Great Britain duo Dan Bewley and Robert Lambert are both though to the Grand Prix Challenge – despite Bewley making an unscheduled return to Poland for treatment.
Lambert finished fourth in Saturday’s qualification meeting at Zarnovica, losing out to Belle Vue’s Brady Kurtz in a run-off for third place which left him uncertain of going through.
The Slovakian event carried only three definite qualifying places, whilst the others had four, unless a Czech Republic rider also went through which would negate the need for a Wild Card for the home nation in Pardubice in October.
Lambert then received good news from Lonigo where Jan Kvech won the meeting, meaning the fourth place would be enough, whilst Bewley collected 13 points and finished second in Italy. Sheffield’s Jack Holder and Edinburgh’s Paco Castagna, on home territory, also went through.
And Bewley admitted the result had come following an intensive 24 hours of treatment after a big crash at Oxford on Thursday.
He said: “Currently I’m sore because I flipped it after the race, but it’s a good result and on to the next meeting now.
“To be honest I couldn’t really hang on at Oxford and I actually ended up flying back to Wroclaw on Friday and seeing the club physio, and thanks to him for helping me out with my hand.
“After Oxford I drove to East Midlands, flew from there to Wroclaw, went for physio all day, and then at 7pm I flew Wroclaw to Venice.
“I was absolutely wrecked by the time I got there, I was falling asleep all day in the physio, and at 10pm I went to bed and I woke up at 9.30am for breakfast!”
Interview/Pic: MIKE BOSWELL