BETARD Sparta Wrocław with a Triumph in Grudziądz. ZOOLESZCZ GKM Just Outside the Semifinals!

In the rematch semifinal between ZOOLESZCZ GKM Grudziądz and BETARD SPARTA Wrocław, there was fierce competition. The match ended with a score of 41:49 (81:99). The best junior was Marcel Kowolik. Grudziądz missed the medal zone by one race point.

The excitement started already in the youth race. Kowolik excellently outpaced the entire field on the first lap and won despite Małkiewicz‘s chase. Krawczyk was blocked by Łobodziński, but the Polish youth champion overtook him on the fourth lap.

In the 4th race, the Wrocław duo Krawczyk-Kowalski started like a storm, immediately taking the lead at 5:1. Lidsey tried to catch the older of the Polish vice-champions duo, but couldn’t overtake him. After the 1st series, BETARD SPARTA Wrocław led 17:7.

In the 7th race, we saw exciting racing again. The guests started excellently – Janowski immediately took the lead. Kowolik had to give way to Fricke on the 2nd turn, and on the next lap, Lidsey also overtook the young Wrocław rider. Fricke tried to attack Janowski, but his quick reactions allowed him to maintain the lead.

In the 10th race, after a mix-up on the first turn involving Krawczyk, Jepsen Jensen and Fricke took advantage – the Australian quickly joined the Dane on the 2nd turn. Janowski tried to chase the rivals without success. In the 11th race, BETARD SPARTA immediately went up 5:1, but Fricke quickly overtook Kowalski, and Bewley was too far to catch up. Jepsen Jensen overtook Kowalski at the beginning of the fourth lap, and the score ended at 3:3. At this point, ZOOLESZCZ GKM Grudziądz was losing 28:38 but was still in the battle for a semifinal spot as a “lucky loser”.

In the 13th race, Laguta surprised with an explosive start, closing off his rivals. Janowski quickly developed speed on the outside and by the beginning of the second lap overtook Lidsey, while still chasing Tarasenkę. Before the nominated races, BETARD SPARTA Wrocław was leading in Grudziądz 43:35.

The nominated races determined the total number of race points for both teams, with the races ending in 3:3 ties. Thus, ZOOLESZCZ GKM Grudziądz finished the PGE Ekstraliga competition in 5th place (the ranking against KS APATOR was decided by the regular season table). Meanwhile, BETARD SPARTA advanced from the 2nd position in the quarterfinal table and will face EBUT.PL STAL Gorzów.

Full results available HERE.

Agata Krasek