ZMARZLIK SETS SIGHTS ON NO.4 AFTER BEING HONOURED AT FIM AWARDS

Triple world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik admits being honoured among motorcycling’s icons only makes him hungrier to win Speedway GP title No.4 in 2023.

The Polish hero picked up his third FIM gold medal in four years at the FIM Awards in Rimini, Italy on Saturday night – collecting the prize from FIM president Jorge Viegas as he was heralded as one of motorcycle racing’s ultimate champions of 2022.

He was honoured alongside all the FIM Speedway world champions of this year on the night Zmarzlik’s fellow triple world champion Jason Crump was deservedly inducted as an FIM legend.

Zmarzlik dominated this year’s Speedway GP series, winning the opening round in Croatia, before sealing the title with back-to-back wins in Vojens and Malilla.

The Lublin star clearly enjoys making his regular trips to the FIM Awards, and he hopes to be collecting another gold medal at the 2023 ceremony in Liverpool in 12 months’ time.

He said: “I’m very happy and very proud to be here again with all the champions. It’s the best motivation before next season. I want to come back here many times.

“I have the motivation. This gala is the best motivation, and I will do everything on the track to be here again.”

Zmarzlik wasn’t the only Pole honoured as SGP2 world champion Mateusz Cierniak collected his gold medal for winning the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship series. He was also part of Poland’s side that triumphed in SON2 – the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship.

Australian team manager Mark Lemon took to the stage as the Roos were honoured for an emotional FIM Speedway of Nations win at Vojens – their first world team title since they lifted the 2002 FIM Speedway World Cup.

Denmark’s SGP3 winner Mikkel Andersen also picked up his gold medal after winning the revamped FIM Speedway Youth World Championship on a night of sensational 250cc racing in Wroclaw.

Watch the highlights of the FIM Awards now on the @FIMLive Facebook page.