French international Dimitri Berge warmed up for the FIM Speedway of Nations in Torun with a huge victory in the famous Golden Helmet event at Czech club Pardubice on Sunday.
In the 77th staging of one of world speedway’s biggest open meetings, which brings the city to a standstill, Berge became its first-ever French winner, triumphing ahead of Latvian ace Andzejs Lebedevs after the Speedway GP star hit the front, only to suffer a mechanical defect on the final turn. Last year’s Golden Helmet winner Rasmus Jensen of Denmark took third place, with Poland’s Jakub Jamrog fourth.
Czech shooting star Adam Bednar was placed fifth after being disqualified from the final when he touched the tapes. Former Speedway GP world champion and three-time Golden Helmet winner Jason Doyle was ranked sixth after being disqualified following a collision with Lebedevs.
The consolation final was won by Australian international Ryan Douglas ahead of ahead of compatriot Sam Masters in second, Britain’s Adam Ellis in third, Germany’s Norick Blodorn in fourth and Swedish international Timo Lahti in fifth place. SGP2 champion Nazar Parnitskyi was a non-starter in the race.
There was German success in Saturday’s Golden Ribbon under-21 event in Pardubice, with Mario Hausl topping the podium ahead of Poland’s 2024 SGP3 champion Maksymilian Pawelczak in second and Blodorn in third place.