Speedway Grand Prix of Croatia 2023 live stream/updates - Bartosz Zmarzlik triumphs in dramatic opener

Updated 29/04/2023 at 20:02 GMT

Speedway Grand Prix action is back on your TV screens for 2023 as the long winter break is over, and the race to beat Bartosz Zmarzlik begins. Zmarzlik has won three of the last four titles. The first round of the season takes place in Donji Kraljevec in Croatia. Follow all the action live here. Eurosport and discovery+ will be the home of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix in 2023.

Watch Zmarzlik lift world championship trophy in front of home crowd

Goodbye and thanks for joining us!

What a night of speedway that was! It was everything except predictable, though nothing could stop that man Bartosz Zmarzlik from getting his world championship defence off to the best possible start. And the best thing is it looks like there's no shortage of riders who've come into 2023 more motivated than ever to stop him, so be sure to join us in two weeks' times for the Warsaw Grand Prix!

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Championship standings after Round 1:

1 - Bartosz Zmarzlik - 20 points
2 - Robert Lambert - 18
3 - Fredrik Lindgren - 16
4 - Jason Doyle - 14
5 - Tai Woffinden - 12
6 - Mikkel Michelsen - 11
7 - Den Bewley - 10
8 - Martin Vaculik - 9
9 - Jack Holder - 8
10 - Max Fricke - 7
11 - Patryk Dudek - 6
12 - Anders Thomsen - 5
13 - Leon Madsen - 4
14 - Maciej Janowski - 3
15 - Kim Nilsson - 2
16 - Matej Zagar - 1

Final: Zmarzlik, Lambert, Lindgren, Doyle

It looked like a final that one one wanted to win, but it's that man Bartosz Zmarzlik - who - else who takes the first Grand Prix of the season! Predictably it was Zmarzlik and Jason Doyle who made the best start and Doyle looked destined to hit the front with his signature move round the outside, but just overdid it and slumped into the barrier to end his final after one turn. Zmarzlik nearly followed suit on the second bend but held on and from there it was a formality, whilst further back Robert Lambert claimed second despite the best efforts of Fredrik Lindgren.

Final gate selections

It was a much quicker gate selection this time around, Jason Doyle went first and you could've put your mortgage on him taking the outside gate. Bartosz Zmarlzlik was similarly decisive taking gate one, while Robert Lambert is the sole British representative in the final and will go off gate two. Frederik Lindgren just looks happy to be there, he's starting on gate three.

Semi-final 2: Zmarzlik, Bewley, Lindgren, Woffinden

Look away now British fans. Bartosz Zmarzlik's saved his best for last with an unbeateble start, Dan Bewley never looked good from gate two and was out the back by the turn one exit. Tai Woffinden looked nailed on for second but Frederik Lindgren caught him napping and sailed up the inside unhindered to book the final place in the final.

Semi-final 1: Michelsen, Lambert, Vaculik, Doyle

Don't say we didn't warn you Robert! Jason Doyle makes it three wins from three on the outside, with exactly the same swooping run that won him heats 8 and 18. Robert Lambert looked the faster rider over the four laps but just couldn't get close enough to try an overtake while Mikkel Michelsen and Martin Vaculik were out of the picture early on.

Semi-final picks

That debate over the semi-final gates was warranted - Lambert sprung a surprise picking first as he went gate two, leaving the outside open for Jason Doyle who's won twice from that position. Tai Woffinden had no such qaulams and went straight for the outside while Dan Bewley took an age to decide between gates one and two while Bartosz Zmarzlik looked delighted that he still had the inside gate available picking third.

Semi-final gates confirmed

Semi final 1 (inside to out): Michelsen, Lambert, Vaculik, Doyle

Semi final 2: Zmarzlik, Bewley, Lindgren, Woffinden

Eighth place confirmed

The countback's complete and Fredrik Lindgren has got the place over Jack Holder and Max Fricke. Both Aussies have shown real speed tonight but it's a remarkable recovery for Lindgren who scored just three points in his opening two rounds. It probably won't have too much effect on the night either way though, Lindgren will surely be saddled with the useless gate 3.

Semi-final picks

It's a conundrum for Robert Lambert and Tai Woffinden picking their semi-final gates, both the inside and outside gates have scored eight wins but gate four has just looked better and better and better as the night's progressed. You'd expect the second riders up will just pick the other gate, though Dan Bewley made it work from gate two against Zmarzlik in that last heat. It'll be a tough draw for whoever's going from gate three though, no one has won from there all night.

Standings after Heat 20:

That's the heats complete folks! Here's the top eight as it stands, though they're still working out who's eighth on countback. Martin Vaculik's safe in seventh though, and that eight doesn't include 2022 runner-up Leon Madsen:

1. Robert Lambert - 11 points
2. Tai Woffinden - 11
3. Dan Bewley - 10
4. Jason Doyle - 10
5. Bartosz Zmarzlik - 10
6. Mikkel Michelsen - 9
7. Martin Vaculik - 8
8. Jack Holder - 8

9 - Frederik Lindgren - 8
10 - Max Fricke - 8

Heat 20: Zmarzlik, Bewley, Lambert, Nilsson

Finally the gate four streak is broken, and it's that man Dan Bewley who does it with a monster start from gate two to book his place in the semi-finals. Kim Nilsson still had a great run up the back straight but pulled out of a run on Bartosz Zmarzlik, who finished second.

Watch: Heat 5 nightmare for Zmarzlik

Bartosz Zmarzlik can guarantee his place in the semi-finals in the final heat of the night, but had it all to do after this exclusion in heat five.

'He's human after all!' - Zmarzlik excluded after jumping start

Heat 19: Madsen, Michelsen, Woffinden, Holder

Shock, Jack Holder wins from you guessed it... gate four. There was drama down the back straight though as Leon Madsen dug in and rear-ended Mikkel Michelsen, allowing Tai Woffinden to grab a point.

Watch: Woffinden takes his first victory of the night

Not even a restart could stop Tai Woffinden in heat five

Woffinden wins Heat 5 after nearly making contact with Dudek

Heat 18: Dudek, Janowski, Zagar, Doyle

This is borderline unfair, the outside is proving such an advantage and this time it's Jason Doyle who takes advantage. Patryk Dudek did everything he could on the inside there but never had a chance of stopping the Australian, while last-placed wildcard Matej Zagar provided some entertainment for the crowd popping wheelie across the line on his final lap of the night.

Heat 17: Vaculik, Fricke, Thomsen, Lindgren

After a long pause on the tapes, it was again that long run from the outside that paid dividends, this time for Frederik Lindgren. Martin Vaculik was the early leader but and ran Lindgren as wide as possible on turn one but was lucky to stay on his bike as he straightened up on the first bend of the second lap and had a launch a mega wheelie to keep control, ceding second place to Max Fricke.

Dominance on the outside

It's always amusing seeing the riders line up to watch the box-office event that is the tractor doing laps of the track in between heat blocks, as the on-off rain continues in Croatia. Gate four was responsible for all four wins in that last block of heats, but the most wins have still come from the inside, the share of heat victories has been 8, 3, 0 and 5 from inside to out.

Standings after Heat 16:

With each rider having just one race to go, here's how it stands:

1. Robert Lambert - 11 points
2. Tai Woffinden - 10
3. Bartosz Zmarzlik - 8
4. Jason Doyle - 7
5. Martin Vaculik - 7
6. Dan Bewley - 7
7. Mikkel Michelsen - 7
8. Max Fricke - 6
9. Anders Thomsen - 5
10. Jack Holder - 5
11. Patryk Dudek - 5
12. Frederik Lindgren - 5
13. Leon Madsen - 4
14. Matej Zagar - 3
15. Maciej Janowski - 3
16. Kim Nilsson - 3

Heat 16: Dudek, Holder, Nilsson, Thomsen

Anders Thomsen was bottom of the pile going into this heat but anything can happen in grand prix speedway. The Dane locked on and launched down the back straight down the back straight on lap one, but still had to contend with Jack Holder in second, who threw everything at the leader but ultimately couldn't force the pass.

Heat 15: Doyle, Madsen, Lindgren, Zmarzlik

Jason Doyle had a nibble at the start allowing Frederik Lindgren the best start and the lead into turn one. Every single other heat of the night he retains the lead but Bartosz Zmarzlik had other ideas, reigning world champion just about clung on around the outside before slingshotting down the back straight to claim three points. Leon Madsen was championship runner-up in 2022 but has just four points tonight.

