As announced last week, Poland have made a late change to their representative for the FOGO FIM U21 World Championships on Friday. That’s because Lublin’s Wiktor Lampart was injured in his last match of the season. So, Czestochowa junior, Jakub Miskowiak, comes in at the 11th hour to replace him.
And for the Polish fans it may turn out to be one of the best tactical substitutions of the season.
Lampart completed the season coming in 48th in the individual rider’s average with 1.085. But Miskowiak, who is only 19 years old, finished above him in 28th position with a heat average of 1.609. That is an enormous increase on his score from his debut year when he finished with just 0.902.
There are a number of riders in the Ekstraliga who are travelling to Pardubice on Friday. But only compatriot, Dominik Kubera and Australian, Jaimon Lidsey have a higher heat average that Miskowiak from 2020.
To underline the quality of the competition, these three juniors have all finished above experienced names in the world’s top league this season. That includes SGP riders, Max Fricke (33rd) and Antonio Lindbäck (39th) as well as 2020 Tauron SEC riders, Michael Jepsen Jensen (34th), Kasper Woryna (35th), Krzysztof Kasprzak (38th) and Vaclav Milik (41st).
Miskowiak had already shown his potential back in 2019. He finished just outside the medal places in the U19 European Championship and actually won the U21 individual championship in his home country. He beat two junior World Champions that day, Bartosz Smektala and Maksym Drabik. This year he came second in that competition behind none other than Lesnzo’s Kubera.
Even though Miskowiak comes in as a last-minute replacement, he instantly becomes one of the favourites and has an excellent chance to medal on the world stage on Friday.
