Great Britain racer Robert Lambert believes he can be the rider to end Bartosz Zmarzlik’s two-year streak at the Speedway GP World Championship summit, but knows he faces plenty of competition in Croatia tonight.
The former European champion goes into the Boll FIM Speedway GP of Croatia bidding to build on his second place at Speedway Stadion Milenium a year ago.
Zmarzlik has won both of the last two season-openers in Croatia and has now led the SGP standings uninterrupted since April 30, 2022.
Having come close to taking top spot himself last year, Lambert would love to go one better and claim his first-ever Speedway GP win in the process.
Asked if he felt he could be the rider to end Zmarzlik’s reign at the top tonight, he said: “I believe I can be actually. I am feeling good at the beginning of the season, and I am looking forward to getting things underway. I know that I can beat everyone, and it doesn’t matter whether that’s Bartek or anyone else – all the guys in the SGP series are strong, they can win races and they are fast.
“You can never underestimate anyone. It’s just about who can get to that first corner first in the final, and I believe I am quick enough to stay in front.”
Unlike fellow GB stars Tai Woffinden and Dan Bewley, Lambert has opted not to race in the UK this year, meaning they have competed in more league matches.
The Norfolk-born man has raced three matches for Polish team Torun and scored nine paid 11 points as his side lost 53-37 away to Lublin on Friday night, before making the 10-hour trek to Donji Kraljevec overnight. But Lambert insists he has still had plenty of time on the bike.
He said: “In Poland, I have done just as much racing as the guys in Britain have. We did six test meetings and 10 practice sessions. It’s not that I haven’t been on the bike. I have been on the bike and testing things. That may not have been in meetings, but we we’ve had six sparring and three league meetings.
“I don’t think not being in Britain is a disadvantage. I have still got the riding in and had bike time. It gives me a bit of time at the beginning of the season before Sweden starts to test things, practice and try to be a bit more prepared and ready for the season.”
Lambert is determined to deliver another big night in Croatia on a Speedway Stadion Milenium track that he admits was not previously a favourite.
“Mostly I haven’t really been a fan of the track,” he admitted. “I don’t know what happened last year. It just kind of clicked for me. I felt really comfortable on the track, and it was working. I don’t know if that was due to the rain and everyone else was struggling a little bit.
“I managed to push a little bit harder in the rain and come away with a good result. Now we have some fond memories of the place and now I can put that into this weekend.”
As one of Speedway GP’s tighter and more technical circuits, riders with British racing experience can often thrive in Croatia. And Lambert hopes his days honing his craft in the UK will pay dividends.
He said: “My years of riding on the tight, grippy and technical tracks and growing up in that environment definitely pays off and helps when it comes to the smaller tracks such as Croatia or Vojens, or when we have the indoor tracks like Cardiff and Warsaw.
“It plays a key role and maybe I am able to turn the bike a little bit better than some of those who grew up in Poland.
“It’s definitely an advantage for me and, just because I don’t race in the UK, it doesn’t mean I have forgotten how to do it and bring it into play on these technical tracks.”
