GP line-up for 2026

[Fromafar]

2 hours ago, IainB said:

When you've got a 6 x World Champion whose command of the English language doesn't extend beyond "me big happy" it's no surprise that the promoters want somebody who will guarantee some media coverage with maybe the odd f-bomb dropped in for good measure. If they've got anything about them they'll already have a camera crew following his rehab journey. 

As much as he doesn't deserve to be in it on the form of the last 4 or 5 years he does on the media coverage he'll bring with his comeback from near death... so I think I'm all for it on that basis. 

While you cannot question his achievements in the sport.I cannot agree that his Interviews will be seen as putting the sport in good light with foul mouth replies to Presenters.Marmite character .IMO

[PolskiZuzel]

On 10/6/2025 at 1:05 PM, Pinny said:

Including Woffinden is an absolute joke. 

"Maybe Hans Nielsen would try again, Ole Olsen could get a chance, or Tony Rickardsson would fight Bartosz Zmarzlik for a seventh title?" - reports sportowefakty.pl

It's time to end the wild cards! They distort the essence of the competition. Let's go back to the founding fathers' idea and run the Grand Prix Challenge according to their philosophy. For example, let's let eight riders remain in the series, and all the rest who don't make it will get a chance to compete in the Challenge tournament. We'll also add the other half of the qualifying players.

[szkocjasid]

Apart from Fricke, I don't think there were any other "stonewall" wild card options. Doyle & Vaculik had a few issues with injuries, but still wouldn't have challenged for a top 7 spot. The best non-gp riders made it through already (Madsen, Dudek, Jepsen-Jensen).

With no obvious picks, I would've gone with next in line in GPs / GP challenge, certainly not Woffy.

Fricke - yes

Then 2 or Doyle, Vaculik, Michelsen or Thomsen.

If the organisers are choosing wildcards for clicks & publicity, I'm half surprised they didn't go for Hannah Grunwald along with Woffy 🤭

[chunky]

On 10/6/2025 at 8:44 AM, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Woffinden ffs I hear Bruce penhall was available 

I thought you were next in line?

[IainB]

13 hours ago, Fromafar said:

While you cannot question his achievements in the sport.I cannot agree that his Interviews will be seen as putting the sport in good light with foul mouth replies to Presenters.Marmite character .IMO

Love him or hate him at least he generates an opinion and the media outlets love that... I can often find myself loving and hating him in the same meeting! Zmarzlik as good as he undoubtedly is adds nothing to Speedway outside of Poland and possibley Sweden.

Edited 4 hours ago by IainB

[IainB]

9 hours ago, PolskiZuzel said:

It's time to end the wild cards! They distort the essence of the competition. Let's go back to the founding fathers' idea and run the Grand Prix Challenge according to their philosophy. For example, let's let eight riders remain in the series, and all the rest who don't make it will get a chance to compete in the Challenge tournament. We'll also add the other half of the qualifying players.

Also while we're at it let's go back to 1 GP per country and introduce some new audiences

[Fromafar]

9 hours ago, PolskiZuzel said:

"Maybe Hans Nielsen would try again, Ole Olsen could get a chance, or Tony Rickardsson would fight Bartosz Zmarzlik for a seventh title?" - reports sportowefakty.pl

It's time to end the wild cards! They distort the essence of the competition. Let's go back to the founding fathers' idea and run the Grand Prix Challenge according to their philosophy. For example, let's let eight riders remain in the series, and all the rest who don't make it will get a chance to compete in the Challenge tournament. We'll also add the other half of the qualifying players.

Tend to agree with Top 8 stay in bottom 8 in a challenge with Top 8 in Gp Challenge after last Gp.Say top7 go through and 1 wildcard for country holding Gp.

[SPEEDY69]

1 hour ago, Fromafar said:

Tend to agree with Top 8 stay in bottom 8 in a challenge with Top 8 in Gp Challenge after last Gp.Say top7 go through and 1 wildcard for country holding Gp.

Although that only leaves 7 places for new challengers as currently some of the current GP riders opt out of the qualifiers and risk not getting back in, which gives more spots in the challenge meeting for new triers.  Your system gives existing GP riders a backstop which I'm not so keen on.

[CrazyMadTom]

Yes, top 8 into the next years GP, but have qualifier's with no current GP riders and have 3 new faces(at least)  to join, then a GP challenge for the next places(Less 1 if they keep the SEC place)

 

GP challenge line up

Bottom 7 from GP

SGP2 Top 3

6 next from the qualifiers

Edited 4 hours ago by CrazyMadTom

[MARK246]

2 hours ago, IainB said:

Love him or hate him at least he generates an opinion and the media outlets love that... I can often find myself loving and hating him in the same meeting! Zmarzlik as good as he undoubtedly is adds nothing to Speedway outside of Poland and possibley Sweden.

