FAST GATER Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago On 7/4/2026 at 10:38 AM, PolskiZuzel said: 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 I have always admired the rider not the man ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.