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TWO-YEAR DEAL FOR POLISH BOSS DOBRUCKI
06/01/2025
Polish team manager Rafal Dobrucki will continue to lead the FIM Speedway World Cup winners into 2025 and 2026 after signing a new two-year contract.
The former Polish international and FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship silver medallist took over as manager of the country’s junior team in 2012, before stepping up to lead the senior side following the departure of eight-time FIM SWC-winning boss Marek Cieslak in 2020.
Dobrucki lifted his first senior world title at Wroclaw’s Olympic Stadium in 2023, when hosts Poland won the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Final – possibly the greatest world team final in the sport’s history, which saw just six points separate the four countries.
He will now bid to win Poland’s first-ever FIM Speedway of Nations world title and improve on the silver medals the team claimed in Manchester in 2021, with Poland hosting the 2025 competition in Torun from September 30 until October 4.
He will also lead their bid to retain the FIM SWC trophy in 2026.
Dobrucki will aim to maintain an astonishing record in the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship – or FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 as it is now. Since taking charge of the Polish Under-21s in 2012, the team has topped the podium an astonishing 12 times in 13 seasons – denied gold only by Denmark in 2013.
The Leszno-born coach is delighted to remain in the role and continue his work. He said: “I am introducing a lot of projects that are starting to come to life nicely. Some require changes, corrections, but it's great that they work.”
Dobrucki continues to develop youth initiatives, related to pit bikes, mini speedway and the 500R bike – a reduced-power machine for youth riders.
He added: “Irek Igielski (chairman of GKSŻ) played a big role, and he is someone to whom I once promised something. I wanted to keep my word and lead certain projects.
“I still see some things that need to be done. I'm still dissatisfied with some things. But sometimes you have to push harder if you want to achieve something.”
