What is the history of Polish Speedway?

From: Marcin Babnis

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 1930s, 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 1950s, Poland has participated in World Championship events. They first won the World Team Cup in 1961, and in 1970 became the third country to host the World Individual Final. In 1973, the final held in Chorzow (Katowice) was won by Jerzy Szczakiel. To this day, he is the only Polish winner of the competition.

The 1980s 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. In the past, Poland has hosted Ice Racing Grand Prix rounds even though no Poles ride on the frozen track.


What is the PZM and the GKSZ?

From: Marcin Babnis

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.


What are the main competitions held in Poland?

From: Marcin Babnis

Polish Team Championship (Druzynowe Mistrzostwa Polski)

There are currently twenty-one teams divided into three leagues; eight in the Extra League, seven in the First League, and six in the Second League. If a new team applies to join the Championship, they are placed in the Second League.

Each team initially races every other team in their league once at home and once away, making a total of fourteen matches in the Extra League, twelve matches in the First League, and ten matches in the Second League. The leagues then split into groups for the second phase.

The top four teams in the Extra League form a Championship Group, with the bottom four teams forming a Relegation Group. Similarly, the top four teams in the First League form a Promotion Group. Each team again races every other team in their group once at home and once away, making a further six matches (for a total of twenty matches in Extra League, and eighteen matches in the First League).

The bottom three teams in the First League and the top three teams in the Second League also form a Promotion/Relegation Group. The results between the teams from the same league are carried forward, and each team then races every team from the other league once at home and once away, making a further six matches (and a total of ten matches counting towards the placings)

Matches are held as a series of rounds between April and September, normally on Sundays. 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 points for a win, and one point for a draw. Final placings are determined by points accumulated over all matches, including group matches. Where two or more teams are tied on points, the tie is resolved as follows:

  1. Most league points accumulated from the matches between the teams concerned.
  2. Most race points scored in the matches between the teams concerned.

The team winning the Extra League Championship Group is awarded a gold medal and declared Polish Team Champions. Teams finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively.

The bottom team in the Extra League Relegation Group is replaced by the winner of the First League Promotion Group for the following season. A home and away raceoff is held between the third-placed team in the Extra League Relegation Group and the second-placed team in the First League Promotion Group.

The top four teams in Promotion/Relegation Group will qualify for the First League for the following season. The bottom two teams will ride in the Second League.

Extra League: Bydgoszcz, Czestochowa, Leszno, Rybnik, Tarnów, Torun, Wroclaw, Zielona Góra
First League: Gdansk, Gniezno, Gorzów, Grudziadz, Lublin, Ostrów, Rzeszów
Second League: Krosno, Lódz, Lvov (Ukraine), Opole, Rawicz, Warszawa

Polish Junior Team Championship (Mlodziezowe Druzynowe Mistrzostwa Polski)

This competition is for riders under twenty-one years of age. The nineteen participating teams are divided into two groups of six and one group of seven, more or less geographically to reduce costs. Every team stages a six- or seven-team tournament (depending on number of teams in group) on their own track which means they ride a total of six/seven legs.

The winner of each leg is awarded five/six match points, second-placed teams are awarded four/five match points, and so on... Final group placings are determined by match points accumulated over all legs. Where two or more teams are tied on match points, the team scoring the greater number of race points is placed higher.

The top two teams in each group of six, and the top three teams in the group of seven qualify for the Final which is run as a seven-team tournament. One of the finalists is chosen by the GKSZ to host this.

The team winning the Final is awarded a gold medal and declared Polish Junior Team Champions. Teams finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively.

Polish Individual Championship (Indywidualne Mistrzostwa Polski)

This competition is for Polish riders only. Any riders qualified for the Grand Prix Series are seeded directly to the Semi-Finals. A further thirty-two riders from the Extra League, twenty riders from the First League, and twelve riders from the Second League (as nominated by their teams) are drawn into four Quarter-Finals.

The highest-placed 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 a gold medal and declared Polish Individual Champion. Riders finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively.

Polish Junior Individual Championship (Mlodziezowe Indywidualne Mistrzostwa Polski)

This competition is similar to the Polish Individual Championship, except the riders must be under twenty-one years of age. There are also no Quarter-Finals.

Polish Pairs Championship (Mistrzostwa Polski Par Klubowych)

The participating teams are drawn into three groups; each staging a pairs competition. The top two teams in each group qualify for the Final. A host team chosen by the GKSZ is seeded directly to the Final.

The team winning the Final is awarded a gold medal and declared Polish Pairs Champions. Teams finishing second and third are awarded silver and bronze medals respectively.

