GEZET STAL Gorzów lost to BETARD SPARTA Wrocław 34:56 in the Friday clash beginning the 5th round of competition in the PGE Ekstraliga. One of the leaders for Gorzów was Andzejs Lebedevs. The Latvian scored 8 points plus a bonus in 6 starts. And although the result doesn’t fully reflect it, it was the former speedway rider from the Wroclaw team who was the fastest in the visiting team during the first phase of the competition. He shared his impressions of the match exclusively for ekstraliga.pl.
- I apologize to Maciej Janowski for the situation in heat 13. I don’t want any bad blood between us – said the Latvian after the match.
- Gorzów has 3 points after 5 rounds and is in 6th position in the PGE Ekstraliga table.
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Błażej Kowol (ekstraliga.pl): You lose this meeting 34:56, and you add 8 points plus a bonus to your tally. How do you rate your performance?
Andzejs Lebedevs: (GEZET STAL Gorzów):I caused a bit of a stir! On one hand, there were a few decent heats with my participation, and on the other – at the beginning my best engine failed, so I had to use a reserve bike. It took me a while to find the right settings in it, though it’s certainly not an excuse. In the last heat, I also had clutch problems, which caused me to lack speed later. I didn’t even catch up to the spray. And although I tried, it was simply not enough. To sum up, it’s a shame about the first and last heat, but in the middle part of the match, it was okay.
From the very beginning of the competition, you had to chase the score, and it was an uphill battle. You were the first rider on the guest side with a “three” on your account, which you recorded after the 10th heat. Did you feel like the outer part of the track was carrying you well?
I get the impression that I managed to outsmart the hosts a few times, and they made some mistakes on the track. Whether it was Daniel Bewley riding too wide, or Maciej Janowski going too deep. I managed to cut their line somewhere, ride through the middle of the track, and gain speed. So there were a few good moments, but in terms of points, it certainly wasn’t ideal.
I have to ask about the 13th heat and the situation with Maciej Janowski. There was a fierce battle between you. Were there any mutual grievances at the finish line? Did you exchange a few words?
They definitely weren’t mutual. Maciej didn’t leave me room by the fence, nor did I for him – however, I don’t want to dwell on this because I was making long straights – cutting and going wide. You could say I was letting the bikes go to the fence. I didn’t want to cause a dangerous situation and perhaps overdid it a bit by leaving too little space at the finish line. I have no problem saying “sorry.” If from Maciej’s point of view my behavior wasn’t fair, I’m very sorry. I really like and respect Maciej, and I don’t want any bad blood between us.
Away matches haven’t been going your way so far. Are you leaving Wroclaw thinking it’s finally heading in the right direction, or is that too far-fetched a conclusion?
I’m not entirely satisfied. I know I can do more and I really want to bring better results. I set myself a goal before the season to prove in Gorzów that I’m capable of good results and at the same time encourage the club to continue working with me. The well-being of GEZET STAL is close to my heart. I want to reach the highest level here and be the driving force of this team at times. I realize that this season could be my last chance in the PGE Ekstraliga. I have to work hard to prove my worth in the elite.
Could it be said that during the in-match meetings, you were the one giving the most advice?
I tried, of course. I always play with open cards with my team. I openly shared my ideas and what I was doing with the bikes. I don’t know if the leaders ultimately used my advice, but I try to help as much as I can.
For several years you rode in Wroclaw. How would you rate this track from the perspective of the competition?
Pretty unique for Wroclaw conditions. First very fast, then much slower. It seems to me that even the hosts were not completely happy with its preparation. In the second part of the meeting, even they had some problems with settings and didn’t know how to adjust. I think something just didn’t go right in the track preparation stage because it wasn’t a track characteristic of the Olympic stadium.
Was this track, therefore, difficult to ride on?
There were ruts and uneven spots, and usually, it’s even across the width of the track here, and the hosts use paths both inside and outside. This time, you had to take the right path on the outside. A bit like in Bydgoszcz.
For May, we have relatively cold weather – does this prolonged period of somewhat lower temperatures negatively affect the engine tuning?
No, it’s actually the opposite – it’s easier to tune the engines. These engines run better, and they’re more enjoyable to ride. There’s also no stuffiness, and physically, I just feel better riding in such conditions.
After 5 rounds, you have 3 points on your account. How do you assess your performance so far, and what are you looking forward to in future matches?
The most important thing for us is to find the settings and some stability. That’s our main goal. If each of us reaches the highest level that is expected from ourselves, I’m sure better results will quickly follow.
In just a few days, the 2025 ORLEN OIL FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland – Warsaw, the grand event of the entire season. The PGE National Stadium filled with speedway fans – riding there must be great, right?
Of course! It’s a special day for every Grand Prix participant. I know many people will come to support me from Daugavpils. I know over 40 people are coming from there, and if I could help anyone with their trip arrangements, I tried to do so because the support of the fans is incredibly important to me. I suspect there will be over 100 people, and I asked everyone to bring Latvian flags. I count on fantastic racing.
