In this article we are going to delve into the exciting world of Speedway in Poland. From its origins to its influence today, we will explore all facets of Speedway in Poland and its impact in various fields. We will analyze its evolution over time, as well as the different perspectives that exist on Speedway in Poland. In addition, we will examine its relevance in today's society and its future projection. It doesn't matter if you are an expert in the field or if it is the first time you are hearing about Speedway in Poland, this article will offer you a complete and detailed insight into this exciting topic.
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.
Speedway in Poland is governed by the Main Commission of Speedway Sport (Główna Komisja Sportu Żużlowego, GKSŻ) which is a part of the Polish Motor Union (Polski Związek Motorowy, PZM). PZM is a member of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and the Union Européenne de Motocyclisme (UEM).
Poland has produced three Individual World Champion - Jerzy Szczakiel who won in 1973, Tomasz Gollob who won in the 2010 Individual Speedway World Championships and Bartosz Zmarzlik who won in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. He is the only Polish quadruple world champion. Polish junior riders are among the best in the world. The Polish National U-21 team won the Under 21 World Championship since 2005 in every years (lately in 2007). Besides, since 2000 Polish juniors won medals of Individual U-21 World Championship. Polish riders have been World Champions seven times at Under 21 level (lately Karol Ząbik at the 2006 ISJWC).
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) |
There are three speedway leagues in Poland:
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.
GKSŻ organizes the Golden Helmet, Silver Helmet and Bronze Helmet competitions.
Other competitions include (individual meetings), e.g.:
Current Grand Prix
Previously, SGP events hosted in: