BELLE Vue captain Brady Kurtz leads the World Championship after winning Saturday’s FIM ATPI Speedway Grand Prix of Manchester in one of the series’ all-time great Finals.
Kurtz, who had added 18 points to his title challenge when finishing runner-up to Max Fricke on Friday, came from last to first in an extraordinary climax to a weekend packed with top-quality action, and it saw him overhaul defending champion Bartosz Zmarzlik in the overall standings.
Kurtz, who was in fourth place on the first lap, got the better of Michael Jepsen Jensen, Zmarzlik and Sheffield star Jack Holder in a race which will live long in the memory for all in attendance at the National Speedway Stadium.
It was Danish star Jepsen Jensen who led away before Zmarzlik generated speed to shoot through to the front off the exit of the fourth bend – but on the second lap, Kurtz got back into contention and at the midway stage of the race it was Kurtz, Zmarzlik and Jepsen Jensen virtually three abreast down the home straight before Kurtz emerged ahead.
There was further drama on turn three as the challenge of Zmarzlik was halted by Jepsen Jensen, who firmly closed the door meaning Zmarzlik had to spend the final lap recovering a podium place at the expense of Holder.
It was a fitting conclusion to a marvellous weekend, and after showing encouraging signs on Friday Jepsen Jensen became a genuine challenger for the win, often making passing moves using the inside line off turn four.
Kurtz raced to maximum points in his opening four outings to book his place in the Final, and he could even afford a surprise last place in Heat 20 although it did cost him gate choice to Jepsen Jensen.
Holder and Zmarzlik had a tougher route through, although Holder did lead those who made it into the Last Chance Qualifiers on countback after he, Zmarzlik and surprise package Jan Kvech all scored ten points.
Holder and Kvech both had two race wins to Zmarzlik’s one, and the countback between Holder and Kvech was in Holder’s favour as he had two second places to Kvech’s one, with both riders having first choice in their respective LCQs.
Both races threw up terrific action with Holder having to go as wide as possible to overcome his challengers, including Robert Lambert who had made a good start, whilst Zmarzlik found himself in third place in his LCQ before bursting between Jason Doyle and Jan Kvech to claim the all-important victory.
But after four frantic laps in the Final it was Kurtz who emerged on top, and he now heads to his Polish home track of Wroclaw on June 20 with a three-point lead over Zmarzlik, whilst Holder is also nicely placed in third.
Kurtz said: “I really don’t know what happened, I haven’t seen the replay! I made an awful start, but I was actually quite confident with gate four that if I could get to the outside I knew I had a lot of speed.
“It took me a few laps to get up there, but I found my way through. Michael and Bartek were both going left and right and I didn’t really know where to go, but I saw some space and suddenly I was in front!
“I’m super happy with it, and it’s mega to have so much support somewhere that’s not your home country. I’m really grateful for that, so thanks to all the fans who were here.”
With a memorable Grand Prix weekend reaching its conclusion, attention will switch back to league business with the ATPI Aces back in action on Monday June 15 when they host Leicester.
FIM ATPI SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX OF GREAT BRITAIN – MANCHESTER
1 Brady Kurtz (Australia)
2 Michael Jepsen Jensen (Denmark)
3 Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland)
4 Jack Holder (Australia)
QUALIFYING SCORES: Michael Jepsen Jensen 14, Brady Kurtz 12, Jack Holder 10, Jan Kvech 10, Bartosz Zmarzlik 10, Max Fricke 9, Kai Huckenbeck 8, Kacper Woryna 8, Robert Lambert 8, Jason Doyle 7, Leon Madsen 7, Patryk Dudek 5, Anders Thomsen 4, Andzejs Lebedevs 4, Tom Brennan 3, Nazar Parnitskyi 1.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: Kurtz 65, Zmarzlik 62, Holder 55, Jepsen Jensen 45, Woryna 44, Fricke 42, Lambert 42, Doyle 37, Madsen 35, Dudek 29, Lebedevs 23, Dan Bewley 18, Kvech 18, Thomsen 18, Dominik Kubera 17, Fredrik Lindgren 12, Huckenbeck 10, Partnitskyi 10.