FIM SPEEDWAY: POLISH ICON ZMARZLIK REVELLING IN SGP TITLE RACE AFTER RIGA WIN!
Polish racer Bartosz Zmarzlik is relishing his battles with Brady Kurtz and Robert Lambert after recapturing the Speedway GP World Championship lead with victory in the DEWALT FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga on Saturday, August 8.
Zmarzlik stormed to a record-extending 31st Speedway GP victory and an incredible third win in just four visits to Riga’s Bikernieki Speedway Stadium, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
The 31-year-old topped the podium ahead of title rival Robert Lambert of Great Britain, who was second, with Australia’s Brady Kurtz third and Polish star Kacper Woryna in fourth place.
Zmarzlik now holds a four-point lead in the Speedway GP standings on 129 points, with Kurtz second on 125 and Lambert third on 119. With just 10 points separating the trio and 48 still on the table across the final two rounds in Vojens on September 12 and Torun on September 26, the series is set to deliver a thrilling finale.
The top trio has faced each other in three of the last four SGP finals and Zmarzlik is enjoying a contest from which he hopes to emerge as speedway’s first-ever seven-time world champion. He said: “The boys push me all the time, but I got into the final again. This is exciting because I was asking Brady and Robert before the final, ‘Hey boys, how many times have we raced in the final?’ How many good races have we had together?
“I am happy about this one. It was a super good day for me. I really have many good memories from this place. I am very proud and happy again.”
Kurtz came within a point of denying Zmarzlik Speedway GP World Championship gold in 2025 and now the Pole is facing a huge challenge from Lambert too this season.
While claiming the 2026 crown could be Zmarzlik’s toughest challenge yet, the Lublin and Lejonen man insisted:“For the last 10 years, I have had a big challenge every year. I treat them the same all the time. I just do my job and give full focus all the time. Every year is a different story, but I must put in a good performance.”
Zmarzlik and Lambert go wheel to wheel in Riga. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning
Zmarzlik was pleased to bounce back from falling short of the FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Lodz final on August 1 by triumphing in Riga.
The stakes are high for Zmarzlik as he stands on the verge of reaching a seventh Speedway GP crown and the 78-time Speedway GP finalist looks forward to the challenges ahead. He said: “I don’t think ‘I must’, only ‘I can.’ I am not thinking about this. I am super happy after Riga because I had the problem in Lodz. This was better and now we have two more rounds – let’s go! I am waiting.”
Before the Deluxe Homeart FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens on September 12, Zmarzlik hopes to lead Poland into the BOLL FIM Speedway World Cup Final – Warsaw at PGE Narodowy on August 29. Some would say chasing title number seven is a high-pressure situation. But asked about representing his country in the biggest world team final for generations, Zmarzlik enthused: “Now this is pressure!
“Whenever you put on the kevlars with the colours of your country, you really want to do well. Warsaw is a special place for racing. What more can I say – let’s see what happens.”
Lambert reached his fourth straight Speedway GP podium. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning
Riga runner-up Lambert has now finished in the top two at the past four Speedway GPs and is pleased to have played his part in setting up an exciting finish to the title race.
He said: “It’s a great thing for people to be talking about – there’s some excitement around the top three. I’ll just ride my bike and do the best I can, and we’ll see where it leaves me at the end of the season. It seems to be going well at the moment. I am happy with that, and I am in a nice, comfortable position going into the last two.”
Brady Kurtz took third spot in Riga. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning
Third-placed Kurtz was pleased to fight his way to a seventh straight final. Despite losing top spot to Zmarzlik, he knows the Speedway GP championship battle can swing in a heartbeat.
He said: “It’s only one final away from being back to exactly where we were before Saturday. I am not really too concerned about that. There are a lot of races to go, and a lot can happen between now and Torun.
“Racing in the LCQ is never ideal. I was just grateful to get through that and get into the final. It wasn’t my best. I made a decent start off four and thought I might have had a chance. Gate one was just way too good, but congratulations to Bartek.
“I am looking forward to a bit of a break now with the World Cup coming up, which will be cool. We’ll worry about Vojens when the time comes.”
TOP TEN POINT STANDINGS
Speedway GP World Championship top-ten point standings: Bartosz Zmarzlik 129; Brady Kurtz 125; Robert Lambert 119; Michael Jepsen Jensen 88; Patryk Dudek 81; Kacper Woryna 78; Leon Madsen 72; Max Fricke 71; Andzejs Lebedevs 60; Jason Doyle 59.
