Speedway in Poland
Speedway is one of the most popular sports in Poland. The Ekstraliga has the highest average attendances for any sport in Poland. The first meetings in Poland were held in the 1930s.[1]
Speedway in
Union Européenne de Motocyclisme
(UEM).
National team
Poland has produced three
2006 ISJWC
).
Championships
There are three types of speedway championships in Poland: individual (Indywidualne Mistrzostwa Polski, IMP), pairs (Mistrzostwa Polski Par Klubowych, MPPK), and team, consisting of three leagues (Drużynowe Mistrzostwa Polski, DMP). The Junior U-21 championships also consist of three categories: individual (Młodzieżowe Indywidualne Mistrzostwa Polski, MIMP), pairs (Młodzieżowe Mistrzostwa Polski Par Klubowych, MMPPK), and team (Młodzieżowe Drużynowe Mistrzostwa Polski, MDMP).
| Poland ( Polish Motor Union , PZM)
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Pair | Team | |
| Seniors | Individual Speedway Polish Championship (since 1932/1949)
|
Polish Pairs Speedway Championship (since 1974) | Team Speedway Polish Championship (since 1948) |
| Juniors U-21 | MIMP (od 1967)
|
MMPPK (since 1983) | MDMP (since 1978) |
Teams (league competition)
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There are three speedway leagues in Poland:
- Ekstraliga (Ekstraliga żużlowa) (Team Speedway Polish Championship)
- Polish Speedway First League (eWinner 1.liga żużlowa)
- Polish Speedway Second League (2. liga żużlowa)
In the
2009 season, the Extraleague and First League have eight teams competing. The second League has seven teams. Notably, KS Toruń
(since 1976) has never been relegated to a lower division until the 2019 season when the team was relegated for the first time in the history.
Competitions
Polish Cup
- Individual Speedway Polish Cup (Indywidualny Puchar Polski, IPP)
- Team Speedway Polish Cup (Drużynowy Puchar Polski, DPP)
Helmets competition
GKSŻ organizes the Golden Helmet, Silver Helmet and Bronze Helmet competitions.[2]
- The Golden Helmet (Złoty Kask, ZK) is a single meeting held in PC Team 3rd from last season (before usually in Wrocław), with the top twelve riders in the Extraleague and the top four riders in the First League. The Winner get a new motorcycle Java.
- The Silver Helmet (Srebrny Kask, SK) is an individual competition for riders under 21 years of age for the top sixteen riders in the Extraleague, the top ten riders in the First League, and the six two riders in the Second League competing. A Final event held in PC Team U-21 3rd from last season.
- The Bronze Helmet (Brązowy Kask, BK) is an individual competition similar to the Silver Helmet except the riders must be under 19 years of age. Riders are nominated for this competition by their teams.
Friendly competition
Other competitions include (individual meetings), e.g.:
- Polonia Stadium in Bydgoszcz. It is seen by riders and fans as the official opening of the new season. First staged in 1982, although a similar meeting was held in the 1950s.
- Crest Chain of Ostrów Town (Łańcuch Herbowy Miasta Ostrowa) held in Ostrów Wielkopolski. It is the official end of season meeting. First staged in 1978.
- Alfred Smoczyk Memorial (Alfred Smoczyk Stadium.
- Edward Jancarz Memorial (Memoriał im. Edwarda Jancarza) in Gorzów Wielkopolski.
Speedway Grand Prix in Poland
Current Grand Prix
- Jancarz Stadium(2022–2023)
- Toruń at MotoArena Toruń (2010–2023)
- Warsaw at Stadion Narodowy (2015–2019, 2022–2023)
Previously, SGP events hosted in:
- Polonia Stadium(1998–2010 and 2013–2014)
- Silesian Stadium(2002–2003)
- Alfred Smoczyk Stadium(2008–2012)
- Lublin at Stadion MOSiR (2021)
- Olympic Stadium(1995–1997, 1999, 2004–2007, 2019–2022)
Panorama
Famous riders
- Tomasz Gollob (born 1971): Individual Polish Champion eight times (lately in 2009), 2nd ever Polish World Champion in 2010
- Jarosław Hampel (b.1982): three times Speedway World Championship medallist
- Rune Holta (born 1973): the only Individual Polish Champion winner who is a naturalized citizen of Poland (born Norwegian).
- Andrzej Huszcza (born 1957): has been riding since 1975 till 2007
- Edward Jancarz (1946–1992)
- Zenon Plech (b. 1953): Individual Polish Champion five times, double WC Individual medallist (1973 and 1979)
- Mieczysław Połukard (1930–1985): the first Polish rider to ride in the Individual World Championship Final in 1959
- Alfred Smoczyk (1928–1950): the first PC Individual champion after World War II (in 1949)
- Jerzy Szczakiel (b. 1949): the first Polish World Champion in 1973
- Paweł Waloszek (b. 1938): the first silver WC Individual medallist (1970)
- Antoni Woryna (b. 1941): the first WC Individual medallist (bronze in 1966) and the first double WC Individual medallist (bronze in 1970)
- Bartosz Zmarzlik (ur. 1995): the first Polish three-times World Champion (2019, 2020, 2022)
See also
Notes
- ^ Kevin Meynell & Marcin Babnis (7 July 2004), History of Polish Speedway. Main competitions. Rules. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ (pl) pzm.pl Golden, Silver and Bronze Helmets Regulations
External links
- Speedway on Polish Motor Union website (pl)
- Polish Speedway Almanac (pl)
- polish news on speedwayworld.tv (en)
| Championships |
|   |
|---|---|---|
| Helmets and Cups | ||
| Memorials | ||
| Tournaments |
| |
| Grands Prix | ||
| National teams | ||
| Governing Bodies |
| |
| Ekstraliga | | |
|---|---|---|
| Ekstraliga 2 | ||
| National League | ||
| Former |
| |
| Seasons |
| |