Heat 14: Janowski, Woffinden, Fricke, Lambert

Robert Lambert take a bow! The Brit had a stunning start from the outside while Janowski went backwards on the exit of the first corner allowing Tai Woffinden in second. Janowski's had a poor evening but picked up a point when Max Fricke lost control on lap three, crunching the Australian to ensure the pass.

Heat 13: Zagar, Michelsen, Bewley, Vaculik

Dan Bewley bounced straight back from a tough heat 12, from the unfancied gate three he was third after the opening turn and looked like he had the beating of Matej Zagar before the wildcard switched back on the opening straight of lap 2. Martin Vaculik needed a resutt sitting on the semi-final bubble in eighth and got it thanks to a brilliant start.

Standings after Heat 12:

We've now seen every rider race two races, so here's another look at the standings:

1. Robert Lambert - 8 points
2. Tai Woffinden - 8
3. Jason Doyle - 7
4. Mikkel Michelsen - 7
5. Dan Bewley - 6
6. Max Fricke - 6
7. Bartosz Zmarzlik - 5
8. Patryk Dudek - 5
9. Martin Vaculik - 4
10. Leon Madsen - 3
11. Jack Holder - 3
12. Frederik Lindgren - 3
13. Maciej Janowski - 2
14. Kim Nilsson - 2
15. Anders Thomsen - 2
16. Matej Zagar - 1

Watch: Bewley comes out on top in Battle of Britain

Dan Bewley and Tai Woffinden were a class apart in heat four.

Bewley leads Woffinden in Heat 4 as Brits gets off to great start

Heat 12: Woffinden, Nilsson, Lindgren, Zagar

Tai Woffinden makes it two wins from three! Frederik Lindgren had a wild ride, he was the fastest starter before his bike bucked him heading into the first corner and he dropped to third, but fought back to pass Kim Nilsson on the home straight and finish second.

Heat 11: Fricke, Dudek, Madsen, Bewley

Max Fricke made it another gate one win, Leon Patryk Dudek and Leon Madsen had a good battle for second while Dan Bewley missed the start never recovered.

Heat 10: Michelsen, Zmarzlik, Thomsen, Janowski

The world champion's not having the best night of it, Bartosz Zmarzlik was slowest off the tapes and it took all of his determination and nous to hold second as he ran three-abreast with Anders Thomsen and Maciej Janowski, before pulling ahead on the back straight. Janowski spun out on the second lap and didn't finish, while Mikkel Michelsen grabbed his first win of the night.

Heat 9: Holder, Doyle, Vaculik, Lambert

What a race! Robert Lambert tried to replicate Jason Doyle's move from heat 9 and so nearly did, but Doyle just held the lead to take the inside on the second bend and Lambert's switchback didn't come off. He kept up the pressure through all four laps but couldn't force a move, Jack Holder's good start made it three-abreast in the first turn but he had to yield and came home third.

Standings after Heat 8

Every rider's now ridden two races and the competitive order's starting to take shape:

1. Robert Lambert - 6 points
2. Dan Bewley - 6
3. Tai Woffinden - 5
4. Martin Vaculik - 4
5. Jason Doyle - 4
6. Mikkel Michelsen - 4
7. Bartosz Zmarzlik - 3
8. Patryk Dudek - 3
9. Max Fricke - 3
10. Maciej Janowski - 2
11. Leon Madsen - 2
12. Jack Holder - 2
13. Frederik Lindgren - 1
14. Kim Nilsson - 1
15. Matej Zagar - 1
16. Anders Thomsen - 1

Heat 8: Nilsson, Fricke, Michelsen, Doyle

Doyle got the fastest start and swooped in from the outside, while Mikkel Michelsen scored some rare gate three points in second. The inside two gates really bogged down there while Doyle could never escape Mikkelson's attentions to take a hard-fought win.

Heat 7: Lambert, Thomsen, Zagar, Madsen

The Brits are flying! Robert Lambert had to hold off Leon Madsen in turn one but stretched away over the remainder of the opening lap for a comfortable win. Anders Thomsen came out on the same bike that packed up in heat four but could only manage third, Matej Zagar was fourth.

