’t forget you can watch everything live on Eurosport.com and discovery+.

Substitute rider Lebedevs with fastest time in Malilla qualifying

Latvian rider Andzejs Lebedevs was only confirmed to compete in Malilla after the announcement that Kim Nilsson would have the miss out with injury.

However, the substitute looks to have grabbed his opportunity with both hands, finishing fastest in qualifying and giving himself the pick of the gates for the race.

Lindgren faces ‘really tough’ challenge to overcome dominant Zmarzlik – Rickardsson

Round six of the 2023 FIM Speedway Grand Prix will see Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren looking to make an impact on home turf when they line up at the Skrotfrag Arena in Malilla.

Veteran rider Lindgren will look to continue what has been a decent season thus far as he sits third in the championship standings at the halfway stage.

A win and two further final appearances see the 37-year-old riding high but, despite his lofty position, is currently 22 points off leader Bartosz Zmarzlik with the reigning world champion looking seemingly unstoppable.

The Polish star has reached finals in every meeting so far this year, winning three, including the last two in a row.

Previewing the latest round of action on his old stomping ground, Swedish speedway legend Tony Rickardsson pondered what his compatriot could do to catch the runaway leader.

“That’s the one million-dollar question everybody asks themselves,” the six-time world champion told Eurosport. “I think Zmarzlik has been going really, really strong.

“In one way, it’s easy! The case is you just need to beat him but that’s the tough one to crack right now.

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