2022 FIM Speedway GP of Poland
Danish racer Anders Thomsen celebrated an unforgettable night for Gorzow in style as he stormed to his first-ever FIM Speedway Grand Prix win on Saturday.
1. Anders Thomsen 20
2. Martin Vaculik 18
3. Bartosz Zmarzlik 16
Thomsen topped the podium in the 3W FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow at Edward Jancarz Stadium, heading a Stal Gorzow one-two-three with PGE Ekstraliga team mates Martin Vaculik and Bartosz Zmarzlik in front of a lively, 14,000-strong crowd in one of the world’s top track-racing stadiums.
Thomsen was elated with a victory that saw him defeat two riders with two Gorzow wins apiece to their name, as well as Polish star Patryk Dudek, who took fourth place.
Anders Thomsen
“I know that around here they are pretty fast! It’s not so often you see someone beat Bartek on his home track. I have some equipment that is working pretty well at the moment. It’s an amazing feeling to win the Grand Prix at my home club in Gorzow. I am overwhelmed. It was amazing to be on the podium with Bartek and Martin. I know them pretty well. We race together here and we are really good friends. To be in the final together is amazing. I know Bartek flies around here and winning against him is also good for me. I am really happy.”
Thomsen is now seventh in the Speedway GP standings on 49 points – just four short of Vaculik, who is third on 53.
The Vojens rider is now hopeful he can find a consistent run of form after reaching one semi-final in the previous three rounds following his fourth place at the opening event in Croatia.
Thomsen marked the biggest victory of his career so far with a celebration that will live long in Gorzow legend as he pulled off his kevlars to take a victory lap in his underwear.
Thomsen admits it isn’t the first time he has celebrated in that style. “Actually the first time I won a Danish Final, I did the same! It was a team final in Munkebo. Me and my friends said we should take off the clothes and do one lap for live TV. So we did that and we appeared on the biggest sports programme in Denmark! I won the big prize for the best celebration on TV!”
Second-placed Vaculik was elated to join two team mates and close friends on the Gorzow rostrum as he celebrated his second podium in three rounds.
Third-placed Zmarzlik extended his Speedway GP World Championship lead to 18 points with his eighth SGP final appearance at the Edward Jancarz Stadium.
Jason Doyle was the top scoring Aussie with nine points giving him eighth for the round while countrymen Jack Holder and Max Fricke scored six and one point respectively.
The Speedway GP series resumes with the blockbuster FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff on Saturday, August 13 as the Principality Stadium hosts its 20th SGP event, with the FIM SGP2 of Great Britain for the sport’s under-21 stars taking place on Sunday, August 14.
But first, the focus switches to the FIM Speedway of Nations as 15 countries battle it out to become world team champions over four nights of epic racing in Danish seaside city Esbjerg from July 27-30.
2022 FIM Speedway GP of Poland
Round Five – Gorzow Scores
- Anders Thomsen 20
- Martin Vaculik 18
- Bartosz Zmarzlik 16
- Patryk Dudek 14
- Dan Bewley 12
- Robert Lambert 11
- Leon Madsen 10
- Jason Doyle 9
- Mikkel Michelsen 8
- Tai Woffinden 7
- Jack Holder 6
- Fredrik Lindgren 5
- Pawel Przedpelski 4
- Szymon Wozniak 3
- Maciej Janowski 2
- Max Fricke 1
2022 FIM Speedway Grand Prix Championship Standings
- Bartosz Zmarzlik 78
- Leon Madsen 60
- Martin Vaculik 53
- Maciej Janowski 53
- Fredrik Lindgren 51
- Tai Woffinden 50
- Anders Thomsen 49
- Patryk Dudek 49
- Robert Lambert 47
- Jason Doyle 44
- Dan Bewley 44
- Mikkel Michelsen 42
- Max Fricke 33
- Jack Holder 32
- Pawel Przedpelski 19
- Matej Zagar 11
- Kai Huckenbeck 7
- Maksym Drabik 4
- Szymon Wozniak 3
- Jan Kvech 1
