Tuesday 14th August 2012, 16:53

Russian racer Emil Sayfutdinov is targeting a return to the FIM Fogo British SGP final after ending his 2012 last-four hoodoo with second spot at Terenzano on Saturday.

The 22-year-old topped the Italian SGP heat scorechart on 12 points to cruise into the semis while many of his rivals struggled badly for consistency.

He then headed Antonio Lindback, Nicki Pedersen and Jason Crump in the last eight, before claiming the silver medal behind Lindback in the re-run of the final.

Sayfutdinov had reached the semis in five out of the seven rounds prior to Terenzano, but failed to turn any of these into a final berth.

The FIM Monster Energy Speedway World Cup bronze medallist’s misfortune was becoming a concern for both the rider and his team.

So he was delighted to end his wait in Italy and now hopes to better the fourth place he achieved at last season’s British Grand Prix when he returns to the Millennium Stadium on August 25.

He said: “Maybe I’ll get more podiums. I’m going strong and my team is working really hard. It will be the same in Cardiff. It’s a beautiful place and there will be a good track.

“Me and my team have worked really hard because we want to win all the time. We’re finding good setups in the league meetings and good engines. It’s really hard this year with the new silencers and you need good engines for them.

“But it was really good in Terenzano. Practice was really good, we found a good engine and I think I was very fast on Saturday.”

Sayfutdinov led into turn one in the first run of the final, but it was halted when Martin Vaculik locked up hard and flew over his handlebars. The Slovak says his footrest got caught up with the Russian, but he was excluded by referee Craig Ackroyd.

Young Emil jetted from the tapes again, but Lindback got around the outside to pick up his maiden SGP win. The world No.6 refused to be downbeat when the re-run didn’t go his way, though.

He said: “I made a good start in the first run of the final, but there was contact with Vaculik and he had a crash. My second start was a little bit bad, but I’m happy with second place. It’s my first final this season and I got second place – this is good for me and for my sponsors, my team and my family.”

Tweet

Speedway Grand Prix Speedway Grand Prix