Great Britain racer Robert Lambert is determined to crank up his World Championship medal quest with a huge ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester on Friday and Saturday.
Lambert joins wild card Tom Brennan in flying the home flag in Britain’s biggest speedway event as rounds three and four of the 2026 Speedway GP series take place at the National Speedway Stadium.
With 44 championship points up for grabs over two high-stakes evenings, including four in Friday’s sprint race at the afternoon Qualifying session, Lambert is determined to improve on the six points he scored at the FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic – Prague on May 23.
The two-time British champion started his series with a final appearance at the WWK Schwaiger & Partner FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Landshut on May 2, and Lambert is currently sixth in the standings on 20 points – 12 short of series leader Bartosz Zmarzlik.
As he bids to close the gap, he also knows there will be a weight of expectation from the British fans on his shoulders in Manchester – scene of his two FIM Speedway of Nations World Championship wins with GB in 2021 and 2024.
Lambert said: “There is always going to be pressure, I want to succeed and do well. As I said at the beginning of the season, the goal is to try and get a medal again in the GP and that stays the same. If you have a couple of good rounds and some consistent ones, you are going to be up there. We need to keep our finger on the pulse and not let the top pack move further away because that makes it much harder. We are fully focused on the coming rounds, and hopefully we can pull something out of the bag.
“I think after the performance in Prague, I want to do a bit better. Missing out on getting into the LCQs is not what I want. But I am going to Manchester open-minded, positive to do well and put on a good show for the British fans.
“It’s nice for the British fans to see me racing in the UK. For some of them, that’s the only time in the year when they can watch me race. Having the fans’ support is massive. I am looking forward to that, and obviously I have experience around Manchester.”
With two Speedway GP rounds in as many days, it’s a critical weekend for every rider’s medal and 2027 qualification hopes. But racing two of the biggest meetings of his season in such close proximity is no problem for Lambert.
He said: “It’s no worry in terms of preparation or being ready for two meetings. Sometimes we have GPs and then Polish league the next day. That can be even more hectic and full-on than having two meetings in one place. I am going there to do well and get as many points as I can from this weekend.”
Lambert is joined in the line-up by the likes of six-time Speedway GP world champion Zmarzlik, who won night two of the double-header in Manchester last year. With 32 championship points, he is one clear of fellow Polish star Kacper Woryna, who has 31 and won the opening round in Landshut on his full-time Speedway GP debut.
Also in action is third-placed Brady Kurtz, captain of host club Belle Vue, who has 26 points and reached the final of both Manchester SGPs last year. Prague winner Leon Madsen and Aussie ace Jack Holder are tied on 21 in fourth and fifth place respectively.
Sixth-placed Lambert also takes on British talent Brennan, who joined him in GB’s gold medal-winning SON sides at the National Speedway Stadium.
The FIM British Speedway GP wild card is normally awarded to the winner of the British Championship Final. But with that competition not taking place until August 15 this season, Brennan was nominated for this weekend’s Manchester double-header.
He admits: “It was honestly something I didn’t expect with us not having the British Final. But at the same time, I feel I deserve my spot. I am happy. I am ready. It should be really good.”
Brennan has his sights set on achieving the top-10 finish needed to fight for a spot in the final via the last-chance qualifiers. He said: “I would love to make an LCQ. The ultimate aim is to try and get into the LCQ. I’ll probably sleep well if I can do that.
“In terms of expectations and pressure, we’re going into it with an open mind. I’ve had a bit of an off-and-on start to the year. It’s a really cool chance to show and remind people that I can be at that top level. I just want to mix it up and have some good racing. I want to see the British fans go as crazy as they can.”
2026 ATPI FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF GREAT BRITAIN – MANCHESTER LINE-UP:
95. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland)
101. Brady Kurtz (Australia)
105. Anders Thomsen (Denmark – substitute for Dan Bewley)
744. Kai Huckenbeck (Germany – substitute for Fredrik Lindgren)
25. Jack Holder (Australia)
29. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia)
505. Robert Lambert (Great Britain)
46. Max Fricke (Australia)
69. Jason Doyle (Australia)
201. Jan Kvech (Czech Republic – substitute for Dominik Kubera)
30. Leon Madsen (Denmark)
52. Michael Jepsen Jensen (Denmark)
692. Patryk Dudek (Poland)
223. Kacper Woryna (Poland)
785. Nazar Parnitskyi (Ukraine)
16. Tom Brennan (Great Britain – wild card)
17. Anders Rowe (Great Britain – first track reserve)
18. Dan Thompson (Great Britain – second track reserve)
MANCHESTER FANZONE
Enjoy two huge afternoons of entertainment in the ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester fanzone on Friday and Saturday.
The fanzone will be open on the sports pitches next to the National Speedway Stadium from 15:00 UK time, and it features the official Speedway GP autograph session, where fans can meet all 18 riders from 16:30 and grab a signature or selfie.
Grab some goodies and meet Jack Holder and Patryk Dudek at the Monster Energy Rig Riot from 17:00 – featuring a special Manchester burnout.
We will have an interview with special VIP guests from 17:30, and fans can win Speedway GP prizes in our quiz at 15:30.
Pose for a photo with the Speedway GP trophy throughout the afternoon. Meet the Monster Energy Girls for a photo and grab a selfie with FIM Speedway mascot Speedy. There will be a vintage speedway bikes exhibition, other photo opportunities, the We Love Speedway sign, food and drink stalls, the Speedway GP merchandise shop and much, much more.
The fanzone closes at 18:00 ahead of the opening ceremony at 18:45, with racing getting underway at around 19:00.
MANCHESTER FAN INFO
Limited tickets for the ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester weekend are still available – book online HERE to avoid missing out.
Fans with tickets for Friday’s event are eligible to register for tickets to watch Qualifying from the East Grandstand.
All Friday ticket holders will have received an email to the address they supplied when they booked their tickets. Only those who have registered will be given access to the session, which gets underway at 2pm.
For more information about parking, please CLICK HERE.
In addition, fans are reminded that only A4-sized bags are permitted inside the National Speedway Stadium for this event. Fans are asked to leave any larger bags at home or securely inside their vehicles or accommodation.
For more information about the event, please CLICK HERE.
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can catch every moment of 2026 Speedway GP and SWC action live on global broadcaster Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platforms HBO Max or discovery+. Coverage of every Speedway GP Qualifying session is also available on these platforms.
HBO Max is available across Europe, with FIM-MOTO TV providing coverage around the world.
ACROSS EUROPE: Live on HBO Max and discovery+
REST OF THE WORLD: Live on FIM-MOTO TV
BRITAIN: Live on HBO Max and TNT Sports
POLAND: Live on Eurosport 3, HBO Max and Player
SWEDEN: Live on Kanal 9 and HBO Max
DENMARK: Live on 6’eren and HBO Max
AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox Sports
GERMANY: Live on HBO Max and discovery+
ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on Go3, TV3 Sport and HBO Max
CZEC REPUBLIC: Live on HBO Max
SLOVAKIA: Live on STVR Sport and HBO Max
USA/Canada: Live on Racer
Words by FIM Speedway – Feature Image courtesy of Marcin Karczewski