In Poland, speedway is the most popular sport in terms of the number of spectators. Big meetings usually attract crowded stadiums, with attendances between 10,000 and 25,000 people. Poles call the sport zuzel which roughly translated means cinders.
The first speedway meetings in Poland (called dirt-track) were held in the early 1930's, but speedway boomed after WWII when there were many motorcycles in relation to the number of cars. The Polish Speedway League started in 1948, and although various formats were used, the winner of the First Division was always declared Polish Team Champion.
Since the late 1950's, Poland has competed in World Championship events. They first won the World Team Cup in 1961. Another boost in the 1970's came with Polish riders competing at the highest level. Poland became the third country to host the World Individual Final. In 1973, the final was held in Chorzow (Katowice) and was won by Jerzy Szczakiel. To this day, he is the only Polish winner of the competition.
The 1980's saw a decline in the international fortunes of Polish speedway with only Zenon Plech and Edward Jancarz taking three medals in the World Pairs Championship. This recession was halted in 1990 when foreign riders were allowed to compete in the Polish League. Nevertheless, despite having a strong representation in the last few World Junior Finals, only Tomasz Gollob has managed to compete at Grand Prix level.
Longtrack and Grasstrack is not ridden in Poland although Polish riders occasionally participate in the World and European Championships. Since 1994, Poland has organised Ice Racing Grand Prix rounds even though no Pole rides on the frozen track.
Speedway in Poland is governed by the GKSZ (Main Commission for Speedway
Sport) which is a sub-commission of the PZM (Polish Motor Union). They
in turn are members of the FIM.
Most Polish rules are derived from FIM rules. Only members of the PZM
may organise speedway meetings on GKSZ licenced tracks. Riders must
obtain a speedway licence from the PZM before can take part in a
meeting, and this is only granted after passing a two part exam (rules
and bike mechanics). A motorcycle driving licence is also required.
Foreign riders may ride on an FIM International Licence.
Each team races every other team in their league once at home and once
away, making a total of eighteen matches in the First League and
twenty-four matches in the Second League. These matches are held as a
series of rounds between April and September, with each round consisting
of five First League, and six Second League matches. Most rounds are
held on a Sunday. In the event that a match has to be postponed, it is
usually restaged no later than fourteen days from the original date.
Teams are awarded two league points for a win, and one league point for
a draw. At the end of the season, the team accumulating the most number
of league points is declared the winner. Where two or more teams are
tied on league points, the tie is resolved as follows:
The team winning the First League Final is awarded the Gold Medal and is
declared Polish Team Champions. The losing team is awarded the Silver
Medal, whilst the team winning the third place tie is awarded the Bronze
Medal.
As the Polish Team Championship is being re-structured in 2000, the
teams finishing 1st to 6th in the First League, the winner of the Second
League, and the winner of a home and away race-off between the
7th-placed team in the First League and the 2nd-placed team in the
Second League, will form a new Extra League. The team losing the
race-off, the teams finishing 8th to 10th in the First League, and the
teams finishing 3rd to 6th in the Second League, will form a
re-positioned First League. All other teams will compete in the Second
League.
First League: Bydgoszcz, Gdansk, Gniezno, Gorzów, Grudziadz, Leszno,
Pila, Rzeszów, Torun, Wroclaw
The group winners plus the best runner-up meet in the Final, which is
also run as a five team tournament. One of the
finalists is chosen by the GKSZ to host this.
The team winning the Final is awarded the Gold medal and is declared
Polish Junior Team Champion. Teams finishing second and third are
awarded the Silver and Bronze medals respectively.
What is the PZM and the GKSZ?
From: Marcin Babnis
What are the main competitions held in Poland?
From: Marcin BabnisPolish Team Championship (Druzynowe Mistrzostwa Polski)
There are currently twenty-three teams divided into two leagues; ten in
the First League and thirteen in the Second League. If a new team
applies to join the Championship, they are placed in the Second
League.
The First League holds an additional competition in early October to
decide the top four positions. The highest placed team meets the 4th
placed team in one Semi-Final, whilst the 2nd placed team meets the 3rd
placed team in the other Semi-Final. The winners of the Semi-Finals
progress to the Final, with the losers racing-off for third place. All
ties are held over home and away matches with the aggregate score
deciding the result. The team finishing higher in the league table holds
the second match at home. This team also wins the tie in the event of
the aggregate score being level.
