Welcome to a new era of Speedway!

ACTION-PACKED ORLEN FIM WARSAW SPEEDWAY GP FANZONE THIS SATURDAY

Speedway fans can warm up for the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw racing with an action-packed fanzone at PGE Narodowy from 14:30 CET this Saturday. Located next to gate one, the fanzone will feature plenty of photo opportunities, with the Speedway GP trophy on display from 14:30 until 17:30. Don’t miss the Monster Energy Rig Riot from 16:00 as the Monster Energy athletes and Monster Girls throw some freebies to the crowd, giving you the chance to grab a Warsaw souvenir! All of the Speedway GP riders will then take part in an autograph session from 16:30 until 17:15. With time and spaces limited, make sure you arrive early for the best chance to meet your Speedway GP heroes. The riders will be interviewed while they are on stage and fans may even get the chance to ask riders their own questions as they meet the Warsaw crowd. There will be quizzes and games on the big screen from 17:35 until 17:55, before it’s time to head into PGE Narodowy to witness Poland’s biggest night of motorsport – the Orlen FIM Warsaw Speedway GP. There are plenty of attractions throughout the afternoon. Grab a brand-new social media profile picture and pose with the ‘We Love Speedway’ sign. There is also the chance to sit on a speedway bike and check out some older racing machines. There will be activities for kids and don’t forget to stop by the Monster Energy zone. Be part of the FIM Speedway action throughout the afternoon – head over to the Orlen FIM Warsaw Speedway GP fanzone to get Poland’s biggest speedway event started in style!

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FIM SPEEDWAY – A NEW ERA BEGINS

Discovery Sports Events is placing the power and viewing experience in the hands of fans as it takes the FIM Speedway World Championships into a new era. The 2022 FIM Speedway Grand Prix season started in style as double world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik won an epic FIM Speedway GP of Croatia – Donji Kraljevec in front of 6,500 fans at sold-out Speedway Stadion Milenium’s first SGP event since 2012. It was the first round of Discovery Sports Events’ 10-year tenure as FIM Speedway global promoter as the group invests heavily in its vision to take the events and entertainment to the next level. For the first time ever, Discovery has taken the entire production of a series in-house, as it puts new technology at the heart of the show. Telemetry devices will monitor rider heart rates ahead of each race – giving a unique insight into the stresses riders face in the pressure cooker of a Speedway GP. On top of that, the technology will spotlight riders’ reaction times at the start line, top speed and also race distance covered, as riders try every possible racing line to take the chequered flag. LED screens will feature on the brand-new central stage and push-off areas, identifying riders as they take to the track; bringing fans results, and boosting the atmosphere throughout the night. Discovery will also introduce innovative new camera positions to speedway, including cable cams at Speedway GP’s biggest events in Warsaw and Cardiff, plus jimmy jib cameras later this season. There are also cameras in every rider’s pit box, allowing viewers to closely follow their favourite stars behind the scenes, while also enjoying the racing. Fans can choose how they follow the action with a mix of free-to-air and pay TV coverage, as well as enhanced OTT coverage on Discovery+ and the Eurosport App wherever these services are available. A new FIM Speedway app is also set to be launched offering live timing from qualifying practice, race results throughout each Speedway GP, and all the latest news and information. Next up is the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw, with over 50,000 passionate fans set to pack into PGE Narodowy on Saturday, May 14. Polish icon Zmarzlik can’t wait to return to Poland’s national stadium for the first time since 2019. He said: “I think it is good for the sport of speedway – it’s so nice to be back in Warsaw, and I am waiting for this. “I think what is happening with Discovery and their plans for Speedway GP is more professional and more exciting for the people. I share the same ambition for the sport too.” Rickardsson was delighted to see the action unfold from trackside throughout an epic weekend in Croatia. He said: “After so many months of hearing about Discovery’s plans, it was a real pleasure to see them come to life in Croatia. The pit bays really are something special and I had a great view of the push-off area from the TV studio, and I have to say that looks fantastic. “It really was a great show all round and I look forward to seeing what else is in store as Discovery continues its first season as global FIM Speedway promoter.” François Ribeiro, head of Discovery Sports Events, is pleased with how a new era for FIM Speedway has started. He said: “It was incredibly rewarding to see the Speedway Stadion Milenium in Croatia packed to capacity and our vision for FIM Speedway finally coming to life after so many months of hard work. “We are determined to put power in the hands of fans, in terms of how they follow the racing, with a huge array of camera angles, racing data and live information at their fingertips throughout race day and beyond. “Whether they are watching at trackside or at home, we want this to be a truly immersive racing experience that will capture the imagination of FIM Speedway fans old and new. “The whole team at Discovery Sports Events is now hugely excited to deliver Speedway GP on the incredible stage that is PGE Narodowy in Warsaw. We are looking forward to another full stadium and I am sure that from the fanzone in the afternoon to the champagne celebrations after the final, fans will be treated to a day they will never forget.” Ahead of Poland’s biggest speedway event, here are some of the key numbers from the opening round of a new Speedway GP season in Croatia:   Speedway GP in numbers: 15 permanent riders in Speedway GP Six nations represented as the line-up features four riders from Poland, three each from Denmark, Australia and Great Britain, plus one from both Sweden and Slovakia Three Speedway GP world champions with six world titles between them 23 heats and 92 laps of racing in each Speedway GP Each race completed in around 60 seconds   The bikes in numbers: 500cc engines in Speedway GP Bikes weigh a minimum of 77kg Bikes accelerate from 0-100kph faster than an F1 car Speeds up to 120kph And absolutely NO BRAKES!!   The technical setup in numbers: 14 trucks – transporting 50 tonnes and 800m3 of equipment 129m2 of LED screens displayed on the brand-new central stage and push-off area 145 operational staff delivered the opening event in Croatia 40 cameras were used 80 staff produced the international TV feed and programme, benefitting from pit cameras, HF and a drone. Cable cams and crane/jimmy jib cameras are set to feature in coverage at certain stadiums this season. Live studio led by Polish presenter Marcelina Rutkowska-Konikiewicz, with six-time world champion and FIM Speedway global ambassador Tony Rickardsson featuring in the studio and seven-time British champion Scott Nicholls reporting from the pits Enhanced telemetry with rider heartbeat – a first in speedway. Reaction times, top speeds and distance covered also set to feature later in the season. International distribution to 10 international broadcasters across five continents, with racing also live on Discovery+ and the Eurosport App   What’s new? New brand identity New pit boxes – complete with cameras, TV screens and personalised team branding for riders New central stage with LED screens to entertain fans and bring them important updates, line-ups and results throughout the night New push-off area with LED screens to inform fans who starts in which helmet colour, as riders get ready to take to the track New fan zone – featuring an autograph session with all 16 riders and other interactive activities and photo opportunities New app – with live results, qualifying practice lap times and all the latest news, plus enhanced telemetry with rider heartbeat, holeshot and race times