Heat 6: Bewley, Lindgren, Janowski, Holder

There's been some great racing so far in Croatia here and (weather permitting) it's showing no signs of slowing down. Dan Bewley got a monster start and led at the first corner, but Jack Holder came flying around the outside and was breathing down Bewley's neck the whole race, finishing second. Frederik Lindgren was second early on but was no match for Holder, Maciej Janowski was well off the pace in last.

Heat 5: Woffinden, Vaculik, Zmarzlik, Dudek

Things were shaping up nicely for an all-star battle in heat five but Bartosz Zmarlzik jumped early and blundered through the tapes to exclude himself. On the restart, Patryk Dudek had the beating of Tai Woffinden in the first bend but the Brit just stayed in touch on the inside before roaring past on the back straight. Martin Vaculik picked up another point and reserve Nick Skorja trailed home last as the rain worsens.

First round of heats complete

Every rider has had one race, with Martin Vaculik, Bartosz Zmarslik, Robert Lambert and Dan Bewley taking victory. According to Bewley, the racing line is the fine but it's tougher if you go off-line trying to overtake. The track looked like it's drying up but the rain looks like it's restarted and gates one, two and four have all seen race wins, with three seconds places also from the outside.

Heat 4: Thomsen, Bewley, Doyle, Woffinden

Dan Bewley comes out on top in a cracking all-British battle with Tai Woffinden. They reached the first corner neck-and-neck but Bewley held onto to the lead on the inside and was able to keep a bikelength or two between his compatriot from there. Jason Doyle was an afterthought in third while Anders Thomsen pulled up.

Heat 3: Lindgren, Lambert, Dudek, Michelsen

Best heat so far tonight! Robert Lambert caught a flyer off gate two whilst Freddie Lindgren had a rough first corner and never recovered. Mikkel Michelsen had a decent battle with Patryk Dudek, the latter finished third.

Heat 2: Zmarzlik, Zagar, Holder, Fricke

Surprise surprise, it's that man Bartosz Zmarzlik who held the lead on the inside to take his first win. Max Fricke had a great start and looked like he could've taken the lead but he had a rough first corner before he slid a calculated pass up the inside of Matej Zagar, who finished third.

Heat 1: Vaculik, Janowski, Madsen, Nilsson

Martin Vaculik had the fastest start and cleared off within the first lap and a half, taking the first win of the season. Maciej Janowski had a poor start but was able to fly past the others on the exit of the first bend, while Kim Nilsson had a problem with his bike but still finished third, ahead of Leon Madsen.

Heat 1 set to get underway

And that's it! The two-minute warning has gone for heat one, so it's time for Martin Vaculik, Maciej Janowski, Leon Madsen and Kim Nilsson to head to the track. A reminder you can catch all the action tonight, and for the rest of the 2023 Speedway Grand Prix season live and ad-free at discovery+.

Further delays

We're still waiting for the two-minute warning for the first heat, it was meant to be tapes up at 18:25 UK time after the first delay. Race director Phil Morris has taken last year's top two Bartosz Zmarzlik and Leon Madsen out to inspect the surface, it has stopped raining in Croatia.

Qualifying times

The delayed start means there's time to show the qualifying times from earlier:

1 - Bartosz Zmarzlik - 14.393 (ahead on second best time)
2 - Tai Woffinden - 14.393
3 - Dan Bewley - 14.399
4 - Maciej Janowski - 14.442
5 - Max Fricke - 14.443
6 - Mikkel Michelsen - 14.488
8 - Matej Zagar (wildcard) - 14.494
9 - Frederik Lindgren - 14.510
10 - Leon Madsen - 14.531
11 - Anders Thomsen - 14.545
12 - Robert Lambert - 14.552
13 - Jack Holder - 14.556
14 - Martin Vaculik - 14.566
15 - Jason Doyle - 14.577
16 - Kim Nilsson - 14.582
17 - Nick Skorja (reserve) - 14.935
18 - Norbert Magosi (reserve) - 14.945

You can watch Tai Woffinden in action in qualifying here.

15-minute start delay to start

Heat one is now set to get underway at 18:25 UK time after race director Phil Morris announced a 15-minute delay to the start time. A remind that'll be Martin Vaculik, Maciej Janowski, Leon Madsen and Kim Nilsson, with Robert Lambert racing in heat 3 and Tai Woffinden and Dan Bewley up in heat four.

