Speedway GP Riga LIVE
HEAT 18 – Lambert, Madsen, Holder, Huckenbeck
Lambert needs a victory to secure his semi-final place. A nasty crash sees Madsen and Holder tangle on the opening bend and both hitting the floor heavily.
Holder charges straight into the back of Madsen and luckily they both get up and walk away. Holder is excluded from the heat as a result of the crash.
Madsen also looks hurt and his helmet has taken a bashing as well.
HEAT 17 – Janowski, Vaculik, Zmarzlik, Kubera
Series leader Zmarzlik needs to win his final heat to guarantee a semi-final position, in a heat with three Polish riders. Kubera holds on well to take an early lead.
However, Zmarzlik responds passing the leader by keeping him high on the bend, Zmarzlik gets the win he needed and lets out a shout in relief.
He finishes ahead of Kubera in second and Janowski in third.
STANDINGS AFTER FOUR RIDES EACH
Here are the current standings:
1 Andzejs Lebedevs 12 points 2 Maciej Janowski 9 points 3 Fredrik Lindgren 9 points 4 Martin Vaculik 8 points 5 Leon Madsen 8 points 6 Dan Bewley 8 points 7 Max Fricke 8 points 8 Robert Lambert 7 points 9 Kai Huckenbeck 6 points 10 Bartos Zmarzlik 6 points 11 Jan Kvech 6 points 12 Dominik Kubera 4 points 13 Jack Holder 2 points 14 Daniils Kolodinskis 2 point 15 Szymon Wozniak 1 point HEAT 16 – Lambert, Wozniak, Lebedevs, Zmarzlik
This is an important heat for series leader Zmarzlik who needs to pick up points, having just four from his opening three rides.
Lebedevs holds on best to take an early lead before making a mistake under pressure. However, Lebedevs regains the front from Zmarzlik to win ahead of the world champion and Lambert in third.
HEAT 15 – Huckenbeck, Kolodinskis, Kubera, Bewley
Bewley beats Kubera in a battle down the back straight and despite the Brit taking the third corner very wide he holds the lead.
Kubera takes second ahead of Kolodinskis. Despite his exploits early in the meeting Huckenbeck fails to take any points.
HEAT 14 – Madsen, Gusts , Vaculik, Kvech
Vaculik finds some speed down the back straight on the opening lap and just squeezes through to take the early lead.
Madsen is comfortably in second and Kvech finishes third.
HEAT 13 – Holder, Fricke, Lindgren, Janowski
The track has been watered and treated during a break in proceedings and may ride differently for competitors. All the riders are frantically trying to create a groove in the starting gate.
Janowski from the outside carries his speed but comes under pressure from Fricke. The Australian has the speed to challenge but finishes second and Lindgren takes third, just fending off Holder.
WHERE CAN I WATCH THE 2024 SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX?
Eurosport and discovery+ will show live coverage of every round of 2024 Speedway Grand Prix action.
Every meeting, including qualifying, will be broadcast in full and will be accessible live-on-demand on discovery+ and Eurosport’s digital platforms. Eurosport.com will provide live coverage, reaction and video highlights of every single meeting.
STANDINGS AFTER THREE RIDES EACH
Here are the current standings:
1 Andzejs Lebedevs 9 points 2 Fredrik Lindgren 8 points 3 Kai Huckenbeck 6 points 4 Maciej Janowski 6 points 5 Leon Madsen 6 points 6 Robert Lambert 6 points 7 Max Fricke 6 points 8 Martin Vaculik 5 points 9 Dan Bewley 5 points J10 Jan Kvech 5 points 11 Bartos Zmarzlik 4 points 12 Jack Holder 2 points 13 Dominik Kubera 2 points 14 Daniils Kolodinskis 1 point 15 Szymon Wozniak 1 point HEAT 12 – Ansviesulis, Lebedevs, Kubera, Holder
Lebedevs, Kubera and Holder change positions on the opening lap in a tight exchange. Eventually it’s Lebedevs who has enough to see off a charging holder in second and Kubera third
HEAT 11 – Vaculik, Lambert, Kolodinskis, Lindgren
Lindgren is the rider quickest away from the tape and rides away to victory as the rest are left battling behind.