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ELITSERIEN | MAGIC MAX FOR DACKARNA

Polish ace Maciej Janowski enjoyed the perfect Warsaw warm-up as he scored a 15-point maximum for Dackarna in the Bauhaus Elitserien on Tuesday. Magic heads into the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw on Saturday, bidding to become the first-ever home winner at PGE Narodowy. And he started his week by delivering five straight victories in Malilla to lead his side to a 49-41 triumph over Indianerna, with double Swedish champion Jacob Thorssell backing him up on nine paid 10. French international David Bellego was Indians’ top performer on 11 paid 12, while Speedway GP star Max Fricke added a straight 11. Great Britain star Dan Bewley bagged a fantastic 15 points from six races as Smederna stormed to a 52-38 win away to Rospiggarna. Polish star Kacper Woryna piled up 13 paid 15 from six, while former European champion Robert Lambert collected 12 paid 15 and Poland’s Grzegorz Zengota tallied 10 paid 11. Finnish racer Timo Lahti was Rospiggarna’s top scorer on 10 paid 11 points. In the evening’s other match, Sweden’s Freddie Lindgren racked up 12 paid 14 points from five rides as Vastervik cruised to a 55-35 victory at home to Piraterna. Lindgren was well supported by 11 paid 13 from Gleb Chugunov, with Bartosz Smektala adding 11. Speedway GP rider Pawel Przedpelski picked up nine paid 11 points. Former SGP star Piotr Pawlicki scored 14 for the visitors, while his fellow Polish racer Jakub Jamrog accrued 11.

