Speedway’s Dan Bewley wins second Grand Prix

On an unbelievable night of speedway, West Cumbrian ace Dan Bewley won his second Grand Prix in a row – when all had seemed lost.

After 16 heats the 23-year-old former Workington rider was well down the field on just five points but a win on the very last qualifying heat put him through to the semi-final on count-back in eighth place.

He had the very last pick for gate positions in the second semi-final alongside Bartosz Zmarzlik and fellow countrymen Tai Woffinden and Robert Lambert.

But it was Bewley who stormed from the gate to beat Lambert and make the final alongside home favourite Maciej Janowski and Leon Madsen.

It had been a remarkable effort to make the final and it went even better for the crucial showdown as he tore away from the gate to lead and was never in danger as he swept clear and home.

In doing so he became the first rider to win two meetings this year after adding the Wroclaw Grand Prix to the British which he won two weeks ago.

Coming second overall was Madsen, putting him in a stronger position in his fight for the championship with Zmarzlik. Lambert stole third of Janowski right at the end, to complete the podium.

That second win lifted Bewley into third place in the Championship standings with three more events to go -Vojens in Denmark on September 10; Malila in Sweden on September 17 and back in Poland on October 1 at Torun.

Afterwards Bewley said: “It’s unbelievable really because my pits crew had to work really hard. I changed bikes halfway through, and although both are pretty similar the track was riding a bit different from what it does for League speedway meetings.

“It was great to get my first Grand Prix win at Cardiff but to follow-up again on my home track in Poland has been great.

“I know I’ve already qualified for next year’s series through finishing second in the Challenge but I didn’t want to rest on my laurels and wanted to win again after getting a taste for it.”

The World Championship standings after seven events are: