Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1125433
IN THE WIND P36 Zmarzlik Powers To Krsko Speedway Glory A second-lap move from Bartosz Zmarzlik secured the Polish star victory at the Slovenian FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Krsko, June 1, with Martin Vaculik forced to settle for second. Zmarzlik switched underneath initial race leader Vaculik on the second lap to secure his fourth Grand Prix win, and he consequently jumped to the top of the 2019 FIM World Championship stand- ings, level on points with compatriot Patryk Dudek. Zmarzlik dropped just two points on his way to a 13-point haul from his five heats, before booking a spot in the final when he finished second to Leon Madsen. A hesitant start in the Grand Final by Madsen granted Vaculik the lead in the evening's final race, but Zmarzlik, who scored 10 points in the series' opening round at the PGE Naradowy, switched lines on the second lap to take the lead. Zmarzlik failed to get too carried away by his ef- forts in Krsko. Instead, he immediately channeled his focus on the Czech Republic FIM Speedway Grand Prix in a fortnight's time in Prague. Zmarzlik said, "I'm very happy, this place has been a little unlucky for me before. But I can leave here and head home very happy. Today was a dif- ferent day for me. Zmarzlik's win has promoted him to the top of the World Championship standings, while Slovenian FIM Speedway Grand Prix runner up Martin Vaculik moved up to fourth after registering 17 points in Krsko. Vaculik initially set the pace at the Stadion Matije Gubca. Two wins from his opening three heats meant he topped the standings after 12 heats. But dropping a point to eventual winner Zmarzlik in heat 16 meant he concluded his five rides with 13 points. The Zielona Gora star rounded off his Slovenian campaign with second-place finishes in the semi- final two and the final itself. Admitting that Zmarzlik held the upper hand throughout the evening, Vaculik expressed his de- light by leaving Krsko with 17 points to his name. "Congratulations to Bartosz Zmarzlik, he was unbelievably fast tonight," Vaculik said. CN OVERALL 1. Bartosz Zmarzlik (18) 2. Martin Vaculik (17) 3. Leon Madsen (13) 4. Patryk Dudek (12) 5. Emil Sayfutdinov (13) Bartosz Zmarzlik (bottom) and Leon Madsen celebrate on the podium at the Slovenian round of the 2019 FIM Speedway GP Series. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRSKO SPEEDWAY GP