GP line-up for 2026

[Fromafar]

1 hour 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. 

 

Think your well of the mark with these remarks,nobody in the street outside of Poland knows what speedway is these days.Ask any in Poland and they will rattle off speedway riders for fun,ask somebody in Uk for British stars you won’t get many answers.That DJ maybe😂😂.As 3 timesWorld Champion he’s is not really a great advert is Tai.

[BluPanther]

50 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

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.

Not going too well though, is it...

[Fromafar]

1 hour 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. 

 

Think your well of the mark with these remarks,nobody in the street outside of Poland knows what speedway is these days.Ask any in Poland and they will rattle off speedway riders for fun,ask somebody in Uk for British stars you won’t get many answers.That DJ maybe😂😂.As 3 timesWorld Champion he’s is not really a great advert is Tai.

[Fromafar]

15 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

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 🤭

At least Hannah is current World Champion🤔👍

[SPEEDY69]

15 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

Think your well of the mark with these remarks,nobody in the street outside of Poland knows what speedway is these days.Ask any in Poland and they will rattle off speedway riders for fun,ask somebody in Uk for British stars you won’t get many answers.That DJ maybe😂😂.As 3 timesWorld Champion he’s is not really a great advert is Tai.

I've also asked Polish people that I've encountered either here or on holiday and whilst a small sample, the five people I've asked have also not heard of it.😒

[Fromafar]

25 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

I've also asked Polish people that I've encountered either here or on holiday and whilst a small sample, the five people I've asked have also not heard of it.😒

It’s a minority sport and we just have to accept the fact.It was popular in UK at one time but is slowly slipping into obscurity nowadays.

It’s credibility as a professional sport is low,and attracting new fans and keeping them is a problem.IMO

Other forms of Bike Sport in GB are doing OK these days though and attracting decent attendances.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Fromafar

[PersonalResponsibility]

36 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

I've also asked Polish people that I've encountered either here or on holiday and whilst a small sample, the five people I've asked have also not heard of it.😒

We spoke to a taxi driver in Krakow about speedway and he didn't know anything about it. He vaguely recalled playing amateur football on a pitch inside a track once, but had never watched a meeting. Poland is a different world for speedway, but it's hardly like every other Joe Public knows what it is.

[Fromafar]

10 minutes ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

We spoke to a taxi driver in Krakow about speedway and he didn't know anything about it. He vaguely recalled playing amateur football on a pitch inside a track once, but had never watched a meeting. Poland is a different world for speedway, but it's hardly like every other Joe Public knows what it is.

UK would die for the number of people who turn up too watch though.

[mikebv]

36 minutes ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

We spoke to a taxi driver in Krakow about speedway and he didn't know anything about it. He vaguely recalled playing amateur football on a pitch inside a track once, but had never watched a meeting. Poland is a different world for speedway, but it's hardly like every other Joe Public knows what it is.

Speedway in Poland is incredibly well followed in certain areas, but, outside of them, it is still a minority sport...

The average attendances for the top league was over 10k per match this year, however, given they only run four matches a week that is "only" 40,000 per week watching the top tier..

A huge amount versus the UK top tier, but just two football matches in the top division over there can smash that...

Zmarzlik getting the "Sports Personality Of The Year Award" a few seasons ago, shows the sport does resonate across the country, but it is still a long way from being the No1 Sport over there..

I could see him winning it again this year which, again, would be a boost for Polish Speedway to utilise...

[Fromafar]

10 minutes ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

We spoke to a taxi driver in Krakow about speedway and he didn't know anything about it. He vaguely recalled playing amateur football on a pitch inside a track once, but had never watched a meeting. Poland is a different world for speedway, but it's hardly like every other Joe Public knows what it is.

UK would die for the number of people who turn up too watch though.

[IainB]

3 hours ago, Fromafar said:

Think your well of the mark with these remarks,nobody in the street outside of Poland knows what speedway is these days.Ask any in Poland and they will rattle off speedway riders for fun,ask somebody in Uk for British stars you won’t get many answers.That DJ maybe😂😂.As 3 timesWorld Champion he’s is not really a great advert is Tai.

He's a great advert, his near death experience got a lot more headlines that Bartek's 6th World Championship. And the Poles I've met in day to day life in this country, although aware of Speedway, have shown no interest in discussing it with me... but that may just be me 😂

Edited 16 minutes ago by IainB

[IainB]

4 hours ago, mikebv said:

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...

100% agree, Tai should have stuck around in the UK, just because I think he should be a wild card next year for publicity reasons, I don't agree with everything he's ever done, like I said he's a divisive character, he will get press though unlike BZ.

And no it's not a World Champs responsibility to promote British Speedway but I think it is their duty to promote World Speedway and you don't do that by hiding away in Poland.

[IainB]

4 hours ago, mikebv said:

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

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

 push pineapple, shake the tree 😂

[Fromafar]

19 minutes ago, IainB said:

He's a great advert, his near death experience got a lot more headlines that Bartek's 6th World Championship. And the Poles I've met in day to day life in this country, although aware of Speedway, have shown no interest in discussing it with me... but that may just be me 😂

That why Speedway is in trouble,if that is the case.