ONE IN A DECADE CLASH IN GLASGOW

ONE IN A DECADE CLASH

Great Britain joint team manager Oliver Allen has hailed Lions’ clash with Poland in Glasgow next Tuesday as “possibly the biggest test for over a decade.”

The Lions and Poles battle it out for Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations gold in Manchester on Saturday and Sunday, with Sweden, Denmark, Australia, Latvia and France also lining up in the Final.

But after that showdown at the National Speedway Stadium, the Brits and Poles head north to Glasgow’s Ashfield Stadium, where two star-studded six-man sides will battle it out in the Global Challenge series.

Triple world champion Tai Woffinden and 2020 European champion Robert Lambert lead the Lions into action and they are joined by GP Challenge finalists Dan Bewley and Adam Ellis, plus Tom Brennan and Jordan Palin.

Double world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik spearheads the Polish team along with Maciej Janowski, Dominik Kubera and Tobiasz Musielak. World Under-21 champion Jakub Miskowiak and Wiktor Lampart complete the line-up.

Allen can’t wait to see his stars follow up their Monster Energy SON Final showdown with a big test in Scotland.

He said: “It’s a huge clash for Great Britain, possibly the biggest test for over a decade. But, most importantly, it’s the first chance we’ve had to run a Global Challenge since the end of 2019 against Denmark.

“There’s little doubt that Poland are the best team in the world as a six-rider team. They have incredible strength in depth.

“I see no reason why we should fear any team in the world. We have so much talent and potential and over the next couple of years we will have the next generation knocking on the door for team places.”

Glasgow director Peter Facenna is delighted to attract a huge event to Ashfield. He said: “We are naturally very proud to be able to stage a meeting of this stature. Although there has been a big financial investment into the club, this meeting is a credit to the army of volunteers who make the club tick from week to week. This is about the passion and dedication of all the people involved in Glasgow Speedway to make this happen.

“I know I’m biased but I believe that Ashfield has become the best race track in the UK. I’m aware of how good Belle Vue is, but we have delivered sensational, close racing for some time now.

“It’s not just me saying that. The riders who excelled in the Grand Prix qualifier like Tobiasz Musielak, Chris Holder and Nicolai Klindt all felt Ashfield should be a GP track. Those who watched the live stream around the world complimented us on just how good the racing was. Now we get the opportunity to see the best in the world battling around Ashfield.

“It is also a hugely significant meeting for Great Britain. We have been proud and delighted to back GB. We believe in their professionalism and goals and will help that as much as we can.

“We just hope that fans around the UK will come to Ashfield. It would be great to pack the place out. It has not been easy in a logistical or financial sense to put this on, but we believe it will be worth it.

“We also want Polish fans to support their side. They have come to Glasgow to back Musielak and more recently our excellent signing Marcin Nowak. It has all the ingredients of a fantastic event.”