An opportunist second lap move from Bartosz Zmarzlik secured the Polish star victory at the Slovenian FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Krsko on Saturday, with Martin Vaculik forced to settle for second.
Zmarzlik switched underneath initial race leader Vaculik on the second lap to secure his fourth Grand Prix win, and he consequently jumped to the top of the World Championship standings ‰ÛÒ level on points with compatriot Patryk Dudek.
The Gorzow racer dropped just two points on his way to a 13-point haul from his five heats, before booking a spot in the final when finishing second to Boll Warsaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland runner up Leon Madsen.
A hesitant start in the Grand Final from Madsen granted Martin Vaculik the lead in the evening‰Ûªs final race. But Zmarzlik, who scored 10 points in the series‰Ûª opening round at the PGE Naradowy, switched lines on the second lap to take the lead.
Despite tasting his first victory since last year‰Ûªs Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix, Zmarzlik failed to get too carried away by his efforts in Krsko. Instead, he has immediately channelled his focus on the ANLAS Czech Republic FIM Speedway Grand Prix in a fortnight‰Ûªs time in Prague.
Zmarzlik said: ‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm very happy, this place has been a little unlucky for me before. But I can leave here and head home very happy. Today was a different day for me.
‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm starting with a different setup, and my starts are not bad. But this result is now history, and I‰Ûªm looking forward to the next round in Prague.
‰ÛÏAll the time I was looking at Martin Vaculik and thinking where he is likely to go. I wanted to make sure the bike was that little bit faster on the straight. Everything worked, and I‰Ûªm very happy to pick up the win.‰Û