Second League: Czestochowa, Kraków, Krosno, Lódz, Lublin, Opole,
Ostrów, Rawicz, Rybnik, Rzeszów II, Swietochlowice, Tarnów, Zielona
GóraPolish Junior Team Championship (Mlodziezowe Druzynowe Mistrzostwa
Polski)
This competition is for riders under twenty-one years of age. The
participating teams are divided into four groups, more or less
geographically to cut costs. Every team stages a five team tournament on their own track which means
they ride a total of five legs. The winner of each tournament is awarded
four match points, second placed teams are awarded three match points,
third placed teams are awarded two match points, and fourth placed teams
are awarded one match point. The total points scored over the five legs
are then used to determine the final group placings. Where two or more
teams have scored an equal number of match points, the team scoring the
greater number of race points is placed higher.Polish Individual Championship (Indywidualne Mistrzostwa
Polski)
The top thirty-eight riders in the First League, and the top twenty-six
riders in the Second League (by CMA) are drawn
into four Quarter-Finals. The top eight riders (plus one reserve) from
each Quarter-Final progress to the Semi-Finals, with the top eight
riders (plus one reserve) from each Semi-Final meeting in the Final. The
Final is hosted by the Team Champion of the previous season.
The winner of the Final is awarded the Gold medal and is declared Polish Individual Champion. Riders finishing second and third are awarded the Silver and Bronze medals respectively.
The team winning the Final is awarded the Gold medal and is declared Polish Pairs Champion. Teams finishing second and third are awarded the Silver and Bronze medals respectively.
| Round 1: | Teams placed 10th or lower in previous season's competition and new entrants |
| Round 2: | Teams placed 7th to 9th in previous season's competition Winner of Round 1 |
| Round 3: | Teams placed 4th to 6th in previous season's competition Winner of Round 2 |
| Final: | Teams placed 1st to 3rd in previous season's competition Winner of Round 3 |
What other competitions are held in Poland?
From: Marcin BabnisUnofficial Regional Junior Championships
There are various competitions run for Under-21 riders by regional PZM offices:
In 1999, rider averages will be used to govern team formation in the
Polish Leagues. A CMA (Calculated Match Average) is worked-out for each
rider that has completed nine rides in the First League, or eleven rides
in the Second League during the previous season. This CMA is then
retained throughout the forthcoming season.
The CMA of a rider is calculated as follows:
Riders that have never established a CMA are given an assessed average
as follows:
Each team must declare six riders prior to the start of the season. The
combined averages of these declared riders must not exceed 46 points, a
junior rider must be included, and no more than two foreign riders are
permitted. In addition, a team may only include one rider on the top
foreigners list issued by the GKSZ.
A team may subsequently change its declared line-up, provided that the
combined averages do not exceed the points limit, OR the average of any
introduced rider is not higher than the average of the rider they
replaced. Any changes however, must still satisfy the junior rider
requirement and the foreign rider restrictions.
Polish teams comprise seven riders who are numbered 1 to 7 when riding
away, and 9 to 15 when riding at home. The reserve is programmed at
No.7/15 and must be a junior rider. A junior
rider must also be programmed at No.6/14.
The heat format is determined as follows:
What are the rules for team formation in the
Polish Leagues?
From: Kevin Meynell & Marcin Babnis
Total points (including bonus
points) / Total Rides x 4
A rider moving from the Second League to the First League has their CMA
divided by 1.3, subject to a minimum value of 2.50. A rider moving from
the First League to the Second League has their CMA multiplied by 1.3,
subject to a maximum value of 12.00.
Polish riders under twenty-one years of age are classed as juniors and
retain an assessed average of 2.50 if they stay with the same team
during the first three seasons of their career. A Polish rider also has
their CMA reduced by 10% for their first senior season. Finally, a
Polish rider has their CMA re-assessed at 2.50, and a foreign rider has
their CMA re-assessed at 6.50, if their actual averages fall below these
values.
What are the rules for Polish League matches?
