Bartosz Zmarzlik not distracted by Speedway records as defending champion focuses on season opener

Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik is staying focused on racing as the prospect of achieving a record-breaking 24th Speedway GP win in Donji Kraljevec, Croatia, in the opening round of the 2024 Speedway GP World Championship.

Zmarzlik will be one of sixteen riders from 10 different countries battling it out at the Speedway Stadion Milenium on Saturday, April 27 to kick off the season.

The Polish rider has topped the podium at the last two season-openers in Croatia, and became a four-time Speedway GP world champion last year.

His win at the final round in Torun last year not only clinched the title, but saw him match Australian great Jason Crump’s all-tie record of 23 Speedway GP wins. A third straight victory at Speedway Stadium Milenium and Zmarzlik will surpass this figure.

“I am very happy and really very proud about this. Jason also has 23, and he is a big name for me,” Zmarzlik said, adding: “I remember when I was very young and watching Speedway GP. He was always a big star – along with people like Greg Hancock, Tony Rickardsson and Tomek Gollob.

“He is a big hero in my eyes and now I am at the same level maybe. I have the same number of GP wins as Jason. This is important, but I am not noting in my book how many points or podiums I get – it’s more the other people around me that talk about this.

“I always look at myself and just do everything I can to make everything the best it can be this year. How many wins or points I get; we will see after the season.”

This year could be a monumental year for Zmarzlik, who has the chance to match Swedish legend Ove Fundin’s haul of five FIM Speedway World Championships.

In doing so, he’ll become only the second rider in history to win three world titles in a row. The only rider to do so is New Zealand’s six-time champion Ivan Mauger, who topped the podium in 1968, 1969 and 1970.

But unsurprisingly, Zmarzlik is modestly focused on his own performances day-to-day, and allowing those around him to count records.

“It is very interesting for me, but I don’t want to say too much about this,” Zmarzlik said.

“I am just thinking about what I can do to be the best from day to day. Tomorrow when I wake up, I am thinking about what I can do to improve as a person and a rider. That’s my focus.”

There’s no shortage of ccontenders to his throne, with the likes of Sweden’s Fredrik Lindgren and Slovakia’s Martin Vaculik, who picked up silver and bronze last year respectively, aiming for higher accolades this season.

Zmarzlik knows he has has to continue develop and improve both man and machine to capture a fifth title.

He said: “I am very happy about what I have done for the last five years, but I am always looking to the future.

“Every year is different, and I make different preparations with the bike. Now I feel ready for everything, and I am fully focused for the whole series.

“It’s always important to focus on what worked well last season that we need to do the same. But motorsports can be different every week sometimes. It’s possible that you will get different results because everything is so open. I must find what I like and what works for me.

“I find mistakes sometimes and work on everything with the bikes, my technique, my control, my focus and I want to try everything to make me the best I can be.”

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