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WHAT’S ON D Michelsen faces long recovery FIXTURES: SEPTEMBER 19-30 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Sheffield v Belle Vue (Premiership Play-Off semi-final) 7.30 pm FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Scunthorpe v Edinburgh (BSN Series semi-final) 7.30 pm Middlesbrough v Edinburgh (National Development League) 7.30 pm SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Edinburgh v Leicester (National Development League) 7.00 pm SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Oxford: British Under-19 Championship 3.00 pm Iwade: Eastbourne v Thurrock (Challenge)12.00 pm MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 TBC v TBC (Premiership Grand Final, 1st leg) THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 TBC v TBC (Premiership Grand Final, 2nd leg) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Birmingham v Cradley v Coventry v Wolverhampton (Alan Grahame Memorial Four Team Tournament) 7.30 pm Belle Vue v Scunthorpe/Sheffield (National Development League) 7.30 pm ANISH star Mikkel Michelsen hopes to hit the road to recovery soon after undergoing successful surgery following his seasonending spill in Riga. IT OVER Michelsen crashed with Polish star Bartosz Zmarzlik in his opening ride of the Latvian SGP in Riga on September 7, suffering a catalogue of injuries before being transferred to Poland for treatment. The European Champion underwent shoulder and humerus surgery last Thursday and doctors were happy with the outcome. Posting on Facebook on Monday, Michelsen set his sights on his rehabilitation quest. But not after some vital healing time. He posted: “Hey everyone, it has been a rough couple of days since the surgery on Thursday morning. I was discharged from hospital on Friday evening and have been trying to relax and recover since then. “The surgery went according to plan and the surgeon was happy with the results. I underwent a four-hour long procedure where he fixed my shattered humerus and shoulder joint. Now it needs time to heal before hopefully soon starting some rehab. But the Brit is taking nothing for granted. “The fractured elbow should heal on its own and, after scans on my foot, we found out that my heel is fractured as well. The road to recovery is long but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. He said: “I will just do the best I can in Torun. It’s my home track but everything is different for a GP. We will just focus, give 100 per cent and I’ll just ride and enjoy my bike. “Once again, thank you so much for all your get-well wishes, messages and calls. It means a lot. Kind regards, MM.” Despite his absence from the SGP stage, Michelsen is still in with a chance of earning automatic entry for 2025. He is sixth in the standings on 101 points – occupying the final qualification place ahead of Jack Holder on 97 in seventh and Dominik Kubera on 88 in eighth spot going into the final round at Torun on September 28. TV TIMES TV TIMES “It’s going to be great. There are a lot of home fans there and local sponsors as well. Family and friends are going to be there. It’s going to be incredible – whichever way it goes. I’m looking forward to it. Let’s finish off strong.” Holder needs just five points to overhaul his Danish rival but given that the Aussie has registered two in each of his last two SGP rounds, this is not a certainty. If they end up tied on 101, Michelsen will be ranked higher due to having two fifth places compared to Holder’s one. The pair have a win, a third and a fourth each. Compiled BY PHIL LANNING Meanwhile, Kubera needs to at least reach the final to leapfrog Michelsen and hope Holder endures another difficult night. Report: PAUL BURBIDGE oes it for his boys snapped on Instagram watching on TV with Zmarzlik’s wife Sandra, while their baby son Franciszek slept. Speaking with a tear in his eye after enjoying the champagne celebrations, an emotional Zmarzlik said: “Tomorrow I will tell my son Antoni that I have won! “This will be the best thing for me. Now I also have Franciszek, who will one day see me in the photos taking this title in the year he was born. “It is so emotional and important to me. I was not lucky enough to win gold in the year my oldest son was born but he can see me taking a hat-trick for himself. “It is so meaningful – whatever I do in speedway, I do it for my family, my kids. In return, they give me so much fun and support at the same time. Hearing your kids saying, ‘Dad won!’ is invaluable and I want to show them so much. They must be with me on the podium in Torun!” Zmarzlik also paid tribute to childhood sweetheart Sandra, who has supported him on his path to greatness. “She knows so much about speedway,” he said. “I do not need to explain anything to her. She always knows what the situation is. She allows me to work with my team, knowing how much time and effort must be put into it. “The crucial thing is that she gives me the opportunity to realise my dreams in speedway. At least she knows that when I am not home, she can find me in a workshop. It is not uncommon that we are there, cleaning the stuff together. Apart from that, without her, there would not be any children!” Zmarzlik’s older brother Pawel appeared nervous before Bartek’s final showdown, which saw him give Latvian Andzejs Lebedevs the slip on bend three to take the second spot needed to secure gold. “He puts so much work into our team,” Bartek added. “He probably takes everything more seriously than me. “It’s not only him but my whole team, including my mechanics Grzegorz and THE racing bonanza continues. After all the drama of six meetings in five days last week, the big nights just keep coming. First up is the decider in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership second semi-final between Sheffield and Belle Vue. That should be a humdinger. Then, once we know a winner to face Leicester, that Grand Final first leg will take place on Monday. The second leg is scheduled for just three days later. Seweryn. The best thing is that we all have gone through this hectic period recently together. They all had big motivation that kept me going to the end. They are like my family.” Zmarzlik’s extended family will now join forces in a bid to help him join speedway’s most elite club as he aims for a place alongside Mauger and Rickardsson in the pantheon of six-time world champions. BSN also have a plethora of big clashes to come. They have both legs of the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final, KO Cup Final and BSN Series Final but all those dates are still to be confirmed. All we do know is that Poole are through to all three finals. Please check BSN’s social media for updates of when they are broadcasting. LIVE SPEEDWAY THIS WEEK EUROSPORT/DISCOVERY+ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19: Sheffield v Belle Vue, ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Play-Off, Semi-Final, 2nd leg, 7.30 pm. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23: ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final, 1st leg, 7.30 pm. BRITISH SPEEDWAY NETWORK (watch.britishspeedway.co.uk) Check BSN social media for dates. CLUB STREAMINGS BIRMINGHAM: https://www.brummies.tv EDINBURGH: www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/live-stream LEICESTER: www.leicesterspeedway.com/ Home/LionsTV OXFORD: https://livestream.oxfordspeedway.club POOLE: livestream.poole-speedway.com REDCAR: www.redcar-speedway.com SCUNTHORPE: tv.scunthorpe-speedway.com September 21, 2024 speedway star 3