There is no speedway outside of Poland and Sweden

[Fromafar]

46 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

Although that only leaves 7 places for new challengers as currently some of the current GP riders opt out of the qualifiers and risk not getting back in, which gives more spots in the challenge meeting for new triers.  Your system gives existing GP riders a backstop which I'm not so keen on.

See your point,perhaps this seasons top8 should not be allowed in the qualifiers next season and have to rely on top 8 place again or if they do not make it should allowed back in qualifiers the season after.

[IainB]

1 hour ago, MARK246 said:

There is no speedway outside of Poland and Sweden

There is... but somebody should tell the World Champ 👍🏻

[Fromafar]

16 minutes ago, IainB said:

There is... but somebody should tell the World Champ 👍🏻

He knows .He likes Birmingham unfortunately.

[FAST GATER]

11 minutes ago, IainB said:

There is... but somebody should tell the World Champ 👍🏻

Not quite sure what you want of him to do  ,I find his English is better than my Polish ( non existent I might add) he appears to  me extremley modest likeable young man .

He dose all his talking on the track  IMO he is an excellent advert for the sport ,had Krutz won he would have gone home for the winter and would have only been seen in the UK next season because he rides there !

[IainB]

49 minutes ago, FAST GATER said:

Not quite sure what you want of him to do  ,I find his English is better than my Polish ( non existent I might add) he appears to  me extremley modest likeable young man .

He dose all his talking on the track  IMO he is an excellent advert for the sport ,had Krutz won he would have gone home for the winter and would have only been seen in the UK next season because he rides there !

But you're not a 6 x World Champion who is responsible for promoting our sport to the world as that Champion. 

He's a terrible advert for our sport off track with his inability to communicate with anybody outside of Poland. His on track ability is not in question nor is whether he's a nice guy or not, like you say he does come across as a nice guy... but that's easy when you're always winning. "Me big happy" just doesn't cut it when communicating with the world's media. Tai will get you column inches

Zmarzlik's responsibility as custodian of the World Championship is to be seen outside of his own country at the PCMT, Czech Golden Helmet etc. And not price his appearance fee so high that nobody can afford to book him. 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by IainB

[PolskiZuzel]

14 minutes ago, IainB said:

.... And not price his appearance fee so high that nobody can afford to book him. 

 

Are you sure that "his appearance fee is so high that nobody can afford to book him" ? , if so, can you give us the amount he is asking for. If not, what basis do you have to presume so?

[mikebv]

5 hours ago, IainB said:

Love him or hate him at least he generates an opinion and the media outlets love that... I can often find myself loving and hating him in the same meeting! Zmarzlik as good as he undoubtedly is adds nothing to Speedway outside of Poland and possibley Sweden.

At least the post meeting disco will be good...

"Tai, can you play us Hi Ho Silver Lining?"..

[TheReturn]

5 hours ago, IainB said:

Love him or hate him at least he generates an opinion and the media outlets love that... I can often find myself loving and hating him in the same meeting! Zmarzlik as good as he undoubtedly is adds nothing to Speedway outside of Poland and possibley Sweden.

I thought the SGP was meant to be the best sporting riders in the world, not ex world champions who generate an opinion.  Let's be clear, he was way past their racing best for couple of seasons and it been left to sporting form, Woffinden would not have qualified. An ex world champion he may be but that selection is not justifiable. 

 

[mikebv]

39 minutes ago, IainB said:

But you're not a 6 x World Champion who is responsible for promoting our sport to the world as that Champion. 

He's a terrible advert for our sport off track with his inability to communicate with anybody outside of Poland. His on track ability is not in question nor is whether he's a nice guy or not, like you say he does come across as a nice guy... but that's easy when you're always winning. "Me big happy" just doesn't cut it when communicating with the world's media. Tai will get you column inches

Zmarzlik's responsibility as custodian of the World Championship is to be seen outside of his own country at the PCMT, Czech Golden Helmet etc. And not price his appearance fee so high that nobody can afford to book him. 

 

We had a British 3 time World Champion who chose not to ride in the UK....

He wasnt even a custodian for Speedway in his own country, never  mind the world...

I like Tai, and he was no different than Nicki P, Greg Hancock and even Jason Crump who all did the same as World Champions, (and their English is very good)...

It wasn't, and isn't, any World Champs responsibility to promote British Speedway, that is the responsibility of the promoters and riders who do ride over here...

Edited 1 hour ago by mikebv

[SPEEDY69]

7 minutes ago, TheReturn said:

I thought the SGP was meant to be the best sporting riders in the world, not ex world champions who generate an opinion.  Let's be clear, he was way past their racing best for couple of seasons and it been left to sporting form, Woffinden would not have qualified. An ex world champion he may be but that selection is not justifiable. 

 

Your view does not agree with the FIM.  The world champs has never been about the best riders & is no different to athletics in that regard.  They are interested in growing the business and selling the events.