From: Kevin Meynell & Marcin Babnis
| HOME TEAM | AWAY TEAM | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | Red | Blue | Y/B | White |
| 1: | 9 (B-A) | 10 (D-C) | 1 (A-B) | 2 (C-D) |
| 2: | 11 (B-A) | 12 (D-C) | 3 (A-B) | 4 (C-D) |
| 3: | 13 (A-B) | 14 (C-D) | 5 (B-A) | 6 (D-C) |
| 4: | 11 (A-B) | 12 (C-D) | 1 (B-A) | 2 (D-C) |
| 5: | 13 (B-A) | 14 (D-C) | 3 (C-D) | 4 (A-B) |
| 6: | 9 (D-C) | 10 (B-A) | 5 (A-B) | 6 (C-D) |
| 7: | 13 (D-C) | 14 (B-A) | 1 (C-D) | 2 (A-B) |
| 8: | 9 (A-B) | 10 (C-D) | 3 (B-A) | 4 (D-C) |
| 9: | 11 (D-C) | 12 (B-A) | 5 (C-D) | 6 (A-B) |
| 10: | 13 (C-D) | 10 (A-B) | 1 (D-C) | 4 (B-A) |
| 11: | 11 (C-D) | 14 (A-B) | 3 (D-C) | 6 (B-A) |
| 12: | 9 (C-D) | 12 (A-B) | 5 (D-C) | 2 (B-A) |
| 13: Low | * (B-A) | * (D-C) | * (A-B) | * (C-D) |
| 14: Mid | * (A-B) | * (C-D) | * (B-A) | * (D-C) |
| 15: High | * (B-A) | * (D-C) | * (A-B) | * (C-D) |
Riders take the starting gate positions indicated in parenthesis. The actual gate sequence used during the match is determined by the team captain winning the toss of a coin prior to the start. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.
A reserve may have a maximum of five rides that can be taken at any time, plus one additional ride as a tactical substitute. They may not however, replace riders excluded for starting infringements or exceeding the two minute time allowance. All exclusions count as rides.
No rider is required to take a minimum number of rides.
In Heats 4 to 12, a team behind by six or more points may substitute a programmed rider with any other rider in the team, provided each rider is only used as a tactical substitute once and Rider No.6/14 is only substituted by the reserve. A substitute rider takes the helmet colour and starting gate position of the replaced rider. Both riders in a heat may be substituted in this manner, provided the Referee is clearly notified which substitute replaces which rider.
After Heat 12, each team nominates their riders for the three remaining heats (home team declaring first). Rider Nos. 1 to 6 and 8 to 14 may only be nominated as follows: Heat 13 - two lowest scorers, Heat 14 - two middle scorers, Heat 15 - two highest scorers. The scores from all rides are counted, but bonus points are not included. Team members scoring an equal number of points may be nominated for any heat where they are eligible.
The team scoring the greater number of points over all heats is declared the winner. When teams score an equal number of points, the match is declared a draw.
In the event of weather forcing a match to be abandoned, the result will stand if at least eight heats have been completed.
| Heat | Red (Gate A) |
Blue (Gate C) |
Y/B (Gate B) |
White (Gate D) |
| 1: | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 2: | 15 | 16 | 11 | 12 |
| 3: | 3 | 4 | 19 | 20 |
| 4: | 5 | 6 | 9 | 10 |
| 5: | 17 | 18 | 13 | 14 |
| 6: | 11 | 12 | 3 | 4 |
| 7: | 7 | 8 | 15 | 16 |
| 8: | 9 | 10 | 17 | 18 |
| 9: | 13 | 14 | 1 | 2 |
| 10: | 19 | 20 | 7 | 8 |
| 11: | 4 | 3 | 16 | 15 |
| 12: | 6 | 5 | 18 | 17 |
| 13: | 10 | 9 | 14 | 13 |
| 14: | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| 15: | 20 | 19 | 12 | 11 |
| 16: | 14 | 13 | 6 | 5 |
| 17: | 18 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| 18: | 12 | 11 | 8 | 7 |
| 19: | 16 | 15 | 20 | 19 |
| 20: | 2 | 1 | 10 | 9 |
Riders take the starting gate positions indicated. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.
A reserve may have a maximum of four rides that can be taken at any time. They may not however, replace riders excluded for starting infringements or exceeding the two minute time allowance. All exclusions count as rides.
No rider is required to take a minimum number of rides.
Race points scored over all heats are used to determine the final team placings. Where two or more teams are tied for a place, each team nominates a rider for a runoff.