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CZECH STAR KVECH SET FOR DOUBLE DUTY IN PRAGUE

Czech Republic international Jan Kvech is set for a double-header of world championship action in Prague after being named as wild card for the Prague FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic on Saturday, May 28. Kvech dons the famous No.16 race jacket for Marketa Stadium’s record-breaking 28th Speedway GP round. He will also line up in the Prague FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic on Friday, May 27 after winning a tough qualifier for the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship at Swedish venue Gislaved last Saturday. The 20-year-old is joined in both the Speedway GP and SGP2 events by fellow SGP2 qualifiers Daniel Klima and Petr Chlupac. The pair also qualified for SGP2 and will serve as track reserves for the Prague FIM Czech Republic Speedway GP on the Saturday night, with Klima lining up at No.17 and Chlupac at No.18. Kvech made his Speedway GP debut in Prague as a track reserve at round five of the 2020 series, before racing as a wild card in both legs of the 2021 FIM Czech Republic Speedway GP double-header, scoring four championship points in round one and three in round two. Born in Strakonice, Kvech races for Marketa Stadium’s Czech league team. The 2020 European Under-19 champion also competes for Zielona Gora in the Polish First Division. Before the Prague FIM Czech Republic Speedway GP on Saturday, May 28, all eyes will be on the sport’s brightest young riders as Prague stages the first-ever SGP2 event on Friday, May 27. The line-up for the opening round of the 2022 championship is completed by German wild card Celina Liebmann. She becomes the first-ever female rider to compete in the final series of the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship. Liebmann impressed in her qualifier at Latvian track Daugavpils last Saturday, scoring a rock-solid six points. She now wears the No.16 race jacket for what will be the biggest night of her career so far on one of speedway’s most storied circuits. She is joined in the Prague FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic line-up by track reserves, Matous Kamenik and Bruno Belan. The Czech Republic riders line-up in the No.17 and No.18 race jackets respectively.

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SGP2 FIM SPEEDWAY UNDER-21 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LINE-UP CONFIRMED

The full SGP2 line-up has been revealed as 15 riders go for world-title glory over three rounds in the revamped FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship series. As part of its 10-year vision for FIM Speedway, new global promoter Discovery Sports Events has taken the sport’s junior championships under its umbrella, with SGP2 events for under-21 riders and SGP3 for under-16s staged on the same weekend as FIM Speedway Grand Prix rounds – putting the sport’s brightest young stars on the same stage as the world’s best riders. The opening round of SGP2 takes place at Prague’s Marketa Stadium on Friday, May 27 – the night before the FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic. Round two is the FIM SGP2 of Great Britain, which will be staged at Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium on Sunday, August 14 – the day after the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain. The series then concludes with the FIM SGP2 of Poland at Torun’s Marian Rose Motoarena on September 30 – the night before the FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun. The 15-rider SGP2 line-up for 2022 features under-21s from Poland (5), Czech Republic (3), Denmark (3), Sweden (2), Latvia (1) and Finland (1). Twelve riders booked their places in SGP2 at the qualifying rounds staged across Europe last Saturday. Jan Kvech (Czech Republic), Casper Henriksson (Sweden), Jakub Miskowiak (Poland) and Wiktor Przyjemski (Poland) all made it through the event at Swedish track Gislaved. Kevin Juhl Pedersen (Denmark), Daniel Klima (Czech Republic), Mateusz Cierniak (Poland) and Wiktor Lampart (Poland) all qualified from the round at Latvian venue Daugavpils. And Francis Gusts (Latvia), Mateusz Swidnicki (Poland), Jonas Knudsen (Denmark) and Petr Chlupac (Czech Republic) all booked their places at former Slovenian SGP venue Krsko. The series line up is completed by three permanent wild cards – Timi Salonen (Finland), Benjamin Basso (Denmark) and Gustav Grahn (Sweden). Great Britain racer Tom Brennan heads the list of SGP2 substitute riders and he is joined by Keynan Rew (Australia), Norick Blodorn (Germany), Ernest Matjusonoks (Latvia) and Carlos Eber Ampugnani (Argentina).   SGP2 LINE-UP (WITH RIDER NUMBERS): 196 Kevin Juhl Pedersen (Denmark) 2 Francis Gusts (Latvia) 201 Jan Kvěch (Czech Republic) 717 Daniel Klíma (Czech Republic) 43 Casper Henriksson (Sweden) 108 Mateusz Swidnicki (Poland) 842 Mateusz Cierniak (Poland) 515 Jakub Miśkowiak (Poland) 408 Jonas Knudsen (Denmark) 47 Wiktor Lampart (Poland) 505 Wiktor Przyjemski (Poland) 44 Petr Chlupac (Czech Republic) 281 Timi Salonen (Finland) 92 Benjamin Basso (Denmark) 118 Gustav Grahn (Sweden)   SGP2 SUBSTITUTE RIDERS: 27 Tom Brennan (Great Britain) 127 Keynan Rew (Australia) 33 Nörick Blödorn (Germany) 38 Ernest Matjusonoks (Latvia) 111 Carlos Eber Ampugnani (Argentina)   SGP2 CALENDAR: Friday, May 27: FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic – Prague Sunday, August 14: FIM SGP2 of Great Britain – Cardiff Friday, September 30: FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun

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ACTION-PACKED ORLEN FIM WARSAW SPEEDWAY GP FANZONE THIS SATURDAY

FIM SPEEDWAY – A NEW ERA BEGINS

ELITSERIEN | MAGIC MAX FOR DACKARNA

CZECH STAR KVECH SET FOR DOUBLE DUTY IN PRAGUE

SGP2 FIM SPEEDWAY UNDER-21 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LINE-UP CONFIRMED