Polish star Bartosz Zmarzlik was pleased to defy his Friday crash to reach the ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester R4 podium on Saturday.
Zmarzlik reached the final on both nights of the National Speedway Stadium double-header. After cruising through to Friday’s final automatically by topping the heat score chart, the 31-year-old crashed on the first turn after running out of room as he raced Max Fricke to the dirt line.
The Lublin and Lejonen man was disqualified from the rerun, but he overcame a difficult start to Saturday’s round to hit back with third spot in an epic final, which saw Aussie ace Brady Kurtz win to claim the Speedway GP World Championship lead.
Having been left nursing the effects of Friday’s fall, Zmarzlik was content to leave Manchester with third place on Saturday.
He said: “It was really tough on Saturday for me. I am happy because I was in the final again, which is the minimum plan. Congrats to the boys – they did better work than me in the final. I think we made it a good show for the people in the final. Brady was the smartest in that race.
“I was happy because after Friday, I felt good, but not 100 percent after my crash. I am feeling like I would after a crash. It’s nothing special, but I am feeling it on the left side of my body.
“Maybe my instinct in the final after two laps was to take the safer and more comfortable line because I didn’t want to fall on it again, so making the podium is good.
“Friday was different to Saturday. I started Friday’s meeting really fast, but on Saturday, I started the meeting really slowly. When I changed the bike, I came back into the fight on the night.”