Danish racer Leon Madsen was delighted to defy the “worst start of my career” to a season as he stormed to FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague glory on Saturday night.
On the night Marketa Stadium celebrated a record-extending 30th straight season of Speedway GP action, Madsen bounced back from scoring just one championship point at round one in Landshut, Germany, by topping the Prague podium ahead of Australian ace Brady Kurtz in second and Polish star Bartosz Zmarzlik in third.
After an exciting evening of Speedway GP action, witnessed at trackside by Czech president and motorsport enthusiast Petr Pavel, who photographed the action from the pits and infield, Zmarzlik leads the championship on 32 points, with compatriot Kacper Woryna hot on his heels on 31 in second place.
This night belonged to Madsen, who has been battling injuries, bike problems and off-track issues in the opening weeks of the season. He was elated to turn things around in Prague, where he raced to third spot on his one and only Speedway GP appearance of 2025.
He said: “It has been a tough year for me. The start of the season has probably been the worst start of my career.
“It has been very hard, but it has started looking good. I have been struggling with a lot of things that people don’t know, which have been going on behind the scenes. It has been really tough, and I had to work very, very hard to get back.
“Mentally, I have never struggled that hard. I really had to dig deep. But, nevertheless, it’s a nice feeling that all the hard work is paying off, and I am happy to be back. Hopefully all the bad luck and bad things are behind me now, and I can look forward to a more positive future.
“I started out the season with a bad crash. I injured my ribs and leg, and I had a concussion. I was really struggling with that a lot more than people thought. I started to feel a bit better and then I got hit by some illness. On top of this, I was struggling with the bikes.
“Now I feel better. We have been working very hard and we have changed the bikes. I have done some practices, and we had a very good feeling – a very positive feeling. I felt the bike was working well in practice, but you can never be 100 percent until you get to the tapes with the other boys.
“I want to dedicate this victory to my two girls. Hopefully they will see their dad winning and can be proud.”
World No.2 Kurtz hounded Madsen for four laps in the final and was content with a solid second place that moves him up to third in the Speedway GP standings on 26 points.
Having registered eight points at the opener in Landshut, Kurtz was pleased to close on top spot. He said: “I really needed to have a good one and get back up there in the standings to put myself in with a chance of doing something for the rest of the year.
“I am super happy with it. It was a battle. It definitely didn’t go all my own way. Gate four was tough in the final. I am not sure how I found myself in second place, but I got there and did everything I could to try and get Leon. But credit to him; he did a fabulous job and definitely deserved the win.
“I made some really good starts, which is always important for me. It was nice to get back up there. I am super happy with second. It has been a good night for me and my team. It was nice to get back on track.”
Third-placed Zmarzlik was pleased to capture the Speedway GP World Championship lead after topping the heat score chart on 13 race points to go straight through to the final, avoiding the last-chance qualifiers.
He said: “I am happy because I was consistent again and in the final, which is important. Congratulations to Leon and Brady. They did a really nice job in the final. There was some good racing with the boys.
“For the first few years when I raced here, I always had problems here in Prague. But for the last four years, I have been in the final. I am happy and proud about this.”
Zmarzlik is pleased to be top of the standings with Lublin and Lejonen teammate Woryna right behind him. He smiled: “Kacper always says to me, ‘If I don’t win, you win and make it a 5-1!’ It’s always fun to speak with him. He is also having a really nice season this year.”
Bartosz Zmarzlik receives the Golden Race Jacket from Mayfield Sports Events founder Richard Coleman and FIM Track Racing Commission director Armando Castagna. PHOTO: Marcin Karczewski
The SGP action continues with an epic ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester double-header at the National Speedway Stadium on June 5 and 6.
For full FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague results, CLICK HERE.
Speedway GP standings - after R2