PolskiZuzel

Thank you stewmac. It looks great.

I suppose it is only a wild dream, but considering that one of SGP rounds is destined for Ipswich, I would not been totally surprised if 6 times world champion, Bartosz Zmarzlik, would consider returning to racing in the UK, and Ipswich particularly.

I don't know how many of you bother to read the Polish sports daily "Przeglad Sportowy" articles concerning speedway ( in Google translation.) I came across today the one that might interest you, so here it is: The financial bubble in Polish speedway is growing to dangerous proportions, and recurring reports of multi-million-zloty debts among clubs only deepen concerns about the future of the sport. In an interview with the Polish sports daily “Przegląd Sportowy” Jan Krzystyniak does not mince his words. The former elite rider and coach offers a scathing critique of those managing Ekstraliga clubs, predicting the imminent collapse of the sport unless there is a harsh, sobering encounter with reality. Record-breaking rider contracts and bidding wars in the transfer market have brought Polish speedway to the brink of an abyss. Some clubs are taking on massive financial obligations that they cannot meet without the help of bank loans or support from local governments. Jan Krzystyniak points directly to those responsible for this state of affairs. "If these gentlemen—and I am referring to the presidents of the Ekstraliga clubs, because let’s be honest, a great deal depends on them—do not come to their senses, then speedway could simply collapse. We can see what is happening to this sport globally." "A similar situation could well unfold in Poland, as clubs simply won't be able to afford paying such astronomical sums to riders," our expert thunders. One proposed solution to rising costs was to revisit the idea of an imposed salary cap (such as a CMA-based system or defined financial brackets). In the case of financial brackets, this would essentially rely on an agreement between club presidents, as the speedway authorities’ hands are largely tied. Krzystyniak, however, dismisses such notions as pure fiction within the Polish context; in his view, club officials would inevitably find ways to circumvent the rules. "I spoke about where things were heading ten, maybe fifteen years ago. Even back then, the topic of setting a salary cap was being discussed. In the Polish reality, establishing such limits is largely pointless. We know what these people are capable of: they’ll officially offer a rider a thousand zlotys, while slipping him a million under the table. That’s just how things work in Poland. If you brought in people from Sweden or England to manage these clubs, they could probably establish and enforce such rules in a day or two. No one would break ranks, because in those cultures, one’s word is worth more than money," the former coach points out bluntly. Despite his dire assessment of the situation facing the clubs, Krzystyniak paradoxically defends the speedway riders themselves. He argues that the riders cannot be blamed for inflated contracts; they are simply taking advantage of the poor financial management of club presidents. "It’s pathological. I honestly don’t believe in any agreements that could solve the problem of clubs constantly falling into debt. Solutions must be implemented to save the sport of speedway. That said, I always tell the riders: demand as much as you can! If there are guys—suckers, to call them what they are—who are willing to pay that much, then you should ask for as much as possible. I will always stand on the side of the riders," he declares bluntly. The debt burden of Polish speedway clubs is currently the number one topic of discussion. In the worst cases, debts are said to reach tens of millions of zlotys, and almost every club in the country faces some level of financial trouble—with perhaps a few exceptions, such as those in Wrocław or Toruń. "Besides, even the wealthiest nations in the world carry massive debt—just look at the United States or China. Yet, people in those countries often live well. So, is there a cure for this situation? I’m not sure if a truly effective solution can be found. Unless the presidents of the Ekstraliga clubs change their way of thinking, it will be difficult to save speedway, because that is where it all begins," concludes Jan Krzystyniak.

Vey well said! Bravo ! What LagutaRacingFan shows is lacking knowledge of the European history.

Because Lambert is British and both Laguta and Sayfutdinov are Russians. That's why.

From 2027, and in line with the requirements adopted by the Speedway League Bureau (SLB) and the national federations Polski Zwiazek Motorowy (PZM), Danmarks Motor Union (DMU) and Svenska Motorcykel - och Snoskoterforbundet (SVEMO), all riders holding an ACU licence who require start permission to compete in Polish, Danish or Swedish league racing will be required to participate in a British Speedway league competition. This initiative forms part of a collective commitment between the governing bodies to support the continued development, sustainability and competitiveness of domestic speedway leagues across Europe. By ensuring riders maintain an active involvement in their home national league structure, (...) copied from https://www.scbgb.co.uk/news.php?extend.257.1

"A month ago, I wouldn't have even thought that Robert would clinch the title. At that point, I would have picked Brady. I’m shocked. The performance in Vojens was crucial, as he scored 8 or 9 points more than Brady and Bartosz there," he notes.Lambert’s championship victory marks the end of the dominance enjoyed not only by Zmarzlik but also by Ryszard Kowalski. Riders using the Polish engineer’s engines had won consecutive titles without interruption from 2018 through 2025—namely Tai Woffinden, Artem Laguta, and the aforementioned Zmarzlik. Now, however, Holloway sits on the throne and has no intention of stepping down. "The goal is clear. Beyond Robert, we also have Daniel Bewley, Patryk Dudek, and Brady Kurtz in our ranks. We are fighting for further titles, and we want gold again next year," - said Ashley Holloway in an interview with the Polish sport daily " Przeglad Sportowy"

I think you are WRONG. Torun had nothing to do with preparing Torun track. This job was up to to Phil Morris and world speedway authority who tried to finish Zmarzlik supremacy on many occasions. Take for example the stupid "sprint points" thingy, As one of the commentators here said: "For the second year running the sprint races decided the world championship outcome. Points from the 4 sprint races Lambert 9 points , Kurtz 5 points, Zmarzlik 3 points. Think also about much too long pauses between the heats, where there was so much "levelling "done, etc.