Vaculik comes from the back despite some nervous moments to take second. However, Lambert passes his competitor on the final bend to finish second ahead of Vaculik.
HEAT 10 – Fricke, Bewley, Zmarzlik, Madsen
Madsen from the outside gate carries his speed to take an early lead. Fricke looks to challenge the leader on the second lap before having to change his line and settles for second.
Bewley is also close behind in third, while world champion Zmarzlik is left in fourth.
HEAT 9 – Wozniak, Huckenbeck, Janowski, Kvech
Huckenbeck takes the first turn quickest as he continues to be one of those to beat tonight.
Kvech is the only rider able to match the German’s speed as he shadows in second and Janowski is left chasing in third.
STANDINGS AFTER TWO RIDES EACH
Here are the current standings:
1. Andzejs Lebedevs 6 points 2. Fredrik Lindgren 5 points 3. Maciej Janowski 5 points 4. Bartos Zmarzlik 4 points 5. Martin Vaculik 4 points6. Robert Lambert 4 points 7. Dan Bewley 4 points 8. Max Fricke 4 points 9 Kai Huckenbeck 3 points10 Leon Madsen 3 points11 Jan Kvech 3 points12 Dominik Kubera 1 point13 Daniils Kolodinskis 1 point14 Szymon Wozniak 1 point15 Jack Holder 0 pointsHEAT 8 – Lebedevs, Vaculik, Fricke, Huckenbeck
Three of the four starters won their first heats. Lebedevs starts quickest through the middle and just about holds off a quick Fricke who pushed him on the opening turn. Fricke is determined to test for the lead but finished second ahead of Vaculik in third.
HEAT 7 – Kvech, Zmarzlik, Holder, Kolodinskis
From gate two Zmarzlik gets the start he needs. Kvech is the only rider who can follow the world champion. Zmarzlik takes his first win of the evening ahead of Kvech and guest rider Kolodinskis in third.
HEAT 6 – Lindgren, Kubera, Madsen, Wozniak
Lindgren gets the fastest start from the inside gate but he has to close the door on Wozniak who was racing up the inside.
The move completely killed Wozniak’s speed as Lindgren rode away from Madsen in second and Kubera third.
HEAT 5 – Gusts, Janowski, Bewley, Lambert
Reserve rider Gusts comes in for Michelsen who has been taken to hospital after his crash. Janowski starts quickest, while behind Lambert is halted as Bewley cuts him off out wide.
The two British riders are left battling for the remainer of the points as Janowski comfortably wins ahead of Bewley and then Lambert.
HEAT 4 – Zmarzlik, Lindgren, Huckenbeck, Michelsen
Big crash as Zmarzlik starts quickest and then looks to hold off Michelsen. However, the series leader loses his grip and collects Michelsen as they both crash into the hoardings.
The rivals are very close together when they collide meaning whose fault it is, is not clear. Michelsen is the rider who gets eliminated from the heat.
However, Michelsen is stretchered off in an ambulance so will be out of the evening.
From the re-start Huckenbeck starts quickest riding away with Lindgren in second and Zmarzlik a distant third.
Lindgren kept the leader under pressure but couldn’t find the pace to pass.
HEAT 3 – Kubera, Kvech, Lambert, Fricke
A tight start sees Fricke pass Kubera. Lambert almost hits the back of Kubera on the opening lap.
The British star has the speed passing Kubera and then Fricke to take a convincing win. Fricke has to settle for second and Kvech in third.
HEAT 2- Bewley, Holder, Wozniak, Vaculik
Vaculik with a lightening quick start as his bike seems to have more pace than the rest through the first turn and second straight. Bewley keeps up with the leader but finishes second.
A distant Wozniak has to settle for third after fending off Holder.
HEAT 1 – Janowski, Madsen, Kolodinskis, Lebedevs
A nice move into the opening corner sees home favourite Lebedevs sweep below his opponent to lead. Janowski is left chasing but can’t close the gap while Madsen is in third well ahead of Kolodinskis.