WHAT’S ON

D Michelsen faces long recovery

FIXTURES: SEPTEMBER 19-30

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Sheffield v Belle Vue (Premiership Play-Off semi-final) 7.30 pm FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Scunthorpe v Edinburgh (BSN Series semi-final) 7.30 pm Middlesbrough v Edinburgh (National Development League) 7.30 pm SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Edinburgh v Leicester (National Development League) 7.00 pm SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Oxford: British Under-19 Championship 3.00 pm Iwade: Eastbourne v Thurrock (Challenge)12.00 pm MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 TBC v TBC (Premiership Grand Final, 1st leg) THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 TBC v TBC (Premiership Grand Final, 2nd leg) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Birmingham v Cradley v Coventry v Wolverhampton (Alan Grahame Memorial Four Team Tournament) 7.30 pm Belle Vue v Scunthorpe/Sheffield (National Development League) 7.30 pm

ANISH star Mikkel Michelsen hopes to hit the road to recovery soon after undergoing successful surgery following his seasonending spill in Riga.

IT OVER

Michelsen crashed with Polish star Bartosz Zmarzlik in his opening ride of the Latvian SGP in Riga on September 7, suffering a catalogue of injuries before being transferred to Poland for treatment.

The European Champion underwent shoulder and humerus surgery last Thursday and doctors were happy with the outcome.

Posting on Facebook on Monday, Michelsen set his sights on his rehabilitation quest. But not after some vital healing time.

He posted: “Hey everyone, it has been a rough couple of days since the surgery on Thursday morning. I was discharged from hospital on Friday evening and have been trying to relax and recover since then.

“The surgery went according to plan and the surgeon was happy with the results. I underwent a four-hour long procedure where he fixed my shattered humerus and shoulder joint. Now it needs time to heal before hopefully soon starting some rehab.

But the Brit is taking nothing for granted.

“The fractured elbow should heal on its own and, after scans on my foot, we found out that my heel is fractured as well. The road to recovery is long but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

He said: “I will just do the best I can in Torun. It’s my home track but everything is different for a GP. We will just focus, give 100 per cent and I’ll just ride and enjoy my bike.

“Once again, thank you so much for all your get-well wishes, messages and calls. It means a lot. Kind regards, MM.”

