Bartosz Zmarzlik

Bartosz Zmarzlik (['bartɔʂ ˈzmarzlik] (listen); born 12 April 1995) is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider and three-time World Champion (2019, 2020 and 2022). He has been decorated with the Order of Polonia Restituta, V class.[1]

Bartosz Zmarzlik
Born (1995-04-12) 12 April 1995
Szczecin, Poland
NationalityPolish
Websiteofficial website
Career history
Poland
2010–2022Gorzów
2023–Lublin
Sweden
2011–2012Gnistorna Malmö
2013–2021Vetlanda
2022-2023Lejonen
Denmark
2012Holsted
2019Slangerup
Great Britain
2014Birmingham Brummies
Speedway Grand Prix statistics
SGP Number95
Starts71
Podiums36 (19-7-10)
Finalist42 time
Winner19 times
Individual honours
2019, 2020, 2022World Champion
2015World Under-21 Champion
2021, 2022Polish Champion
2015GP Challenge winner
Team honours
2022, 2023European Team champion
2012, 2014, 2015Team Speedway Junior World Championship
2014, 2016Speedway Ekstraliga
2014, 2015Elitserien League Champion

Biography

Born in Szczecin, Poland, Zmarzlik is the younger brother of former speedway rider Paweł Zmarzlik. Bartosz first came to the attention of the British speedway public when he was granted a wild card to race in the 2012 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland on 23 June. It was his first appearance in the Grand Prix series. He performed exceptionally well and became the youngest rider to ever appear on the podium in a Speedway Grand Prix, aged just 17 years and 72 days. He finished third that day scoring a grand total of 13 points.[2] Zmarzlik made his British league debut in 2014, agreeing a short-term deal to ride for the Birmingham Brummies to cover the injured Adam Skornicki. However, he withdrew from the team shortly after due to illness.[3]

In September 2015, during the Speedway Grand Prix Qualification he won the GP Challenge, which ensured that he claimed a permanent slot for the 2016 Grand Prix.[4] He duly rode in 2016 Grand Prix as a permanent rider for the first time in his career, taking third place in the standings.[5] The following season he took fifth,[6] and in 2018 he took second behind multiple World Champion Tai Woffinden.[7]

He signed to ride for Slangerup in the Danish league in 2019.[8] In 2020, he was voted the Polish Sports Personality of the Year. On 3 October 2020, Zmarzlik won his second Speedway World Championship, becoming the first rider to clinch back to back titles since Nicki Pedersen in 2007-08. On 11 July 2021 he became Polish individual champion.[9] In 2021 he took second place in the World Championship, gathering 189 points through whole season with Russian rider Artem Laguta taking the win.[10]

Zmarzlik won his third World Championship title in 2022 after securing the 2002 title. He won the Championship with ease, collecting 166 points, which was of 33 points clear of his nearest rival and included three grand prix wins in Croatia, Denmark and Sweden.[11] He also became the first rider since 2002 to successfully defend the Polish national title.[12]

In 2023, he won his second successive European Team Speedway Championship[13] and won the first Grand Prix of the season in Goričan.

Major results

World individual Championship

Grand Prix wins

See also

References
  1. "Mistrz świata odznaczony Krzyżem Kawalerskim Orderu Odrodzenia Polski!". 10 October 2019.
  2. "Martin's Magical Debut".
  3. Pearson, Nigel (2014-06-25). "End of the road for Bartosz Zmarzlik". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  4. "HISTORICAL LIST OF RESULTS 1995-2013 Speedway Grand Prix - Qualifications". Speedway History. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. "British Speedway Archive Website". www.speedwaygbarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  6. "British Speedway Archive Website". www.speedwaygbarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  7. "British Speedway Archive Website". www.speedwaygbarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  8. "Zmarzlik Signs Danish League Deal", speedwaygp.com, 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018
  9. "Zmarzlik doczekał się tytułu. Szybciej został mistrzem świata". TVN24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  10. "FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship | FIM". www.fim-moto.com. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  11. "2022 Speedway Grand Prix results". FIM. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  12. "Speedway from Around the Globe - Poland". Speedway Star page 44. 10 September 2022.
  13. "2023 European Team Speedway Championship FINAL". FIM. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
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