Polish racer Bartosz Zmarzlik pledged to continue putting in the hard work as he bids for a record-equalling sixth Speedway GP World Championship after celebrating title No.5 at the FIM Awards in Mallorca on Saturday night.
Along with the winners of 62 FIM world titles from six different motorcycle disciplines, Zmarzlik collected his Speedway GP gold medal in front of 1,000 guests at the Palma Convention Centre, taking to the stage as one of the FIM’s ultimate champions for 2024.
He was joined in this elite club by FIM MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin, FIM Superbike world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, FIM Women’s Circuit Racing world champion Ana Carrasco, FIM EnduroGP world champion Josep Garcia, FIM Women’s Enduro world champion Mireia Badia, FIM Women’s Motocross world champion Lotte Van Drunen, FIM Rally-Raid world champion Ross Branch, FIM TrialGP world champion Toni Bou and FIM Women’s TrialGP world champion Emma Bristow.
Zmarzlik was not the only FIM Speedway world champion celebrated as SGP2 winner Wiktor Przyjemski collected his FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship gold medal, while SGP3 victor Maksymilian Pawelczak was honoured for winning the FIM Speedway Youth World Championship for 250cc under-16 riders.
The Great Britain Speedway Team was recognised for its second FIM Speedway of Nations world-title win in three years in Manchester in July, while Poland toasted their 11th straight FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship victory and their 17th in all after winning FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 – also at Britain’s National Speedway Stadium.
Germany’s former Speedway GP winner Martin Smolinski joined his fellow track racers in Mallorca after winning the FIM Long Track World Championship for the third time.
Also honoured was the Yoshimura SERT Motul team for their victory in the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) – another Warner Bros. Discovery Sports-promoted series.
After taking centre stage at the FIM Awards once again, Zmarzlik heads into 2025 inspired to continue putting in the hard work needed to deliver what would be a record-equalling sixth FIM Speedway World Championship – a mark currently shared by the late Ivan Mauger of New Zealand and Swedish great Tony Rickardsson, who jetted to Palma for the ceremony.
Zmarzlik said: “The whole 2024 season was really hard for me, but again, it was a good one because I have the gold medal in my hands.
“For me, it’s very important because I know how much work I have done for this with my team. I will do a lot in the future as well to maybe win another one.”
Pawelczak was also delighted with an unforgettable 2024 season – his last at 250cc level as he moves on to a senior 500cc bike in 2025.
He said: “I will remember the whole season. It was one of the greatest seasons in my career. I won the European Championship, and I won the World Championship.
“I am very happy with this season. I worked very hard for this, and I am looking forward to next season. I am moving up to the 500cc category and this will open a lot of new paths for me. I am looking forward to it.”
Tim Lightfoot, president of Britain’s motorcycling governing body, the Autocycle Union (ACU), paid tribute to the Lions for an unforgettable SON success achieved by Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley and Tom Brennan, which saw them defeat Australia in the Grand Final at Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium.
He said: “We are extremely proud of the British team for winning the FIM Speedway of Nations title for the second time in three years. It’s a terrific achievement and to do that at Belle Vue is just fantastic. It was a really difficult week with weather in the build-up to the Final. But it was the most incredible racing and a fantastic team effort from the three guys to win the SON title.
“Congratulations to the team, the team managers and everybody involved with GB’s FIM Speedway of Nations programme.”
FIM President Jorge Viegas, reflecting on a fantastic evening, said: “Bringing together so many of our FIM world champions always ensures a very special occasion and the 2024 FIM Awards have provided the perfect conclusion to the FIM’s 120th anniversary year. Palma de Mallorca has proved to be a fantastic venue, made possible with the support of the RFME.
“I would like to thank every single person who has contributed in any way to making the 2024 season such a huge success. Last night was the perfect way to celebrate it and bring it to a close, though we are already looking ahead to 2025 and putting plans in place to make it even better.”
Jean-Baptiste Ley, Motorsport Events Director at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, said: “It was a tremendous privilege to see our FIM Speedway and FIM EWC champions being recognised and celebrated for their standout achievements in 2024. And for this to happen among so many other greats of international motorcycle sport made the occasion even more special.
“Of course, there were many people who contributed so much to their success who couldn’t be at the FIM Awards last night. To them I also extend the congratulations of everyone at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and to all the other award winners this year.
“I would also like to thank President Jorge Viegas and his colleagues at the FIM for all their support and professionalism in 2024 and for staging such a memorable ceremony in Mallorca. Our focus now shifts to 2025 and to our preparations for another season of unmissable action.”
As we congratulate all of our 2024 FIM Speedway world champions, we look forward to bringing you more high-stakes, no-brakes action in 2025 – starting with the FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Landshut on May 3.
Words by SpeedwayGP – Feature Image courtesy of Jesper Veldhuizen