That's a bit strong, isn't it. BTW, which Stal do you support, because as far as I know there are two Polish clubs called "Stal"

I am not surprised. After all BSPA stands for BRITISH Speedway Promotors Association, and Robert Lambert, the new world champion doesn't ride for any BRITISH club

Robert been riding on Polish tracks for years now, so what so "astronomical" about it ?

You were not the only one

Thank you for letting me know

Any link for today's SGP ?

Grand Prix 2027: 01.05 Gorican 15.05 Warszawa 29.05 Praga 12.06 TBA 03.07 Wrocław 17.07 Ryga 14.08 Ipswich 11.09 Vojens 25.09 Toruń 29.10 Adelaide 30.10 Adelaide

I am curious to find out why you "would love to see Poles get beaten in their own house".

Regrettably, it does not work for me!!!

Shame was/is that this cracking meeting was not shown on any TV . Shame is that FIM allowed this. BTW you say that 90% of these very good riders will never come to the UK. True, but what the UK would have to offer them? Speedway is a professional sport, and those who participate in it, do it for the money, and ride where they can get most.

Here is translated text from sportowefakty.pl dealing with Jason Doyle activities in Poland Jason Doyle arrived in Poland at the age of 23. However, he didn't conquer the Polish league at that time. Over the following seasons, he signed contracts with various clubs, but never really got a real chance. That opportunity came in 2014, just before he turned 30. Orzeł Łódź placed their trust in him. The Australian repaid the favour in the best way possible, simply conquering the second tier of the league. He also advanced to the Speedway Grand Prix. He was noticed by the bosses of PGE Ekstraliga. This resulted in a move to the Toruń team. A 24th-place in the individual ranking wasn't exactly groundbreaking, but it allowed him to comfortably stay in the Elite. Especially since he finished fifth in the SGP. He was already 30 years old at the time. Such a late entry into the world's elite is practically unheard of. It's no surprise, then, that fans have fallen in love with the Australian. The 2016 season was another breakthrough, though it ended in a very sad way. Doyle had already become a true leader in the PGE Ekstraliga, and in the Individual World Championship, after winning three rounds in a row, he was confidently heading for the title. However, an injury derailed his dreams. He ultimately finished the entire series in fifth place again. A year later, however, he achieved his goal. By triumphing in the final round in Melbourne, he secured the gold medal. All this with two fractured metatarsals. He was already 32 years old at the time. People love stories like this. It's no wonder Doyle gained a lot of fans. However, in subsequent seasons, he dropped his pace in the Grand Prix. It's said he no longer cared as much. He waited nearly seven years for his next Grand Prix win. In the PGE Ekstraliga, he remained a top rider, though his performances were less than impressive. He changed clubs regularly, competing at the highest level for teams in Toruń, Zielona Góra, Częstochowa, Leszno, Krosno, and Grudziądz. More and more talk emerged about his aggressive driving and various scandals, both large and small. After the 2022 season, Doyle agreed to stay at Unia Leszno for another year. Suddenly, he received an offer from the newly promoted team from Krosno and accepted, leaving his former team in the lurch. Leszno fans immediately hated the Australian. He, however, gave in to their provocation during a league match and showed the middle finger, for which he was fined. "He's not an easy man. You have to be very careful with him. I was friendly with him, but I know his moods are very volatile. That's why it's difficult to make a friend of him. You can help him, but you have to know when to step away, because he has a temper, and he doesn't mince his words," Marek Cieślak , a legendary coach who had the opportunity to coach Doyle, told WP SportoweFakty. During the 2024 season, the 2017 Individual World Champion suffered an injury, forcing him to retire prematurely. His Polish club, GKM Grudziądz, demanded a refund of some of the money he received for signing the contract, as stipulated in the regulations. The Australian initially disagreed. He also gave a powerful interview to Speedway Star. "Since the accident, I haven't had a single call from my Polish club in Grudziądz. They've never asked me how I'm feeling. They only asked me when I was in hospital in King's Lynn: 'Let us know how you're feeling so we can tell the fans.' I'm just a piece of meat to them, just a number," he said at the time. He eventually returned the money anyway. Before 2026, after 11 consecutive seasons, he was relegated to the lower leagues. He returned to Krosno Wolves. As a star, he was expected to help the team fight for the Metalkas 2 Ekstraliga final. The reality turned out to be different. Doyle currently ranks only 14th in the standings. After another poor performance, he again extended his middle finger to the fans, this time from Krosno. Ironically, those same fans collected money to pay for his punishment for the same gesture in 2023. "This is the smallest measure of his frustration," Cieślak comments. Fans from the Polish Sub-Carpathian region have had enough of Jason Doyle, especially since they're aware of his hefty contract. The rider himself seems unfazed. "He doesn't feel guilty. There's already a huge conflict there, not only with the fans, but also with the club's owners," Mateusz Puka told the Speedway College. According to him, the Australian even wrote on one of his social media that the officials should take his money if they didn't like him. "Doyle's absolute arrogance is there. He's the one who ruined the team," the journalist concluded. Everything points to the 40-year-old having to move on again after the season. There will likely be someone willing to sign him, as he can still offer a lot in terms of his sporting potential. However, it's undeniable that a growing number of fans in Poland have lost respect for him; some even hate him and refuse to watch him play. This is how the story of a speedway rider who, at a late age for an athlete, suddenly became the best rider in the world, admired by many. Ten years later, it's hard to find fans who would have a positive opinion of him. On the other hand, he never hid the fact that his primary goal was to earn money. "He's got one good thing. He simply doesn't lie. He says he races for the money, and that's it," summarises Marek Cieślak. Mateusz Kmiecik, sportowefakty.pl

