FIM SPEEDWAY: BARTOSZ LIKES GP LIFE

Feature photo by: Taylor Lanning… Ready for the Warsaw roar: Bartosz Zmarzlik.

Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik admits he has learned to embrace life in the FIM Speedway Grand Prix limelight as he gets ready for the Orlen Oil FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw this Saturday.

Since the world’s biggest speedway event – raced in front of around 50,000 fans – debuted at PGE Narodowy in 2015, Zmarzlik has made a meteoric rise from relative rookie to become one of the sport’s all-time greats.

With the five-time Speedway GP world champion chasing a record-equalling sixth gold medal this season, he has undoubtedly become one of the biggest sporting stars in his homeland.

This comes with a level of attention the relatively shy Zmarzlik has had to adapt to over the years. But the 30-year-old says this is something he embraces as he bids to become Poland’s first-ever Speedway GP winner at PGE Narodowy.

“Every year it’s easier because I understand more about this,” he said. “I know what to do and the attention is a positive because if you don’t like this, what are you doing in the sport?

“I think ‘wow’ sometimes when people come over, and it’s a nice feeling. Sometimes it’s hard, of course. But why not? If other people want something from me, why not open up and give time to these people?

“It is nice because I also do my racing for the people and these people come to the stadium. Everybody is welcome because with no people, there’s no racing.”

There will be no shortage of fans cheering on Zmarzlik, who holds a six-point Speedway GP World Championship lead over Great Britain star Dan Bewley in second spot heading to Warsaw. He is joined in flying the famous white and red flag by Lublin and Lejonen teammate Dominik Kubera, as well as wild card Patryk Dudek.

All three Poles are set to receive huge backing from a partisan Polish crowd, while the international stars will also enjoy plenty of support from fans travelling from all over the world. 

But Zmarzlik is keen to focus on his job rather than the noise as he aims to better the second place he achieved at PGE Narodowy in 2024.

“This is, of course, a special meeting,” he said. “But I will go into every meeting like I always do. It doesn’t matter where we go; I always want to do a good job. I always do the best I can.”

Kubera will also be hoping for a big night in Warsaw, having scored two points in the 2024 event and missed the 2023 round at PGE Narodowy due to injury, after crashing in Qualifying.

The tight and technical Warsaw circuit is unique as it is constructed in the week leading up to the event by Danish triple world champion Ole Olsen.

Some riders adapt to the circuit faster than others, and Kubera proved his class on a temporary track when he finished fourth at the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff last August.

The Leszno-born star raced to three fourth places in 2024 and is determined to get back on the SGP podium for the first time since he made his debut as a wild card in the 2021 FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Lublin double-header, finishing second on night one and third on night two.

“Of course, I want to make all the finals and take the trophy,” he said. “One goal for this season is to be in the final and not be the last one. I want to be on the podium like I was in Lublin because I think about it all the time. I want to get this feeling back because it is awesome, and I would love it.”

2025 ORLEN OIL FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF POLAND – WARSAW LINE-UP:

95. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland)

505. Robert Lambert (Great Britain)

66. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden)

99. Dan Bewley (Great Britain)

54. Martin Vaculik (Slovakia)

25. Jack Holder (Australia)

155. Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark)

415. Dominik Kubera (Poland)

29. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia)

46. Max Fricke (Australia)

744. Kai Huckenbeck (Germany)

201. Jan Kvech (Czech Republic)

69. Jason Doyle (Australia)

105. Anders Thomsen (Denmark)

101. Brady Kurtz (Australia)

16. Patryk Dudek (Poland – wild card)

17. Mateusz Cierniak (Poland – first track reserve)

18. Bartlomiej Kowalski (Poland – second track reserve)