ROUND 3/MAY 4, 2013
ULLEVI STADIUM/GOTHENBERG, SWEDEN
WORLD SPEEDWAY
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
JOHN HIPKISS
R
ussian sensation Emil
Sayfutdinov dedicated his
Fogo Swedish FIM Speedway Grand Prix triumph to his late
father Damir after he lost his fight
with cancer shortly before the
race in Gothenburg on Saturday
night.
The 23-year-old produced
a breathtaking, last-lap swoop
around World Champion Chris
Holder to top the rostrum and
add to the win he claimed in Bydgoszcz on April 20.
Sayfutdinov missed his Polish club Czestochowa's home
meeting with Leszno last Sunday
P88
WORLD SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX SERIES
to stay at his father's bedside in
Russia. But the Salavat-born racer opted to return to the track at
the Ullevi Stadium and produced
a courageous, daredevil, and
lightening-quick performance.
The 2009 Gothenburg winner,
who was unaware of the tragic
news until after the post-meeting
press conference, was delighted
to triumph in Sweden again, and
hopes the victory will comfort
his family at this most difficult of
times.
"When I was at home, I said to
my dad, 'I'll win this for you.' I did
that. My family will feel much better for this hopefully."
Sayfutdinov has been inundated with messages of support
TRAG
VICTO
Sayfutdinov wins
one for his father
Nicki Pedersen
finished third
on the night in
Sweden.