Polish Junior Pairs Championship (Mlodziezowe Mistrzostwa Polski Par Klubowych)

This competition is similar to the Polish Pairs Championship, except the riders must be under twenty-one years of age.

Golden Helmet (Zloty Kask)

This individual competition is held as a single meeting during the second half of the season (usually in Wroclaw). The top ten riders in the Extra League, the top four riders in the First League, and the top two riders in the Second League (by average after Rounds 18, 14 and 10 respectively) compete for a golden helmet and a brand new Jawa bike.

Silver Helmet (Srebrny Kask)

This individual competition is for riders under twenty-one years of age. The top sixteen riders in the Extra League, the top ten riders in the First League, and the top six riders in the Second League (by average after Rounds 13, 14 and 10 respectively) are drawn into two Semi-Finals. The top eight riders (plus one reserve) from each Semi-Final then meet in the Final where they compete for a silver helmet.

Bronze Helmet (Brazowy Kask)

This individual competition is similar to the Silver Helmet except the riders must be under nineteen years of age. Riders are nominated for this competition by their teams.

National Qualification for World Individual Speedway Championship

This competition determines the Polish entrants for the World Individual Speedway Championship. Any riders already qualified for the Grand Prix Series do not need to participate.

The top twenty-six riders in the First League and the top six riders in the Second League (according to the previous season's averages) are drawn into two Semi-Finals. The top eight riders (plus one reserve) from each Semi-Final then meet in the Final.

The final classification determines which riders qualify for the international rounds, although one rider is nominated by the GKSZ.

National Qualification for World Junior Speedway Championship

This competition determines the Polish entrants for the World Junior Speedway Championship. All riders must be under twenty-one years of age.

The top nine riders in the First League (according to the previous season's averages), eight riders from the First League nominated by the GKSZ, the top twelve riders in the Second League (according to the previous season's averages), and three riders from the Second League nominated by the GKSZ are drawn into two Semi-Finals. The top eight riders (plus one reserve) from each Semi-Final then meet in the Final.

The final classification determines which riders qualify for the international rounds, although one rider is nominated by the GKSZ.

National Qualification for European Speedway Championship

This competition determines the Polish entrants for the European Speedway Championship. Thirty-two riders are drawn into two Semi-Finals. The top eight riders (plus one reserve) from each Semi-Final then meet in the Final.

The final classification determines which riders qualify for the international rounds, although one rider is nominated by the GKSZ.

National Qualification for European Under-19 Speedway Championship

This competition determines the Polish entrants for the European Under-19 Speedway Championship. All riders must be under nineteen years of age.

The top rider in the First League (according to the previous season's averages), six riders from the First League nominated by the GKSZ, the top three riders in the Second League (according to the previous season's averages), and six riders from the Second League nominated by the GKSZ compete in a single meeting.

The final classification determines which riders qualify for the international rounds, although one rider is nominated by the GKSZ.


What other competitions are held in Poland?

From: Marcin Babnis

Unofficial Regional Junior Championships

There are various competitions run for Under-21 riders by regional PZM offices:

Criterium of Polish Speedway League Aces (Kryterium Asow polskich lig zuzlowych)

This is an individual meeting held in Bydgoszcz on the Sunday before the start of the league programme (usually last week of March). It is seen by riders and fans as the offical opening of the new season. First staged in 1982, although a similar meeting was held in the 1950s.

Crest Chain of Ostrow Town (Lancuch Herbowy miasta Ostrowa)

This is an individual meeting held in Ostrow on the last Sunday of October. It is the official curtain-down of the season. First staged in 1978.

Alfred Smoczyk Memorial (Memorial Alfreda Smoczyka)

Alfred Smoczyk was the first Polish speedway superstar. He successfully competed on Dutch tracks in the late 1940s, but died in a road accident in October 1950. This meeting has been held every year since 1951 in Leszno (where he lived). The stadium in Leszno is also named after him.


What are the rules for team selection in the Polish Leagues?

From: Kevin Meynell & Marcin Babnis

Each team may nominate any seven riders from their squad for each match, provided at least two junior riders, and no more than one foreign rider is included (this apparently also includes EU/EEA riders). Polish riders under twenty-one years of age are classed as juniors if they stay with the same team during the first three seasons of their career.

For 2004, rider replacement has been introduced, and teams may use this if one of their top three riders has been injured for at least nine days. These riders are initially determined by their averages from the previous season, then by current averages updated after Rounds 7 and 14 in the Elite and First Leagues, and Rounds 6 and 12 in the Second League.