TEN-MINUTE WARNING
The riders have been introduced to the crowd here and we are less then ten minutes away from tapes being up in Latvia.
MICHELSEN QUALFIES QUICKEST
Mikkel Michelsen is in the title battle and just 20 points behind leader Martin Vaculik. The Danish star qualified quickest ahead of Dan Bewley and Vaculik. Lambert qualified fourth quickest and Lindgren in sixth.
Mikkel Michelsen po zwycięstwie w Grand Prix Landshut
Image credit: Eurosport
VIDEO: START IS KEY FOR LAMBERT
British star Robert Lambert says that getting off to the start quickest is key as he searched for a vital win in Latvia. Lambert had to battle from the middle gates in last weekend’s rounds and will be hoping to take control this time around.
‘Getting off the start is key’ – Lambert outlines plans for Speedway Grand Prix in Riga
CAN ROBERT LAMBERT WIN FIRST ROUND?
British rider Robert Lambert is joint second in the series standings and just 15 points behind the series leader.
However, the 26-year-old is yet to win his maiden grand prix. After making his debut in 2015, Lambert has ridden in 49 events and reached nine finals.
This season the Brit has finished on the podium four times and was runner-up in Cardiff last month. The consistency of Lambert has led him to becoming a title challenger.
VIDEO: TOP FIVE OVERTAKES FROM WROCLAW
With the FIM Speedway Grand Prix reaching its conclusion racing was close in Wroclaw last weekend. There were several crashes and tensions rose as series rivals gave it everything for overtakes.
Top 5 Overtakes from Speedway Grand Prix in Wroclaw as Vaculik takes win
VACULIK TAKES SECOND VICTORY OF SEASON IN POLAND
Last weekend saw Martin Vaculik win his second round of this year’s FIM Speedway Grand Prix. The Slovakian rider finished top in the points table following the heats and had his pick of gates in the semi-final and final.
However, second and third place finishes for Fredrik Lindgren and Robert Lambert respectively saw them gain ground in the title race against leader Bartos Zmarzlik. Reigning world champion Zmarzlik suffered a mechanical in the semi-final giving hope to his series rivals.
Speedway GP – Wroclaw – Round 8 – Interview – Martin Vaculik
Image credit: Eurosport
SERIES STANDINGS
After eight of this season’s 11 rounds Bartosz Zmarzlik leads the way but has seen his advantage cut during the last two rounds.
Here are the current standings heading into round nine.
1 Bartos Zmarzlik 121 points =2 Fredrik Lindgren 106 points =2 Robert Lambert 106 points 4 Mikkel Michelsen 101 points 5 Martin Vaculik 95 points 6 Jack Holder 93 points 7 Dan Bewley 84 points 8 Dominik Kubera 73 points 9 Leon Madsen 67 points 10 Andzejs Lebedevs 51 points 11 Szymon Wozniak 51 points 12 Jason Doyle 47 points 13 Kai Huckenbeck 46 points 14 Max Fricke 42 points 15 Jan Kvech 30 points 16 Tai Woffinden 23 points 17 Maciej Janowski 9 points 18 Oskar Fajfer 6 points 19 Vaclav Milik 4 points 20 Tom Brennan 4 points 21 Mateusz Cierniak 3 points 22 Matej Zagar 2 points 23 Norick Blödorn 2 points 24 Kim Nilsson 1 points WHERE CAN I WATCH THE 2024 SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX?
Eurosport and discovery+ will show live coverage of every round of 2024 Speedway Grand Prix action. Every meeting, including qualifying, will be broadcast in full and will be accessible live-on-demand on discovery+ and Eurosport’s digital platforms. Eurosport.com will provide live coverage, reaction and video highlights of every single meeting.
HELLO AND WELCOME…
Good evening and welcome to round nine of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix calendar in Riga, Latvia.
With three rounds remaining series leader star Bartosz Zmarzlik saw his advantage cut to 15 points last week in Wroclaw
Tonight could be a pivotal moment in the championship before riders head to Denmark next weekend. Start time 17:00 GMT.
Stream the 2024 Speedway Grand Prix on discovery+.
