Lebedev and Stelmet Falubaz secure third win; team closer to staying in Ekstraliga

Winning streak continues

Zielona Góra-based Stelmet Falubaz speedway team claimed their third victory in the Polish Ekstraliga on Sunday, beating Czestochowa's Krono-Plast Wlokniarz 50:40 on the road. The win puts them seven points ahead of their opponents in the standings. Previously, Stelmet Falubaz had only won twice, both at home – against Czestochowa and Wroclaw's Betard Sparta.

Lebedev's performance

Latvian rider Andžejs Ļebedevs scored six points in four heats. His pairing achieved three wins and one draw in four rides. In his first three heats, Lebedev finished third, but his pair won two heats 4:2 and one 3:3. In the 12th heat, Lebedev and his partner won 4:2.

Match progression

The visitors started strong, leading 14:4 after three heats. Home team leader Australian Rohan Tungate was disqualified for a false start in the first heat. By the sixth heat, the lead grew to 12 points (24:12). In heat seven, the visitors were heading for a 5:1 win, but Dane Leon Madsen retired due to a motorcycle defect, resulting in a 2:4. The hosts then won another heat 4:2, making it 28:20 after eight heats. Heats 11 and 12 saw wins of 5:1 and 4:2 for Stelmet Falubaz, bringing the score to 43:29 and securing the win and a bonus point. The coach did not field any experienced riders in the final two heats.

Team statistics

Top scorers for Stelmet Falubaz were junior Damian Ratajczak (11 points in five heats) and Dominik Kubera (10 points in four heats). Six of the eight team riders scored at least five points. For Czestochowa, this was their 11th consecutive loss, meaning they will likely be relegated from the Ekstraliga. Stelmet Falubaz now trail Gorzów by only three points and can fight for sixth place, which would avoid relegation playoffs.