Former King’s Lynn rider Robert Lambert admits his track telepathy with Dan Bewley helped the Lions storm to an epic FIM Speedway of Nations world-title triumph in Manchester on Saturday evening.
The Lions’ FIM Speedway Grand Prix stars Dan Bewley and Norfolk-based skipper Lambert took their country to FIM SON glory – repeating their 2021 triumph at the National Speedway Stadium and extending the nation’s run of four straight seasons in the world’s top two.
The British pair stormed to gold with an epic 7-2 win over Australia in the Grand Final, with Bewley blazing under Aussie duo Jack Holder and Brady Kurtz to join Lambert at the front as they were roared home by the Manchester crowd.
The Brits have now finished in the world’s top two for the last four seasons on the bounce.
Lambert, who is still held in high regard at the Adrian Flux Arena, admits his on-track understanding with Bewley, who races for Manchester host club Belle Vue, made all the difference as they grabbed gold in the ultimate test of team riding.
He said: “It’s an awesome feeling. We are world champions once again and I can’t believe we actually did it.
“Me and Dan have an unwritten language together on the track. He made some gaps where I could get through and vice versa. It all came down to the final.
“I made the start and got in front. I had faith in Dan to push through and not get the last place because he is absolutely incredible around here.
“All the fans were telling us at the autograph session that we were going to bring home the gold. You brush it off and try not to think about it because when you think about the result, stuff doesn’t happen.
“We just took it race by race and I was happy that my bike was working from heat one. Today worked and everything paid off. We come away as world champions.”
The GB duo were pipped to the top spot in the heat score chart by Australia, with the Roos securing automatic Grand Final qualification on 36 points, and the Lions scoring 35.
This pitted them against third-placed Sweden, who recorded 27 points, in the Grand Final Qualifier.
Despite Sweden’s world No.2 Fredrik Lindgren winning the race – Lambert’s only loss to an opponent all night – the Brits finished second and third to claim a 5-4 heat advantage.
Lambert admits the showdown with Sweden was even more tense than their title fight with the Aussies.
“It was hard not getting straight through to the Grand Final,” he admitted.
“We had more pressure in the semi than we did the final.
“Whatever way that went, we would have walked away with silver or gold. We knew we could do it. We stayed calm throughout the whole meeting and managed to get the gold back again.”
Lambert, Bewley and GB reserve rider Tom Brennan won gold together in Manchester, but it will be every Brit for himself in the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff at Principality Stadium on August 17.
With Lambert chasing his first Speedway GP World Championship medal, the performance of his career this evening sends him to the Welsh capital in red-hot form as he chases his maiden SGP victory.
“If this was a GP, I would have got my first win,” he said.
“But I can’t get too wrapped up in that. My season has been great so far. We have a lot of meetings before we race in Cardiff. I’ll just keep things steady and keep going the way we are at the moment.”