FIM SPEEDWAY TOP 5 MOMENTS | WARSAW

As speedway celebrates its 100th anniversary season, FIMSpeedway.com looks back at the top five moments celebrated at each of our 2023 FIM Speedway venues.

Today, we feature PGE Narodowy, Poland’s iconic national stadium and home of the 2023 FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw on May 13.

 

1. TWO FOR TAI – 2016 & 2018

It takes a special kind of rider to win in the red-and-white-hot atmosphere of PGE Narodowy, and only one man has done it twice.

Great Britain hero Tai Woffinden has delivered two of the biggest victories of his career in the Polish capital. He first topped the box in 2016, seeing off American great Greg Hancock, 2015 winner Matej Zagar and 2012 world champion Chris Holder in a final, featuring four riders who are all specialists on Speedway GP’s temporary tracks.

Woffy then repeated the trick in the opening round of 2018, getting the better of his Wroclaw team mate Maciej Janowski, Swedish star Freddie Lindgren and Artem Laguta, who was appearing in his first Speedway GP final.

It was the first step on Woffinden’s journey to an unforgettable third Speedway GP world title as he cemented his status as Britain most successful speedway star.

 

2. MADSEN’S DEBUT MAGIC – 2019

When 2018 Speedway European Championship winner finally got his first full-time opportunity in Speedway GP, he very quickly proved he wasn’t there to make up the numbers.

Arriving in the Warsaw pits wearing a suit, Madsen looked like he meant business. And he did the business on the track.

Despite not winning a race during the heats and finishing second in his semi-final, Madsen won the race that mattered most – taking victory in the final to enjoy a dream start to the season.

He finished 2019 just two points short of Polish star Bartosz Zmarzlik in an epic fight for the sport’s biggest prize.

 

3. MAX POWER – 2022

After two years of cancellations, Speedway GP roared back into Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy in front of over 50,000 fans on May 14, 2022.

While none of Poland’s finest made it to the final, it was a night to remember for triple Aussie champion Max Fricke.

He may have been the only rider in the 16-man field not competing in the PGE Ekstraliga – Poland’s top division – at the time, but it didn’t stop him from seeing off Leon Madsen and Freddie Lindgren in the final for his second Speedway GP win.

It was the only semi-final and final Fricke reached in a tough 2022 season, and his vital victory in Warsaw potentially played a key role in tempting the SGP Commission to give him a permanent wild card for 2023.

 

4. FAST FREDDIE – 2017

It had been nearly five years since Swedish icon Freddie Lindgren had won his first Speedway GP, topping the podium on home shale at Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium in 2012.

But Lindgren’s wait for another victory came to a spectacular end in front of the biggest speedway crowd of all as he reigned supreme at the 2017 FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw.

Lindgren triumphed over home hero Maciej Janowski, Jason Doyle and Martin Vaculik in round two of the series, bringing to an end a tough few years, which saw him lose his Speedway GP status at the end of 2014.

After bouncing back as first reserve in 2016 and finishing third in the FIM GP Challenge in Vetlanda to qualify full-time for 2017, Lindgren proved he belonged in the big time with his heroics in Warsaw.

 

5. FLYING THE FLAG – 2022

Not all special moments come on the track. As part of the FIM Speedway family’s effort to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine, 100 Ukrainian and Polish children were given an unforgettable day at the 2022 Warsaw event.

The youngsters took a behind-the-scenes tour and met the riders, before enjoying an epic night of racing at Poland’s biggest speedway event.

A giant tifo of the Polish flag always flies in the PGE Narodowy stands during the national anthem. But for 2022, one half of the stadium featured a giant Ukrainian flag, flying proudly alongside Poland’s red and white.

At a time when the Polish people are opening their homes and showing incredible support to the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom following Russia’s invasion, FIM Speedway was proud to play its part in ensuring the Ukrainian flag continues to fly in our sport.

 

Tickets for the 2023 FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw are still available online.

Get behind the likes of triple world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik, Maciej Janowski and Patryk Dudek. Book your seats now via www.KupBilet.pl as well as  https://www.ebilet.pl/sport/sporty-motorowe/speedway-grand-prix.