Sayfutdinov romps to emotional Fogo Swedish FIM Speedway Grand Prix win

Russian sensation Emil Sayfutdinov dedicated his Fogo Swedish FIM Speedway Grand Prix triumph to his late father Damir after he lost his fight with cancer shortly before the meeting in Gothenburg on Saturday.The 23-year-old produced a breathtaking, last-lap swoop around world champion Chris Holder to top the rostrum and add to the gold medal he claimed in Bydgoszcz on April 20.Sayfutdinov missed his Polish club Czestochowas home meeting with Leszno last Sunday to stay at his fathers bedside in Russia. But the Salavat-born racer opted to return to the track at the Ullevi Stadium and produced a courageous, daredevil, lightening-quick performance.The 2009 Gothenburg winner, who was unaware of the tragic news until after the post-meeting press conference, was delighted to triumph in Sweden again, and hopes the victory will comfort his family at this most difficult of times.He said: When I was at home, I said to my dad Ill win this for you. I did that. My family will feel much better for this hopefully.Sayfutdinov has been inundated with messages of support from fellow riders and fans alike. He added: Everyone has helped me this week with sending messages and thank you very much to all my sponsors and fans who have done that. I cant say enough to thank them. So many fans applauded and congratulated me after the final. It means a lot.Emils father was a keen motocross and ice speedway rider and gave the Indianerna man his love of racing.Sayfutdinov is now second in the World Championship standings on 38 points, putting him just two behind Polish hotshot Tomasz Gollob. Winning the World Championship would be the ultimate tribute to Damirs memory and the double World Under-21 champion remains ready to fight for the prize this season.He said: Ill do everything I can to become world championId love it. I feel better this season, but Im not thinking about becoming world champion right now.Im just thinking about every heat and every meeting and just getting more points. Its very difficult because this is the Grand Prix, so well see what happens.Runner-up Holder admits he didnt have the pace to match Sayfutdinov after the Russian robbed him of what would have been his fifth SGP victory just three turns from the chequered flag.The Aussie international, who is now sixth in the World Championship on 33 points, said: My gating was probably the best it has been all year. I was really happy with that, but Emil was so much quicker.I was trying to race the line that he was on, but I wasnt quick enough so I had to change. As soon as I changed, he went straight around me. Fair play to him; he was on it and he was the quickest guy here.To make a final in this field is a good achievement. Maybe Im not so happy now, but tomorrow I will be happy with second. The bikes are going well.Danish racer Nicki Pedersen picked up an heroic third place ahead of Jaroslaw Hampel, despite injuring his left arm in a semi-final fall with Britains Tai Woffinden.Its not really what you want, he said. It happens sometimes in the first turn. Woffy picked up a bit and we were both going for the gap. Unfortunately I went over the handlebars and landed on my wrist. Its very painful at the moment.I made the final and I should be happy. I just hope there is nothing broken so that I can be ready in two weeks time.Pedersen wasnt the only rider in the wars as Australian star Darcy Ward was taken away by ambulance for X-rays on a suspected broken collarbone after crashing in race six.The injured duo will hope to be fit in time for the Mitas Czech Republic FIM Speedway Grand Prix in Prague on May 18.WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 1 Tomasz Gollob 40, 2 Emil Sayfutdinov 38, 3 Jaroslaw Hampel 38, 4 Tai Woffinden 35, 5 Nicki Pedersen 34, 6 Chris Holder 33, 7 Matej Zagar 28, 8 Greg Hancock 27, 9 Niels-Kristian Iversen 26, 10 Darcy Ward 25, 11 Andreas Jonsson 18, 12 Antonio Lindback 17, 13 Fredrik Lindgren 17, 14 Krzysztof Kasprzak 13, 15 Martin Vaculik 12, 16 Krzysztof Buczkowski 6, 17 Linus Sundstrom 6, 18 Jason Bunyan 1.FOGO SWEDISH SGP SCORES: 1 Emil Sayfutdinov 17, 2 Chris Holder 14, 3 Nicki Pedersen 12, 4 Jaroslaw Hampel 15, 5 Tai Woffinden 12, 6 Niels-Kristian Iversen 10, 7 Matej Zagar 9, 8 Tomasz Gollob 9, 9 Greg Hancock 8, 10 Antonio Lindback 8, 11 Krzysztof Kasprzak 7, 12 Linus Sundstrom 6, 13 Fredrik Lindgren 5, 14 Andreas Jonsson 3, 15 Martin Vaculik 3, 16 Dennis Andersson 0, 17 Mathias Thornblom 0, 18 Darcy Ward 0.

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