Slovak speedway driver Martin Vaculík took the final 3rd place in the prestigious Speedway GP. In the final race of the 10-part WC series in Torun, Poland, he did not advance to the finals, just like his competitor in the fight for bronze, Australian Jack Holder. He placed on the bronze level thanks to a higher number of points. This is a historic success for Vaculík and the Slovak speedway.
Vaculík collected a total of 125 points, Holder was two behind. “It’s a fantastic feeling, something unbelievable. I thank everyone who helped me to do this. Our team did a fantastic job throughout the season, a big thank you to all its members. I also thank my family, loved ones, fans and everyone who supported me.” stated Vaculík shortly after the semi-final race, in which he took a non-progressive 3rd place. He will put an end to a successful season on Sunday, October 8 at the race in Žarnovica.
Only the final race of the season decided the world champion, who once again became the Polish Bartosz Zmarzlik. In the four-man final, the interim leader of the overall ranking defeated his competitor in the fight for the title, Sweden’s Fredrik Lindgren, who also took second place in the overall ranking. For the 28-year-old Zmarzlik, it was his 23rd career victory, tying him with the record holder Jason Crump of Australia. In the 2023 season, he defended his championship title, which is his fourth in his career (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023).
In Speedway GP history, only Australian Ivan Mauger (6) and Swedes Tony Rickardsson (6) and Ove Fundin (5) have won more titles. “This title is significantly different from the previous ones. This time I felt that I simply had to win in Toruń after I was disqualified at the race in Vojense. This victory is all the more valuable because it was born in a fantastic environment. Toruń is an exceptional place and that “What we experience here cannot be experienced anywhere else,” said Zmarzlik.
Speedway GP, Torun, 10th round of the MS:1 series. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 20 points
2. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) 18
3. Leon Madsen (Dán.) 16
4. Patryk Dudek (Dan.) 14,
5. Martin VACULÍK (SR) 12
6. Robert Lambert (V. Brit.) 11
Final overall ranking (after 10 out of 10 races): 1. Bartosz Zmarzlik 158 points
2. Fredrik Lindgren 150
3. Martin VACULÍK 125
4. Jack Holder (Aus.) 123
5. Leon Madsen 111
6. Robert Lambert (V. Brit.) 108
7. Dan Bewley (V. Brit.)
8. Jason Doyle (Aus.) 96
9. Max Fricke (Aus.) 83
10. Patryk Dudek 76, 11. Tai Woffinden (Great Britain) 64, 12. Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 56, 13. Kim Nilsson (Sweden) 44, 14. Maciej Janowski (Poland) 43, 15. Anders Thomsen (Dan.) 36, 16. Andzejs Lebedevs (Lat.) 31
2023-09-30 19:36:19
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