Zmarzlik gloriously wins fifth Grand Prix world title as Lambert takes first GP

Bartosz Zmarzlik won his fifth championship in Round 10 of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix after putting in near-perfect performances around Vojens, Denmark.

The Polish rider made history by winning three titles back-to-back and also became the first rider in the Grand Prix era to win five titles on a night when Robert Lambert won his maiden Speedway Grand Prix.

An excellent weekend for the now five-time world champion saw him wrap up the title a round early as rival Fredrik Lindgren failed to make a mark in Vojens.

Zmarzlik said: “This is really unbelievable because all the titles are so different.

“Now it’s so different because I think I made a hat-trick, year-on-year.

“It’s such a nice feeling and really I say for everyone here this one is so different, this title is so nice.

“All the time fighting, about five years, have been really hard for the family, hard for the team, hard for everyone who has been around me.

“A lot of big thanks for all the people around me, and of course the love to my wife and kids because she really understands and has been a big help.

“This is really unbelievable, I don’t really know what to say now because the last two months I haven’t had a life.

“I was thinking all the time about rides and corners and making the starts and laps.

“Life was hard but now I think it’s great.”

Zmarzlik made an excellent comeback by winning Round 9 in Latvia after dropping points the two rounds before, but a glorious performance in Vojens put him clear of the pack.

The newly crowned five-time world champion started the evening off with solid rides, earning eight points after 12 heats on the hunt for another title.

Zmarzlik put in near-perfect performances throughout the evening, narrowly missing first place in Heat 14 and settling for second in a number of heats.

Second did not matter to Zmarzlik, however, as he came on top in the end due to his consistent rides around Vojens.

Lindgren failed to put up a fight, as the battle for the title came to a halt as Zmarzlik outperformed his rivals.

Zmarzlik’s brilliant performance in his semi-final ride saw him win comfortably after leading from start to finish.

Lambert ensured Zmarzlik was not the only rider celebrating in Denmark, as he made a blistering start from gate three and led all the way in the final.

Zmarzlik came home in second place to secure an unassailable lead with one round remaining in the season, in Torun on September 28.