Try to say the same thing in Polish...then somebody will (no doubt) take the mickey out of you. English, or should I say British riders, riding in the Polish Leagues are paid enormous sums of money and yet cannot utter a word in Polish.. and I think they should out of respect to their employers !

Here is what sportowefakty.pl had to say after Zmarzlik's yesterday victory: Bartosz Zmarzlik won his 30th Grand Prix round. The Polish rider was thrilled on the podium. “ It was a special moment. The symbolism of the numbers and the fact that my sons were with me at the GP for the first time," said the Polish representative. "Honestly? This is a special moment. The 300th Grand Prix, my 30th victory. The series began in 1995, when I was born and my mentor, Tomasz Gollob , won the first round in Wrocław , and now I'm winning. Nothing but beautiful numbers, and it's the first time both of my sons have competed in a Grand Prix. It's incredible," said Bartosz Zmarzlik after the event. "I'm still a young guy, a husband and a father, and I'm also doing what I love. When I see my sons smiling when I bring home trophies, it's amazing. I've gotten it into my head that I want to show them good races so they'll remember me for that. I have to do this for a few more years to make sure that image sticks in their minds," he continued when asked about his tears on the podium. Before the final, Bartosz Zmarzlik's father came to the pit to advise on equipment settings for the most important race of the evening. "Speedway isn't an easy sport, and the Wrocław GP was a real rollercoaster. You had to make a lot of decisions in a short period of time. My team did a great job, and before the final, my dad, who had been with my sons the entire race, came to us. He advised us on what to change, but I said we'd change everything because I was slow, and I only regained my speed in the final. I'd previously won starts but lost points along the way. I also changed my bike, which had a slower starting torque, but I felt more comfortable on it on the track; it allowed me to ride a wide section of the track. I could have tried to adjust the first bike, but nothing worked there, and I had to make a manly decision,” Zmarzlik said. The final itself was a lottery, and the critical moment came when Brady Kurtz and Bartosz Zmarzlik collided. “ I was glad I wasn't the first one to choose the field. In the final, Brady Kurtz and I collided. I was scared because I'd been in similar situations before, and my chain often fell off," commented Zmarzlik. By around 9:30 p.m., the entire pit lane was flooded with water, which was then pumped out. Even before the flooding in the pits was resolved, Phil Morris wanted to give the green light and start the race. All sixteen competitors then confronted him. "We were aiming for that first decision. They told us the light would go green and we'd go, but we didn't have the opportunity to work in the pits. Two bikes were cold, helmets were in a puddle, my bag was leaking, and my goggles were fogged up. I didn't know where anything was, I couldn't find my back protector because everything was flooded. It was total chaos, and we didn't resist riding at all. We just needed a little more time. Fortunately, Phil Morris and I later found common ground. I was convinced the race would go ahead, because Grand Prix races are rarely canceled," commented Zmarzlik. When the race was finally about to get underway, the starting machine and the green light malfunctioned. "I was devastated by the idea of starting with a flag. Mr. Electrician, thank you for fixing everything," concluded the new leader of the Grand Prix series standings. Source: sportowefakty.pl

Perhaps it's a bit too late to comment, but I will do it anyway, and it is: Being Polish I could not have written this better. My congratulations to StewMac

What has happened to the Danish team in the last 28th heat ?

After 20 heats 1. POLAND 34 2. DENMARK 29 3. GREAT BRITAIN 23 4. GERMANY 23 5. AUSTRALIA 21 6. Czech Republic 20 7. UKRAINE 16 8. SWEDEN 14

Parnitskyi is not doing as well as expected...meanwhile his greatest rival, Przyjemski won his first two heats giving Poland full eight points.