Polish hero Bartosz Zmarzlik was elated to carry his nerve in essentially the most high-stakes race of his profession to date to develop into a record-equalling six-time Speedway GP world champion at Denmark’s Vojens Speedway Heart on Saturday.
Zmarzlik joined late New Zealand nice Ivan Mauger and Swedish legend Tony Rickardsson within the sport’s most unique membership of six-time FIM Speedway world champions, in addition to changing into the primary rider within the sport’s historical past to win 4 gold medals in a row – including to his 2022, 2023 and 2024 triumphs, in addition to his 2019 and 2020 victories.
Zmarzlik and Australian title rival Brady Kurtz zoomed straight by way of to the Deluxe Homeart FIM Speedway GP of Denmark – Vojens remaining, organising a four-lap shoot-out for a spot within the historical past books.
Regardless of Kurtz racing to a record-breaking fifth straight Speedway GP victory – including to his current wins in Gorzow, Malilla, Riga and Wroclaw – Zmarzlik took the second place he wanted to retain the SGP crown by simply ONE level, earlier than receiving the trophy from fellow six-time winner Rickardsson.
Danish nationwide champion and wild card Michael Jepsen Jensen delighted the house crowd as he completed third within the GP on his first SGP look since 2018 – on an evening when his full-time return to the championship for 2026 collection was confirmed – 11 years after his final full SGP season in 2015.
Nice Britain racer Dan Bewley completed fourth within the GP to say Speedway GP World Championship bronze – his first look on the collection podium – after defeating 2024 bronze medallist Fredrik Lindgren of Sweden in last-chance qualifier two (LCQ2) to seal the ultimate spot on this yr’s podium.
However the night time belonged to Zmarzlik. Regardless of ending on the earth’s prime two yearly since 2018, even the ice-cool Lublin and Lejonen star felt the pressure as he pursued Kurtz in his quest for gold.
He stated: “After I was second, I needed to inform my head to remain calm as a result of I felt prefer it was spinning on the bike. It was very powerful and arduous for the pinnacle to do that.
“However general, I wasn’t tremendous careworn. Since I wakened, I felt very nice, and a bit of little bit of stress was taken off after the primary few heats.
“That is a tremendous second for me as a result of once I was younger, I used to be at all times dreaming about changing into world champion.
“Now I’m 30 years previous, I’ve six world titles, and that is unbelievable for me. I can’t 100% take on this second that I’ve achieved with my group.
“I’m tremendous comfortable as a result of Brady gave me a extremely massive problem, so thanks, Brady. All season we now have produced a superb present for the game. I’m comfortable I’ve received, and I don’t know what extra to say at this second.”
The Polish nationwide anthem echoed throughout Vojens, sung by a passionate crowd of travelling Polish followers, on the night time when the house of Danish speedway celebrated its fiftieth anniversary of racing. Zmarzlik was delighted with the backing he obtained. He stated: “I actually felt good at Vojens, and I need to thank the followers from Poland for his or her massive assist. The gold medal is coming again to Poland.
“After I was on the best way right here, every time I finished, lots of people came to visit and took photographs with me. I may see how many individuals have been coming for this stunning night time.”
Zmarzlik heads into 2026 bidding to develop into the primary rider ever to say seven FIM Speedway World Championships, and the Polish nice is aware of he has time on his aspect.
The 30-year-old stated: “I’m nonetheless younger, and I nonetheless need to do that. I’m tremendous proud of what I’ve executed. I like speedway, I like racing, and I like the bikes. I don’t assume, ‘I have to’, solely ‘I can.’ I should have enjoyable, and also you by no means know what’s going to occur sooner or later. I’ll at all times do my finest and we are going to see.”
New world No.2 Kurtz was proud to have taken the combat to Zmarzlik by racking up 5 straight SGP wins, surpassing the earlier file of 4 set by Rickardsson on his strategy to a sixth and remaining world title in 2005.
However he had blended feelings after falling only a level in need of the game’s greatest prize. He stated: “Clearly it’s powerful to return that near successful, however I’m additionally so grateful and comfortable to win silver in my first yr. To win 5 GPs is totally unbelievable. To get the silver medal is a hell of an achievement.
“I’ve to say congratulations to Bartek. You must respect him and admire him. He’s a hell of a competitor. I’m not positive what I’ve to do to beat him, however I have to preserve engaged on that. Congratulations to him and his group. They did an unbelievable job for all the yr. I’m glad to be right here.”
Kurtz admits staying cool and dashing up his begins as an unforgettable yr progressed helped him to take the combat to Zmarzlik. He stated: “After I received for the primary time in Gorzow, I correctly began to consider that I may win and immediately, my beginning capacity actually went up from there. That’s just about all that has occurred. I’ve been making good begins and simply making an attempt to remain calm.
“To be trustworthy, even at the moment, I used to be not fearful about successful the World Championship in any respect. All I used to be centered on was simply making an attempt to make every begin and get to the ultimate. I knew I’d have a superb gate decide, and after that, it wasn’t actually as much as me. I simply tried to do my factor, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient.”
Bronze medallist Bewley sealed a career-best SGP end. The Cumbrian has usually insisted his focus is on sturdy performances and chasing wins reasonably than worrying about medals.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t care,” he stated. “It was extra that so far as I’m involved, if you happen to go about your job and do your finest, the medal might be there. It’s good to lastly get there. Between me and Freddie, it went all the way down to that LCQ, and it was fairly cool having that final race with him.
“It has been a superb yr. I need to say nicely executed to those two boys (Zmarzlik and Kurtz). We had a superb battle, and it has been enjoyable. Because of the entire group behind me and everybody for his or her assist all through the season. It has been fairly cool in every single place I went.”
Zmarzlik’s triumph noticed him be a part of FIM Speedway Underneath-21 World Championship winner Nazar Parnitskyi of Ukrainian and Denmark’s FIM SGP4 World Championship winner Tino Stjernegaard Olsen in claiming an FIM Speedway World Championships gold medal on Vojens’ Weekend of Champions.
Zmarzlik, Kurtz and Bewley are joined in qualifying for the 2026 Speedway GP collection by fourth-placed Lindgren, Australia’s Jack Holder in fifth, Latvia’s Andzejs Lebedevs in sixth, with Nice Britain star Robert Lambert snatching the seventh and remaining computerized qualification place.
They’re joined by the highest 4 riders from the FIM SGP Problem in Holsted on August 9 – Polish duo Dominik Kubera and Kacper Woryna, in addition to Denmark’s former world No.2 Leon Madsen.
With Lebedevs ending fourth within the Problem and sixth within the SGP standings, the qualification place he earned in Holsted passes to Jepsen Jensen, who was fifth within the Problem.
The FIM Speedway season wraps up with the 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations, which sees 15 nations battle it out for the game’s world group title at Torun’s Marian Rose Motoarena in Poland from September 30-October 4.
Vojens Outcomes
Ultimate Championship Outcomes
Trending Merchandise
