Zmarzlik heading for MILDURA
New SGP star Bartosz Zmarzlik ended his junior career in sublime style after securing the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship with a race to spare in Pardubice Czech Republic .
The GP Challenge winner went into the last round needing just 12 points to secure victory – and four straight race wins ensured he finished the job and became the third straight Pole to claim the prize.
Zmarzlik was third in his final ride, and lost out on second place on the day in a run-off with Denmark’s Anders Thomsen after they tied on 13.
But he’s unlikely to be too upset after a sensational season, which saw him make his Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup debut for Poland, earn Speedway Grand Prix qualification, win the Swedish Elitserien with Vetlanda and star for Gorzow in his homeland.
The meeting was won by Kjærgaard Danish SGP wild card Mikkel Michelsen on 14 points, meaning he tied on 34 championship points with Thomsen. The pair lined up in a run-off for silver, but disaster struck when Michelsen’s bike packed up at the start, allowing his compatriot a free shot at second spot.
Danish racer Mikkel Bech Jensen was fourth on the day with 12 points to secure joint fourth place overall with Torun SGP wild card Pawel Przedpelski, who blew his chance of a medal by bagging just seven points. Aussie starlet Max Fricke impressed on 11 to finish sixth in the championship. Along with Polish racer Przedpelski, he is young enough to take another shot at the title in 2016.
Australian Brady Kurtz ended up in 8th place in his debut in the World under 21 Championship final and showed he is a force to be reckoned with next year.
Now the attention turns to the 2015 Under 21 Team Speedway World Championship Final down under at Olympic Park Speedway Mildura on October 31st, were Australian legends Jason Crump and Leigh Adams learnt there craft.
Zmarzlik will be leading Poland’s charge along with new Speedway Grand Prix rider Pitor Pawlciki to defend there crown in Mildura but with Mikkelsen and Thomson in the Danish side and Fricke, Kurtz and Speedway World Cup rider Nick Morris in the Australian side its going to be one hell of a contest!
Tickets for the event are available from www.milduramotorcycleclub.org.au