Despite his absence from the SGP stage, Michelsen is still in with a chance of earning automatic entry for 2025.

He is sixth in the standings on 101 points – occupying the final qualification place ahead of Jack Holder on 97 in seventh and Dominik Kubera on 88 in eighth spot going into the final round at Torun on September 28.

TV TIMES

TV TIMES

“It’s going to be great. There are a lot of home fans there and local sponsors as well. Family and friends are going to be there. It’s going to be incredible – whichever way it goes. I’m looking forward to it. Let’s finish off strong.”

Holder needs just five points to overhaul his Danish rival but given that the Aussie has registered two in each of his last two SGP rounds, this is not a certainty. If they end up tied on 101, Michelsen will be ranked higher due to having two fifth places compared to Holder’s one. The pair have a win, a third and a fourth each.

Compiled BY PHIL LANNING

Meanwhile, Kubera needs to at least reach the final to leapfrog Michelsen and hope Holder endures another difficult night.

Report: PAUL BURBIDGE

oes it for his boys snapped on Instagram watching on TV with Zmarzlik’s wife Sandra, while their baby son Franciszek slept.

Speaking with a tear in his eye after enjoying the champagne celebrations, an emotional Zmarzlik said: “Tomorrow I will tell my son Antoni that I have won!

“This will be the best thing for me. Now I also have Franciszek, who will one day see me in the photos taking this title in the year he was born.

“It is so emotional and important to me. I was not lucky enough to win gold in the year my oldest son was born but he can see me taking a hat-trick for himself.

“It is so meaningful – whatever I do in speedway, I do it for my family, my kids. In return, they give me so much fun and support at the same time. Hearing your kids saying, ‘Dad won!’ is invaluable and I want to show them so much. They must be with me on the podium in Torun!”

Zmarzlik also paid tribute to childhood sweetheart Sandra, who has supported him on his path to greatness.

“She knows so much about speedway,” he said. “I do not need to explain anything to her. She always knows what the situation is. She allows me to work with my team, knowing how much time and effort must be put into it.

“The crucial thing is that she gives me the opportunity to realise my dreams in speedway. At least she knows that when I am not home, she can find me in a workshop. It is not uncommon that we are there, cleaning the stuff together. Apart from that, without her, there would not be any children!”

Zmarzlik’s older brother Pawel appeared nervous before Bartek’s final showdown, which saw him give Latvian Andzejs Lebedevs the slip on bend three to take the second spot needed to secure gold.

“He puts so much work into our team,” Bartek added. “He probably takes everything more seriously than me.

“It’s not only him but my whole team, including my mechanics Grzegorz and

THE racing bonanza continues. After all the drama of six meetings in five days last week, the big nights just keep coming.

First up is the decider in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership second semi-final between Sheffield and Belle Vue. That should be a humdinger.

Then, once we know a winner to face Leicester, that Grand Final first leg will take place on Monday. The second leg is scheduled for just three days later.

Seweryn. The best thing is that we all have gone through this hectic period recently together. They all had big motivation that kept me going to the end. They are like my family.”

Zmarzlik’s extended family will now join forces in a bid to help him join speedway’s most elite club as he aims for a place alongside Mauger and Rickardsson in the pantheon of six-time world champions.

BSN also have a plethora of big clashes to come. They have both legs of the Cab Direct Championship Grand Final, KO Cup Final and BSN Series Final but all those dates are still to be confirmed. All we do know is that Poole are through to all three finals.

Please check BSN’s social media for updates of when they are broadcasting.

LIVE SPEEDWAY THIS WEEK EUROSPORT/DISCOVERY+ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19: Sheffield v Belle Vue, ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Play-Off, Semi-Final, 2nd leg, 7.30 pm. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23: ROWE Motor Oil Premiership Grand Final, 1st leg, 7.30 pm. BRITISH SPEEDWAY NETWORK (watch.britishspeedway.co.uk) Check BSN social media for dates. CLUB STREAMINGS BIRMINGHAM: https://www.brummies.tv EDINBURGH: www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/live-stream LEICESTER: www.leicesterspeedway.com/ Home/LionsTV OXFORD: https://livestream.oxfordspeedway.club POOLE: livestream.poole-speedway.com REDCAR: www.redcar-speedway.com SCUNTHORPE: tv.scunthorpe-speedway.com

September 21, 2024 speedway star 3

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