Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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IN THE WIND P42 Kolodziej Tops Czech World Speedway GP P olish racer Janusz Kolodziej admits becoming an FIM Speedway Grand Prix winner has boosted his belief on the world stage after triumphing at the ANLAS Czech Republic SGP in Prague, Saturday, June 15. Kolodziej raced to the first SGP win of his career on his first final-round appearance since 2010, beating Leon Madsen, Patryk Dudek and Jason Doyle in the decider. Dudek holds the top spot in the World Championship—level on 40 points with Madsen—as the pair maintained their record of reaching every final this year. Kolodziej underlined the class that has taken him to three Polish Championships with an unforget- table performance in Prague to notch 15 points, putting him sev- enth in the standings on 26. And having recorded his maiden SGP victory, Kolodziej says he has the belief to chase further success. Kolodziej may have won two FIM Speedway World Cups with his country and back-to-back PGE Ekstraliga titles with Lesz- no, but his Prague success is a special moment for the Tarnow- born man. "I am proud, and I thanked God when I raced in the final because I had the best start. I finished first, and now I can be happy with my work, my team and everybody. There were many people from Poland. Prague is a very nice city and many people from Poland like this place. There were so many Polish fans, and I felt everything. I saw all the flags." Madsen was pleased to maintain his sublime start to SGP life as he made it three finals in as many rounds in what is his full- time debut season. "It's great," he said. "Now I have a first, second, and third place. I've been in the final and on the podium in my first three GPs. I am very happy. Third-placed Dudek—the new World Championship leader by virtue of his superior FIM rank- ing over Madsen—admitted his ANLAS Czech SGP was no easy night. He battled his way into the semi-finals on nine points, before making it into the final after Emil Sayfutdinov dropped a chain while holding second place. Missing from the GP was cur- rent world champion Tai Woffin- den who suffered a back injury along with a broken shoulder blade in a crash in Poland a week earlier. John Hipkiss Final 1. Janusz Kolodziej (15) 2. Leon Madsen (14) 3. Patryk Dudek (12) 4. Jason Doyle (12) 5. Max Fricke (13) Janusz Kolodziej, here leading Patryk Dudek, Leon Madsen and Jason Doyle, captured his first career Speedway Grand Prix win in the Czech Republic.