EUROPEAN PREVIEW - SEC / FIME U19 / Ekstraliga

Image courtesy of Taylor Lanning Photography

The unique German venue stages the only meeting outside Poland in this year’s series, and often throws up surprise results which have a big impact on the overall scoreboard.

Bewley goes into the meeting four points off leader Piotr Pawlicki after his brilliant third place in Bydgoszcz last week, whilst Lambert is seven points behind the Pole after an eight-point score in the opener.

Gustrow is familiar territory for Lambert and he claimed a memorable victory in just his second-ever SEC event back in 2018 – a similar result this weekend would likely put him back amongst the series leaders at the halfway stage.

Round one winner Leon Madsen has never won at Gustrow, although he has finished second in both of his last two appearances, but Pawlicki struggled when he last visited in 2018.

Home favourite Kai Huckenbeck is likely to be a significant factor in the meeting, along with current high-flyers Mikkel Michelsen and Patryk Dudek, whilst Nicki Pedersen is back after pulling out injured after two rides in Bydgoszcz.
Meanwhile, four of the top Great Britain youngsters have a big date in the Czech Republic as they compete in the second FIM European Under-19 qualifier.

Drew Kemp, Jordan Palin, Leon Flint and Nathan Ablitt will all be racing at Divisov, with five places available for the Final in Latvia on August 7.

Dan Gilkes rode in the first qualifier and has booked his place at reserve for that meeting having finished sixth on the day – whilst Kemp and Palin are looking to reach the Final for a second year in succession.

Prior to the SEC, Lambert goes into PGE Ekstraliga action on Friday as Torun host Leszno with points still required from both sides in Round 10 of the competition.

Lambert, who will face his SEC rival Pawlicki along with Emil Sayfutdinov and Jason Doyle, lines up at No.8 for Torun who are second from bottom in the table, just one point ahead of Grudziadz with five matches remaining.

Doyle is on loan from Torun to Leszno and was victorious last weekend in the individual Riders’ Championship on his old home track.

Torun are on a five-match losing run and face a Leszno side who are clinging onto a top-four place but are under threat from Czestochowa, who visit bottom club Zielona Gora on Sunday.

Friday’s other meeting features second-placed Gorzow at home to Grudziadz, who have recalled Krzysztof Kasprzak to race on his old track.

A win for Gorzow would take them top for 48 hours, but leaders Wroclaw have the chance to respond on Sunday when they host Lublin, who are themselves in the play-off zone and will take a 52-38 advantage into the meeting for the bonus point.

Wroclaw trio Tai Woffinden, Maciej Janowski and Gleb Chugunov have all been involved in crashes over the last week, but all are declared in the line-up for the home side, with Bewley and Artem Laguta completing their powerful top five.

It’s a weekend of rearranged fixtures in Division One and there is a massive clash on Sunday as new leaders Rybnik take on third-placed Ostrow, with just one point between them. Elsewhere, Lodz host Bydgoszcz as both look to pull further clear of seemingly doomed Tarnow at the bottom – whilst Lodz are also at Gniezno on Friday afternoon.

There are two fixtures in Division Two with second meeting third as Rawicz host Poznan on Saturday whilst an all-German clash on Sunday sees Landshut go up against Wittstock.

Meanwhile in Sweden Lambert was the hero for Lejonen in a 46-44 win over Vastervik on Tuesday.
Lambert scored 11+2 for the home side and won the vital Heat 15 over Viktor Kulakov and the previously unbeaten Artem Laguta to secure victory.

Elsewhere Rospiggarna defeated Dackarna 48-42 thanks to a maximum from Huckenbeck, whilst Smederna won 47-43 at Piraterna, with Adam Ellis scoring 7+1 for the hosts, and Indianerna were victorious by the same scoreline at Vetlanda.