DOYLE SPEARHEADS KROSNO SIDE AS PAWLICKI JOINS WROCLAW

Aussie icon Jason Doyle will lead newly-promoted Krosno’s charge into the PGE Ekstraliga after his move from Leszno was confirmed, while Polish racer Piotr Pawlicki makes a huge switch to Wroclaw.

Doyle was strongly rumoured to have accepted an offer from the Wolves, despite Leszno expecting he would stay at the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium.

That deal was confirmed at Krosno’s team presentation event on Thursday night, where the Wolves also unveiled former world No.2 Krzysztof Kasprzak, who was tempted away from Grudziadz.

Two of the club’s heroes from their 2022 promotion season follow them up – Speedway GP first reserve Andzejs Lebedevs and Czech charger Vaclav Milik.

They will also be represented by 2022 SGP2 rider Mateusz Swidnicki, who makes the switch from Czestochowa as he is no longer eligible to race as a junior there.

He can race as Krosno’s under-24 rider or under-23 No.8 alongside Ukrainian international Marko Levishyn, the youngster who famously beat triple world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik at FIM Speedway of Nations Semi-Final 1 in Vojens last summer.

Krosno’s juniors include Denis Zielinski, Krzysztof Sadurski, Szymon Bandur, Milosz Grygolec, Patryk Nater and Kacper Szopa.

Elsewhere, Wroclaw issued a big statement of intent in the PGE Ekstraliga title race after pulling off the signing of Polish ace Piotr Pawlicki from their near neighbours Leszno.

Former FIM Latvian Speedway GP winner Pawlicki leaves his boyhood club to join forces with Wroclaw local hero Maciej Janowski, triple world champion Tai Woffinden and double Speedway GP winner Dan Bewley, while 2021 Speedway GP world champion Artem Laguta is expected to make a comeback as the ban on Russian riders holding Polish citizenship looks set to be lifted.

Pawlicki hopes he can help Wroclaw regain the PGE Ekstraliga title they lifted in 2021. He told the club’s website: “This is a very exciting moment for me. After spending many years in Leszno, I decided to open a new chapter in my career right here in Wroclaw.

“In speedway, we always want to fight for the highest sports goals. Betard Sparta Wroclaw achieved it a year ago. Now I’m here to help the club get back to the top of the Ekstraliga.

“I believe that with such riders in the line-up and support from the stands, we will be able to do it. I am looking forward to the next season and today I invite everyone to the matches in 2023.”