When rider replacement is used, the programmed rides of the injured rider may be taken by others in the team as follows:

  1. Rider Nos. 1 to 6 and 9 to 12 may take one ride each.
  2. The reserve may take any number of rides up to their permitted maximum plus one.

A foreign rider is not eligible to compete the following season if their final average is less than 6.00 (in any league).


What are the rules for Polish League matches?

From: Kevin Meynell & Marcin Babnis

These matches are held between two teams of seven riders who are numbered 1 to 7 when riding away, and 9 to 15 when riding at home. The reserve in each team 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:

Heat HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM
Red Blue Y/B White
1: 14  (A-B) 15  (C-D) 6  (B-A) 7  (D-C)
2: 9  (B-A) 10  (D-C) 1  (A-B) 2  (C-D)
3: 11  (A-B) 12  (C-D) 3  (B-A) 4  (D-C)
4: 13  (B-A) 14  (D-C) 5  (A-B) 6  (C-D)
5: 9  (D-C) 10  (B-A) 3  (A-B) 4  (C-D)
6: 13  (A-B) 14  (C-D) 1  (B-A) 2  (D-C)
7: 11  (C-D) 12  (A-B) 5  (B-A) 6  (D-C)
8: 13  (D-C) 14  (B-A) 3  (C-D) 4  (A-B)
9: 9  (A-B) 10  (C-D) 5  (D-C) 6  (B-A)
10: 11  (B-A) 12  (D-C) 1  (C-D) 2  (A-B)
11: 9  (C-D) 10  (A-B) 3  (D-C) 4  (B-A)
12: 11  (D-C) 12  (B-A) 5  (C-D) 6  (A-B)
13: 13  (C-D) 14  (A-B) 1  (D-C) 2  (B-A)
14: Nominated *  (B-A) *  (D-C) *  (A-B) *  (C-D)
15: Highest *  (A-B) *  (C-D) *  (B-A) *  (D-C)

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.

The reserve may have a maximum of four rides that can be taken at any time, plus one tactical substitute and one rider replacement ride. They may not however, replace riders excluded for starting infringements or exceeding the two minute time allowance, and all exclusions count towards the maximum number of rides.

No rider is required to take a minimum number of rides.

In Heats 5 to 13, 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 another junior rider. 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.

Each team may nominate any two riders for Heat 14, except those participating in Heat 15.

The two highest scoring riders from each team (reserves excepted) may only ride in Heat 15. The scores from all rides are counted but bonus points are not included. A rider in this heat may only be replaced by a reserve except when declared injured by the track medical officer. In this event, any rider that has not taken part in Heat 14 may be used instead.

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.


What are the rules for Polish Junior Tournaments?

From: Kevin Meynell & Marcin Babnis

These meetings comprise either six or seven teams of three riders, with no reserves. Team A is numbered 1 to 3, Team B is numbered 4 to 6, Team C is numbered 7 to 9, Team D is numbered 10 to 12, Team E is numbered 13 to 15, Team F is numbered 16 to 18, whilst Team G (in a seven-team meeting) is numbered 19 & 21.

The heat format for six teams is determined as follows:

Heat Red
(Gate A)
Blue
(Gate B)
Y/B
(Gate C)
White
(Gate D)
1: 1 4 2 5
2: 7 10 8 11
3: 16 13 17 14
4: 12 3 11 2
5: 15 9 14 8
6: 6 18 5 17
7: 1 7 3 9
8: 16 10 18 12
9: 13 4 15 6
10: 9 18 7 16
11: 3 15 1 13
12: 6 12 4 10
13: 17 2 16 1
14: 11 14 10 13
15: 8 5 7 4

The heat format for seven teams is determined as follows:

Heat Red
(Gate A)
Blue
(Gate B)
Y/B
(Gate C)
White
(Gate D)
1: 1 4 2 5
2: 7 10 8 11
3: 13 16 14 17
4: 19 1 20 3
5: 4 7 6 9
6: 10 13 12 15
7: 21 17 19 18
8: 3 9 1 8
9: 12 6 11 4
10: 14 21 15 20
11: 17 3 16 2
12: 5 14 4 13
13: 8 18 9 16
14: 20 11 21 12
15: 2 15 3 14
16: 16 5 18 6
17: 9 19 7 21
18: 11 2 10 1
19: 6 20 5 19
20: 15 8 13 7
21: 18 12 17 10

Riders take the starting gate positions indicated. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.

No rider is required to take a minimum number of rides.

Race points scored over all heats are used to determine the final placings. Where two or more teams are tied for a place, each team nominates a rider for a runoff.


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