EUROPEAN PREVIEW: SEC - Lodz

Image courtesy of Steve Hone Photography

Bewley is third in the World Championship standings after his wins at Cardiff and Wroclaw, but as far as the SEC is concerned he cannot realistically challenge for the title as he missed the first round due to injury.

However, a top five finish overall is still a possibility, which would secure a place in the 2023 series, and another box to tick is the fact that he has yet to win a round of the competition, having finished third on three occasions including at Gustrow last month.

Bewley collected 12 points in Germany which leaves him six behind fifth-placed Bartosz Smektala.
The title race itself appears to be a four-way battle between Janusz Kolodziej (29), Patryk Dudek (26), Mikkel Michelsen (25) and Leon Madsen (25) as the series visits Lodz for the first time.

Adam Ellis, who has scored five points in the opening two rounds, is also named in the line-up for what should be his first meeting back since he was injured in the British GP three weeks ago.

It’s also a crucial weekend in the Polish Eskstraliga with the play-off semi-finals taking place on Friday and Sunday.

The top four sides in the regular league table have qualified after the quarter-finals, which involved all teams, and the action gets underway with Gorzow hosting Czestochowa, followed by Torun taking on Lublin.

Lambert will be in action for Torun against his former club, although they will be clear underdogs against a Lublin side who have dominated the season so far.

In the regular stages of the campaign, Lublin were 48-42 winners at Torun, before taking a 55-35 victory on their own circuit, where Torun relied heavily on Lambert and Patryk Dudek.

The battle to reach the Ekstraliga also continues on Sunday with the second leg of the play-off semi-finals in Division One.

Zielona Gora are strong favourites to make the Final as they hold a 55-35 advantage as they head to Bydgoszcz, with thoughts remaining with the seriously injured Adrian Miedzinski who remains in intensive care after his crash in the first leg.

Meanwhile the other semi-final is well poised as Krosno face a 41-49 deficit ahead of their home clash with Lodz.

Division Two takes a break this weekend with the first leg of the Final between Poznan and Opole scheduled for September 11.

In Sweden, the teams finishing third to sixth in the regular Bahaus-Ligan table have completed the first leg of their play-off quarter-finals.

Both ties have resulted in a heavy advantage, as Rospiggarna secured a 59-31 win at home to Vastervik with Victor Palovaara scoring a six-ride paid maximum (15+3).

The margin of victory there was something of a surprise whilst at Kuma, Dackarna were 49-41 winners in their away leg against Indianerna with Maciej Janowski (12+1) and Rasmus Jensen (11+1) leading the way.

The second legs take place on Tuesday September 6.