Fredrik Lindgren produced a blistering lap to top the times in qualifying for the FIM Speedway GP in Poland.

It was good enough to keep three-time world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik in second.

Like Lindgren, Zmarzlik was way off the pace for much of the session but posted a time of 13.175 on his 13th lap.

Max Fricke won the event last year and is well placed to contend again after claiming third place.

British riders claimed fourth and fifth, with Dan Bewley and Robert Lambert showing good speed. Tai Woffinden had to settle for eighth place.

Lindgren’s reward for topping the time sheets was first pick in the draw for Saturday’s Grand Prix, and the Swede opted for 13.

Smarzlik often goes for the five slot and he had no hesitation in making that selection.

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Lindgren has positive memories of Warsaw, winning the event in 2017 and finishing on the podium in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

“Those results won’t help me tomorrow, those meetings are in the history books, but I always love these big stadiums,” Lindgren said. “They have a great atmosphere. I really enjoy the show.

“It gives me a bit of extra energy. I try and suck it in. It’s not every day you are able to race in front of over 50,000 people in a full national stadium, so it’s pretty cool.

“It was a job well done in qualification. I have struggled in qualification in the past. This was my best effort so far and I am very happy with that.

“I wouldn’t say I am confident going into tomorrow, but I am pretty calm. I have a lot of faith in my abilities. I’m just going to go out there and give it everything I have. That’s all I can do. Hopefully it will be enough to get me a podium or maybe a win.”

Zmarzlik is determined to give the home fans something to celebrate on Saturday.

“I have reached so many semi-finals during my career riding at PGE Narodowy, but I was not present in any of the finals,” Zmarzlik said. “We are going to do the best we can. Tomorrow is a new day, with new hope and maybe a new dream will come true.

“It is like a dream come true to be part of such a big event with all the crowd and all the people supporting me. I can tell you it is slightly different to all the other speedway events.

“I only have good memories from here. The stadium, the atmosphere, the crowd and the racing are perfect. Hopefully we will have the cherry on the top and we will reach the main goal of the season.”

The Poland round is one of the biggest on the calendar, with the Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw able to hold over 50,000 fans – and many will be cheering on Zmarzlik.

Full draw selection and qualifying position

• 1. Fredrik Lindgren, 13.099 – Selected 13
• 2. Bartosz Smarzlik, +0.076 – Selected 5
• 3. Max Fricke, +0.124 – Selected 14
• 4. Dan Bewley, +0.136 – Selected 8
• 5. Robert Lambert, +0.137 – Selected 2
• 6. Anders Thomsen, +0.184 – Selected 11
• 7. Jack Holder, +0.192 – Selected 12
• 8. Tai Woffinden, +0.212 – Selected 9
• 9. Jason Doyle +0.238 – Selected 16
• 10. Mikkel Michelsen, +0.279 – Selected 1
• 11. Patryk Dudek, +0.286 – Selected 6
• 12. Leon Madsen, +0.295 – Selected 7
• 13. Martin Vaculik, +0.300 – Selected 4
• 14. Maciej Janowski, +0.313 – Selected 10
• 15. Kim Nillsson, +0.398 – Selected 15
• 16. Dominik Kubera +0.708 – Selected 3

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Stream every round of the 2023 Speedway Grand Prix season live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com