SGP: Sayfutdinov triumphant in Sweden
Russian rider breaks six-year draught to claim victory in Swedish Speedway Grand PrixRussian speedway rider Emil Sayfutdinov enjoyed his first FIM Speedway Grand Prix win in six years recently, when the 29-year-old emerged victorious from Round 4 of the championship on July 6 in Hallstavik, Sweden.
Return to form
The win sees Sayfutdinov heading into the looming Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations Finals in Russia (July 20-21) equal top of the world championship standings, sharing 47 points with Poland's Patryk Dudek and Denmark's Leon Madsen.
It was a long-overdue return to form for Sayfutdinov, who had not stood on the top step of the podium since the British SGP in 2013. It was later that year that saw the Russian sustain an injury that would ultimately sideline him for the next three years, before his return to world competition in 2017.
Sayfutdinov rode strongly in the Norrbil Swedish Speedway Grand Prix, ultimately beating Slovakia's Martin Vaculik and Poland's Maciej Janowski to the line in the final.
Australia's Max Fricke was also hot on the place, the rider from Mansfield, Victoria, coming home in fourth to net himself 11 championship points.
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Short celebrations
However, with just five points separating the top six riders on the championship ladder, Sayfutdinov's celebrations in Sweden were short.
"It feels amazing. I have been working for that for a long time – six years. When I came back to the SGP series in 2017, it was hard for me. I had my goal and a plan, but it didn't work.
"Today everything worked very well and my team is also working very well, so I say thank you to them.
"I'll just keep going and looking forward. I scored some good points and now I am leader with Dudek and Madsen. I am really happy about that.
"But to be honest, I have now forgotten about today. I am just concentrating and I know we have a lot more rounds and heats to come. We need to keep scoring the points and it will be good."
Australian racer Jason Doyle, from Newcastle (NSW), finished in 11th place in Sweden, and now sits in 8th place in the championship standings with six rounds yet to run.
Norrbil Swedish Speedway Grand Prix results:
1. Emil Sayfutdinov, 17 points
2. Martin Vaculik, 16pts
3. Maciej Janowski 13pts
4. Max Fricke, 11pts
5. Matej Zagar, 10pts
6. Fredrik Lindgren, 10pts
7. Bartosz Zmarzlik, 8pts
8. Niels-Kristian Iversen, 8pts
9. Leon Madsen, 7pts
10. Oliver Berntzon, 7pts
11. Jason Doyle, 7pts
12. Patryk Dudek, 7pts
13. Antonio Lindback, 6pts
14. Artem Laguta, 5pts
15. Janusz Kolodziej, 3pts
16. Robert Lambert, 3pts
17. Pontus Aspgren, DNR
18. Kim Nilsson, DNR
Speedway Grand Prix Championship standings:
1. Emil Sayfutdinov, 47 points
2. Patryk Dudek, 47pts
3. Leon Madsen, 47pts
4. Bartosz Zmarzlik, 44pts
5. Martin Vaculik, 44pts
6. Fredrik Lindgren, 42pts
7. Niels-Kristian Iversen, 32pts
8. Jason Doyle, 30pts
9. Janusz Kolodziej, 29pts
10. Artem Laguta, 27pts
11. Matej Zagar, 27pts
12. Max Fricke, 27pts
13. Maciej Janowski, 24pts
14. Robert Lambert, 24pts
15. Antonio Lindback, 23pts
16. Tai Woffinden, 15pts
17. Bartosz Smektala, 10pts
18. Oliver Berntzon, 7pts
19. Vaclav Milik, 4pts
20. Matic Ivacic, 2pts
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