Danish rider Michelsen tries to physically confront Zmarzlik in World Cup final, Australia takes gold
In the decisive heat of the Speedway World Cup final, Denmark's Mikkel Michelsen tried to physically confront Poland's Bartosz Zmarzlik after crashing, though replays showed no contact between the riders. Australia won the tournament in Warsaw, with Poland finishing third.
Incident in heat 18
The Speedway of Nations final at PGE Narodowy stadium in Warsaw took an unexpected turn in heat 18, when Poland's Bartosz Zmarzlik and Denmark's Mikkel Michelsen battled for second place. Zmarzlik eventually passed his rival, after which Michelsen fell. According to Przegląd Sportowy, replays showed there was no contact between the two riders.
Despite this, Michelsen became furious after the race and ran through the pits looking for Zmarzlik, apparently intending to confront him physically. He was restrained by members of the Danish team. Referee Aleksander Latosiński excluded Michelsen from the heat, which only intensified his anger, though he eventually calmed down.
Michelsen's explanation
After the event, Michelsen admitted his own mistake. As quoted by SportoweFakty, he said: "Adrenaline was pumping through me. Honestly, I think I was angrier at myself than at anyone else. I left Bartek a gap on the inside and knew he'd go for it there. If I had held my line, he would have touched my wheel, but at the last second I chickened out and jumped off the bike." Michelsen acknowledged that the referee's decision to exclude him was correct, adding: "I definitely made a fool of myself and I'm the most hated person in all of Poland tonight."
Course of the event and result
Before the incident, after 17 heats, Australia led the standings with 30 points, ahead of Denmark (27) and Poland (25). Michelsen's fall and exclusion in heat 18 cost Denmark its chance at gold, while the rerun of the heat was again won by Australia's Max Fricke, who beat Zmarzlik once more. After heat 18, Australia had 33 points, with Poland and Denmark tied on 27. In the final two heats, Australia needed just one point to secure the title — which it achieved comfortably, winning the tournament. Poland finished third.
In a separate episode, as reported by Eurosport Polska, Michelsen won heat 10 while Zmarzlik took second place, beating Australia's Brady Kurtz.
After the competition, Michelsen said that apart from the final heat he'd had a great evening, and that the silver medal was a significant achievement, since after the first two series it had looked like the Danish team might leave with nothing at all.
