EUROPEAN PREVIEW

There are several important fixtures in the race for the play-offs and the battle to remain in the league, although there is no doubt about the leadership.

Lublin have a maximum 20 points from nine matches so far, with the defending champions having dominated the 2024 campaign.

Their next test comes with an away match at Torun on Sunday, where they also hold a 53-37 advantage for the bonus point.

Torun’s recent form has been disappointing, especially away from home, and they are currently just two points clear of the bottom of the table despite being in fifth place.

Robert Lambert has starred for Torun this year and he will be keen for another big result against a Lublin team consisting of a host of SoN riders, including Bartosz Zmarzlik, Dominik Kubera, Jack Holder and Fredrik Lindgren.
The latter two riders have missed meetings in the UK this week after falls during and after last week’s Grand Prix in Gorzow, but both have been named in Sunday’s line-up and in their respective nations’ SoN teams.

Meanwhile Dan Bewley is in action for Wroclaw on Friday when they make the trip to Grudziadz, who are fighting to stay in the league and have won their last two home matches.

Bewley will face Australian star Max Fricke, and the visitors are set to bring in Francis Gusts to replace the injured Tai Woffinden. Wroclaw also hold a 53-37 lead for the bonus point.
Elsewhere on Friday, the teams in third and fourth places meet with Gorzow travelling to Czestochowa, having won the reverse fixture 48-42.

Mikkel Michelsen and Anders Thomsen will be part of the Danish trio for the SoN next week but they are on opposite teams on this occasion, where all three points for the home side would take them into the top three.

Sunday’s remaining meeting is another important one at the bottom as the current basement side Leszno make the trip to Zielona Gora, with three points up for grabs for the winners after a 45-45 draw the last time they met.

Leszno are boosted by the return of Janusz Kolodziej, whilst for Zielona Gora Jan Kvech and Piotr Pawlicki are back on the same side after being in opposition in King’s Lynn’s win over Birmingham on Thursday.

A full programme is scheduled on Metalkas 2. Ekstraliga, where the top four clubs are currently separated by just two points.

Leaders Ostrow travel to Rzeszow on Saturday, although they only lead by four points from a home win in the reverse fixture.

Poznan could take over at the top if they can keep up their winning run at home to Krosno, although the bonus point is in the visitors’ control as they lead 55-35.

Bydgoszcz are level on points with Poznan and they will expect to add three to their total against Gdansk on Sunday, as they won 27-21 in a curtailed away fixture earlier in the season.
That meeting features Tom Brennan for the visitors, who are seven points adrift at the foot of the table with only five matches remaining.

Finally, Rybnik are in fourth place, two points behind the leaders, and they have a home match against Lodz who are currently sixth, five points adrift of their hosts. Rybnik also won the reverse fixture 50-39.

There are three matches in the National Speedway League this weekend, starting with leaders Gniezno hosting Pila on Saturday, with Adam Ellis lining up at No.1 for the visitors.

Then on Sunday, bottom side Daugavpils face Opole, and the schedule is completed by Tarnow’s home match against Landshut.