FIM SPEEDWAY: LODZ GP OF POLAND WIN FOR LAMBERT: KURTZ AND ZMARZLIK EQUAL POINT LEADERS
Feature photo by: Marcin Karczewski …Lambert toasts his first victory since 2024.
Great Britain racer Robert Lambert admits his FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Lodz win feels like his first SGP success all over again, as he ended a near two-year victory quest on Saturday.
In front of a 9,900-strong crowd in the Moto Arena Lodz’s first-ever Speedway GP event, Lambert blew the Speedway GP World Championship race wide open and moved within eight points of the lead, winning the final ahead of Poland’s European champion Patryk Dudek in second, Aussie ace Brady Kurtz in third and Danish star Michael Jepsen Jensen in fourth.
Despite missing out on victory, Kurtz captured the Speedway GP World Championship lead, tying on 109 points with reigning Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik, who scored 11 after his run of 14 straight SGP finals came to an end. With both riders boasting a Speedway GP win, Kurtz’s two second places in Prague and Manchester R3 rank him higher.
Lambert is now third on 101 and was elated to secure his second Speedway GP victory, and his first since he topped the FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens podium on September 14, 2024.
“It has been a long time coming,” he said. “The win feels like the first win – it has been such a long time since the one in Vojens.
“I am super happy with how the GP went. Getting five wins and missing out on the final was a tough one last time in Malilla. Getting the win was a great feeling. I can’t ask for much more.
“My fifth heat wasn’t the best. At that point, you want to be spot on with the setup and have things working. That wasn’t really the case, but we made a few changes for the LCQ and that paid off.
“I am happy with how we figured things out and how the team is working. That’s how we got through the meeting.”
Lambert has turned the Speedway GP world title battle into a three-horse race. But he is putting no additional pressure on his shoulders for the final three rounds in Riga next Saturday, Vojens on September 12 and Torun on September 26. He said: “After last season, the goal was set to get into the top seven, secure my spot and not put myself under too much pressure. I am in a good position now, so the goal has changed a little bit, and I am pushing for a medal. We’ll see what colour that will be at the end of the season.”
Lodz runner-up Dudek was pleased with his first final appearance since he returned to the series for 2026. His 18-point haul saw him surge from ninth to fifth in the championship.
The European champion said: “I feel great because I knew I needed the points for the standings. I am fighting for the top seven this year, so for me, it was a very good night. Being in the top five now is okay for me.
“I had a tough start to this season, but I think I am back. This day for me was great. It was a beautiful day, and I hope it will be the same next week.”
Dudek battled his way to second spot. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning
Third-placed Kurtz was pleased to recapture the Speedway GP lead and insists regaining the Golden Race Jacket brings no added pressure
He said: “I’m not really too worried about having the gold jacket. I think the important thing is to stay consistent, keep making finals and keep getting the points. The important thing is having the Golden Race Jacket after the final round in Torun.
“I am happy with a third. That’s more good points on the board and that has been the goal at every round. I obviously would have liked to win, but congrats to Rob. He has definitely deserved this.”
Kurtz spent three seasons with host club Lodz from 2020 until 2022 but admits the track experience gained during that stint did little to help him in the city’s first Speedway GP.
He said: “I don’t think it was the same track that they have in the league, but that’s the GPs. Every time you come to any track for a GP, it is always different to the league. You kind of have to reset and figure it out on the day.
“As the meeting went on, I got better and better, and that’s always a strong point for me.”
New Speedway GP leader Brady Kurtz. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning
The SGP title race continues apace with the DEWALT FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga on a revamped Bikernieki track next Saturday.
But before that, hosts Latvia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden contest the 11.lv FIM Speedway World Cup Semi-Final 2 – Riga on Friday. The winners join champions Poland, Australia and Great Britain in the BOLL FIM Speedway World Cup Final – Warsaw on August 29.
