Zmarzlik returns to Gorzów. Will he do it again?

On Saturday, June 23, 2012, two representatives of our country rode in the grand finale of the Gorzów Grand Prix. The experienced Tomasz Gollob and the very young Bartosz Zmarzlik, who took full advantage of the gift of a "wild card". At that time, the whole world really learned about the sensational speedway rider from Gorzów, who turned out to be weaker than Martin Vaculik and Chris Holder in the final, but brought his mentor behind him and was able to stand on the lowest step of the podium.

In 2013, what Polish fans had been waiting for finally happened. Jarosław Hampel won on the home track of Stal Gorzów. The popular "Mały" started his start in the competition very poorly. In the first two races he won only one point, but then he did better and better from race to race. Finally, in the grand finale he brought Chris Holder, Tai Woffinden and Greg Hancock to the finish line behind him. The rest of our representatives did not do so well. Krzysztof Kasprzak was seventh (10 points). Tomasz Gollob only fourteenth (4 points). On the other hand, Bartosz Zmarzlik, who started again with a "wild card", took 12th place (6 points).

Saturday, August 30, 2014, turned out to be very lucky for Zmarzlik. Starting for the third time with a "wild card" in the Gorzów Grand Prix, the graduate of the local Stal, triumphed in this event for the first time. Krzysztof Kasprzak also recorded a good result in this competition, who also stood on the podium. On the other hand, the winner from the previous year - Jarosław Hampel - did badly. In five races, the speedway rider was not able to win even one "point". Even Adrian Cyfer, who replaced the injured Tai Woffinden (2 points), did better than him.

In 2015, Bartosz Zmarzlik aimed for another triumph in Gorzów. He entered again with a "wild card" and everything went well until the final race. However, it was unsuccessful for our rider. After a not-so-successful start, the Pole let Greg Hancock close him in on the approach to the first bend. Then he left space by the curb on the second bend and let Matej Zagar in, on top of that he rode hard into the barrier, where his bike lifted, and only Tai Woffinden was waiting for such a mistake.

See also: In Sweden they paid for the absence of Bartosz Zmarzlik

In the following season, Bartosz Zmarzlik (14 points) presented himself to his home crowd as a regular participant in the Speedway Grand Prix series for the first time in his sports career. Just like last year, the Pole managed to advance to the grand finale, but he finished fourth. The most important race of the evening was held in installments. In the first attempt, it was very tight on the first bend. Chris Holder fell on the track. The referee did not find any of the competitors at fault in this situation and ordered a re-run with the full line-up. Jason Doyle triumphed in it ahead of Tai Woffinden and Chris Holder. Despite his ambitious ride, our competitor was unable to stand on the podium. The Australian deserved to triumph, because from the beginning of the competition he impressed with the speed of his motorcycles. The other Poles rode in a "checkerboard" manner. Krzysztof Kasprzak and Piotr Pawlicki advanced to the semi-finals, but lost there. Maciej Janowski was tenth (6 points).

Fans were counting on August 26, 2017, exactly 1050 days after the last victory of the white-and-red speedway rider on Polish soil. In the decisive race, Zmarzlik suffered terrible bad luck – the safety switch cord came loose and he was left at the start. Dudek, on the other hand, came out brilliantly from the tape. However, the rider from Zielona Góra left some space at the barrier for the speeding Woffinden and the Briton sped past him, then quickly sped off to the win.

On Saturday, August 25, 2018, speedway riders competed once again in the Speedway Grand Prix tournament at the stadium in Gorzów. Bartosz Zmarzlik had a very successful performance. The speedway rider finished the regular round with thirteen "points". The Pole collected eighteen points in the entire competition, and in the grand finale he came to the finish line behind Martin Vaculik.

In 2020, due to pandemic restrictions and related territorial limitations, two SGP tournaments were held in Gorzów. On Friday, September 11, Zmarzlik took first place. The Pole also won the regular round, where he collected fourteen points. In the next tournament held the following day, Bartosz Zmarzlik finished the competition in fifth place. The speedway rider collected thirteen points in the regular round and took first place, but his participation in this competition ended in the semi-final.

Zmarzlik stood on the lowest step of the podium in the 2022 season in Gorzów. The speedway rider reached the finish line behind Anders Thomsen and Martin Vaculik in the grand finale. In the most important race of the evening, Patryk Dudek reached the finish line at the end of the field.

In 2023, the Pole triumphed in the Polish Grand Prix on the local "oval". Bartosz Zmarzlik won the main tournament with thirteen points and advanced to the semi-finals without any major problems.

In the first semi-final, our best speedway rider turned out to be the fastest. Jason Doyle also advanced to the grand final. Holder and Janowski ended their participation in the competition in Gorzów in this duel.

The final was played in installments. In the first attempt, Fredrik Lindgren fell onto the track. The replay took place with the full line-up. Unfortunately, the second attempt to play the most important race of the evening also failed. This time, Jason Doyle fell onto the track.

The Australian was excluded from the next replay by the referee. The third time, the final was played. The Pole stayed at the start, but first he managed to beat Lindgren in the distance, and then Madsen as well, and won in Gorzów.

Last season, Zmarzlik was second. With twelve points, he won the main tournament and secured a spot in the semi-finals.

Bartosz Zmarzlik in the semi-final decided to choose the first field by the curb. Unfortunately, this race was played in installments. Jack Holder fell on the track and, in order not to hit the Australian, Kai Huckenbeck put his motorcycle on the track and also fell. The referee excluded Holder from the replay. The replay ended with Madsen winning ahead of Zmarzlik. Huckenbeck was third.

The grand finale had a very interesting course. After the start, Bartosz Zmarzlik was in the lead, but after a thrilling battle in the final, Lindgren triumphed. Michelsen finished third, and Madsen came last.

— I am happy with my performance in this competition. It's a pity that I didn't manage to win. Fredrik Lindgren was very fast in the final and deservedly won this tournament — said Bartosz Zmarzlik after last year's SGP tournament in Gorzów.