ZMARZLIK: WROCLAW CROWD CAN INSPIRE POLES

Triple world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik insists an expectant Polish crowd can only inspire his team in tonight’s Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Final in Wroclaw.

Reigning champions Poland enter the tournament at the Final stage, having been seeded through as host nation, and they take on Semi-Final 1 winners Great Britain, Semi-Final 2 victors Denmark and Australia – the top side in last night’s Race Off.

This will be Zmarzlik’s first Monster Energy FIM SWC event since he won gold with his country at the last Final staged in Leszno in 2017.

Many experts tip the Poles to triumph at the Olympic Stadium, as Zmarzlik joins forces with Maciej Janowski, Patryk Dudek, Dominik Kubera and Janusz Kolodziej.

While this comes with some pressure, Zmarzlik admits the thrill of racing in front of an expectant crowd in the sport’s biggest meetings gives his side huge motivation. He said: “I am very happy about this. When you are a sportsman and people come to the stadium like this, you understand more why you are doing this. This is very nice.

“I have really been waiting for the World Cup and I am very happy to see it back on the speedway calendar. Today is a big day for the speedway world and I think it will be a nice meeting for all the people and all the teams. It’s a special day for speedway. The World Cup has a special atmosphere.

“I am happy that I am in the team. For me, that’s a nice feeling. We have many good riders in the Polish team, and I think everyone is so ready for tonight. The Polish team is ready for everything.”