SGP: Holder second in Sweden
The reigning world champion led almost all the way in the Gothenburg final before being passed three corners from home by Russian Emil SayfutdinovAustralia’s Chris Holder finished second in the Swedish Speedway Grand Prix on May 4, but it was a dirty night for his compatriot Darcy Ward who will miss the next four rounds after breaking his collarbone.
Holder admits he didn’t have the pace to match eventual winner, Russian Emil Sayfutdinov – but it was a close call with the Russian robbing him of what would have been his fifth SGP victory just three turns from the chequered flag.
“My gating was probably the best it has been all year. I was really happy with that, but Emil was so much quicker,” said Holder. “I was trying to race the line that he was on, but I wasn’t quick enough so I had to change. As soon as I changed, he went straight around me. Fair play to him; he was on it and he was the quickest guy here.
“To make a final in this field is a good achievement. Maybe I’m not so happy now, but tomorrow I will be happy with second. The bikes are going well.”
Meanwhile, Sayfutdinov dedicated his triumph to his late father Damir after he lost his fight with cancer shortly before the meeting.
The 23-year-old produced a breathtaking last-lap swoop around Holder to top the rostrum and add to the gold medal he claimed in Bydgoszcz (Poland) on April 20.
He said: “When I was at home, I said to my dad ‘I’ll win this for you.’ I did that. My family will feel much better for this hopefully.
“Everyone has helped me this week with sending messages and thank you very much to all my sponsors and fans who have done that. I can’t say enough to thank them. So many fans applauded and congratulated me after the final. It means a lot.”
Emil’s father was a keen motocross and ice speedway rider.
Dane Nicki Pedersen picked up an heroic third place ahead of Jaroslaw Hampel, despite injuring his left arm in a semi-final fall with Britain’s Tai Woffinden.
The next grand prix will be held in Prague on May 18.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
SWEDISH SGP SCORES: 1 Emil Sayfutdinov 17, 2 Chris Holder 14, 3 Nicki Pedersen 12, 4 Jaroslaw Hampel 15, 5 Tai Woffinden 12, 6 Niels-Kristian Iversen 10, 7 Matej Zagar 9, 8 Tomasz Gollob 9, 9 Greg Hancock 8, 10 Antonio Lindback 8, 11 Krzysztof Kasprzak 7, 12 Linus Sundstrom 6, 13 Fredrik Lindgren 5, 14 Andreas Jonsson 3, 15 Martin Vaculik 3, 16 Dennis Andersson 0, 17 Mathias Thornblom 0, 18 Darcy Ward 0.
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