Part-Box Kevin got Podium! & big win for Cumbrian at Principality Stadium

SGP2 Heroics from Kevin

He’s only gone and done it! Co-ordSport sponsored Kevin Juhl Pederson finished 2nd overall in SGP2 at Cardiff last the weekend, after an excellent display of racing. Looking focused and determined throughout each heat he managed to achieve 12 points across the 5 heats. This was equal to the same points total as eventual winner Mateusz Cierniak. Mateusz claimed the round victory due to the count-back system. (As he had achieved 4 wins out of 5 heats, despite looping his bike at the start of the final heat). Meaning he takes home 20 Championship points, a repeat of his score at the previous round in the Czech Republic on May 27th. Kevin’s 2nd means he takes home 18 championship points, and Basso in 3rd takes 16 championship points.

Heading into the title-deciding FIM SGP2 of Poland in Torun on September 30, Cierniak holds a massive 12-point lead. Having achieved the maximum of 40 points so far. This means a semi-final appearance in his home round would be enough to secure the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship (The first of the SGP2 era under new global promoter Discovery Sports Events.)
The winner was delighted with how he handled the track conditions in Cardiff, keeping the dream of a 3-peat of SGP2 round wins alive. He said: “Today was very hard. The track was very hard, so everyone had to have full focus on everything we were doing on the track. I was happy with the end result. The result is good for me and I would like to say thank you to everyone.”

Kevin has excelled and gone from strength to strength after unfortunately crashing out of the opening event in Prague. His hard earned 18 championship points under the intense lights of the Principality Stadium, takes him up to 4th place with 22. What a way to celebrate his 1st visit to Wales!
He went on to say: “Today was much better. In Prague, I fell off and hit my head so hard that I couldn’t race for a week afterwards. I actually think the track today was better than Prague.”
The final event in Poland will no doubt see Kevin give his all to obtain the most points he possibly can. Especially considering this will be his last attempt in the SGP2 event, due to his age making him ineligible next year. No doubt pushing on to try and gain his place in the top league in Europe.

Meanwhile, in SGP – 15 Year Wait Comes To An End for GB

In the FIM Speedway GP the 15 year long wait for a British winner is finally over. A young Dan Bewley from Maryport, Cumbria took home his first-ever SGP win. Beating out Championship leader Bartosz Zmarzlik and Patryk Dudek who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. This achievement is all the more impressive when you consider this is Dan’s debut Speedway GP season. Thriving under the home ground pressure and holding immense composure to see out the final. Regarding the pressure Dan said the following: “People were saying about the pressure, but I feel good under pressure. I feel like you have to earn pressure. If you have pressure on you, it’s a good thing. You don’t get it for no reason.”

Dan got to catch up with the last, and previously sole, British winner at Cardiff  Chris Harris. “Bomber is a hell of a rider,” Bewley said. “In the generation before Tai, he was the inspiration for so many British riders. He had and is still having an awesome career. I saw him in the pits and gave him a hug. I really do like Bomber and it was pretty cool having him here.”

Bartosz managed to extend his Championship lead to 22 points after his 5th Cardiff final appearance; whilst 23 year old Dan Bewley is now 5th in the series.

Thanks to FIM Speedway & Eurosport for great event coverage and results/images.