Zmarzlik ready for title defence

Bartosz Zmarzlik has been the man to beat in speedway in recent years, winning three of the last four years while only losing out to Artem Laguta by three points in 2021. He was fastest in qualifying by the smallest of margins from Tai Woffinden. He's certainly up for it as he chases a title number four.

'New dreams, new chance, let's go!' - Zmarzlik ready for title defence

Rider meeting in sodden Croatia

The riders have been called into the pits by race director Phil Morris as rain continues to fall in Croatia. It's been beautiful sunshine all day, but right now the weather's against the riders as we await a delay announcement.

Possible delayed start

The riders are out for the start of proceedings but it's raining right now in Croatia, with all the riders sporting umbrellas for their presentations. It's possible we'll see a delay to the start, tapes are set to go up for heat one in three minutes.

2022 recap

With just over 10 minutes until we get underway, here's a reminder of how the championship finished last year:

1 - Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) 166pts (Champion)
2 - Leon Madsen (Denmark) 133pts
3 - Maciej Janowski (Poland) 106pts
4 - Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) 103pts
5 - Robert Lambert (United Kingdom) 103pts
6 - Dan Bewley (United Kingdom) 102pts
7 - Patryk Dudek (Poland) 102pts
8 - Tai Woffinden (United Kingdom) 93pts
9 - Martin Vaculik (Slovakia) 91pts
10 - Jason Doyle (Australia) 83pts
11 - Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark) 82pts
12 - Jack Holder (Australia) 67pts
13 - Max Fricke (Australia) 52pts
14 - Anders Thomsen (Denmark) 51pts
15 - Pawel Przedpelski (Poland) 29pts
16 - Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia) 26pts

Heats announced

After qualifying, we know we'll be seeing Martin Vaculik, Maciej Janowski, Leon Madsen and Kim Nilsson in the first heat. Robert Lambert is the first Brit up, going off gate two in heat three while Dan Bewley and Tai Woffinden need to wait until the end of the first round of heats to make their 2023 Speedway Grand Prix debuts, going off gates two and four.

Hello and welcome!

Not long now until the 2023 speedway season gets underway! Reigning World Champion Bartosz Zmarzlik went finishing in qualifying but British duo Tai Woffinden and Dan Bewley weren't far behind so it's all to play for in Croatia.

Where can I watch Speedway Grand Prix?

Eurosport and discovery+ will be the home of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix in 2023, with live coverage of every round.

Every second of the event’s action, including qualifying, can be watched live-on-demand on discovery+ and Eurosport’s digital platforms with live coverage of the heats, semi-finals and final on Eurosport 2.

The action begins this Saturday in Gorican with qualifying from 11:55 to 13:15 (UK time) and the race coverage at 17:30 to 21:15.

Watch Zmarzlik lift world championship trophy in front of home crowd

Speedway Grand Prix 2023 Calendar

Ten rounds will take place across this season, with the opening five rounds – Gorican, Warsaw, Prague, Teterow and Gorzoe – keeping their places on the schedule. Latvia will join the Speedway Grand Prix calendar for the first time on August 12.

Wroclaw has been dropped from the Speedway Grand Prix calendar to host the much-anticipated return of the Speedway World Cup from July 25-29. It’s the first time the World Cup has taken place since 2017.

Other changes Malilla moved to July, with the British round in Cardiff taking place on September 2 at the Principality Stadium.

Vojens and Torun are the destinations for the final two events on September 16 and September 30.

'He makes us better riders' – Zmarzlik’s rivals on 'rapid' defending champion

Speedway Grand Prix format

Fifteen permanent riders and one wild card will go head-to-head at each round, with qualifying deciding the all-important starting gate picks. The fastest rider will get first choice, down to 16th place who will get last choice.

Each rider will take part in five heats, with points given out as per the result of each heat.

The winner of the heat gets three points, second place two points, third place one point and fourth gets zero.

After the 20 heats, the top eight in the event standings will progress to the semi-finals. The top two in each semi-final progress to the final.

Victory in the final means you win the event and get the full 20 championship points. Second place gets 18 points, third is rewarded with 16 and then there’s a sliding scale for the following positions of 14-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0.

Confusing? Once you watch a few events, it’s quite easy to get around.

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Stream every round of the 2023 Speedway Grand Prix season live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

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