FIM Speedway world champions Bartosz Zmarzlik, Nazar Parnitskyi, Villads Pedersen and Tino Stjernegaard Olsen all joined motorcycling’s greats at the FIM Awards in Lausanne, Switzerland on Saturday evening.
The sport’s four individual world champions were presented with their official FIM gold medals at the SwissTech Convention Center, having appeared at the inauguration of the FIM Racing Motorcycle Museum (RMM), situated in the FIM’s previous headquarters in Mies, during the afternoon.
They were joined on stage by fellow motorcycling icons, including FIM MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez, FIM Superbike world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, FIM EnduroGP world champion Josep Garcia, FIM Women’s Enduro world champion Rachel Gutish, FIM MXGP world champion Romain Febvre, FIM Women’s Motocross world champion Lotte van Drunen, FIM Rally-Raid world champion Daniel Sanders, FIM TrialGP world champion Toni Bou and FIM Women’s Trial world champion Berta Abellan.
Zmarzlik, who debuted at the FIM Awards when he was crowned 2015 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion, was elated to collect a record-equalling sixth Speedway GP gold medal and is already turning his attention to chasing No.7 in 2026.
He said: “I am very happy and very proud to be here again. I have been to the FIM Awards seven times. It’s always a special moment for me and my family also – they are always with me.
“Now it is 100 percent the end of the season and I am only looking at what’s in front of me.”
SGP2 world champion Nazar Parnitskyi raced to the biggest victory by a Ukrainian rider in the modern era in the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship. He was delighted to be part of the ceremony in Switzerland. He said: “I am very happy. This is a good moment for me.”
Denmark’s Villads Pedersen stormed to FIM Speedway Youth World Championship gold in the SGP3 250cc class for under-16 riders. He’s already looking forward to making the step up to 500cc action in 2026. Reflecting on his FIM Awards debut, he said: “It was amazing. Being here was a big opportunity for me as an up-and-coming speedway rider. It was the best thing ever actually. I really enjoyed it.
“The biggest goal is a new bike for me now. I go on to the 500cc and ride in different leagues. I am just going to do my best and see how it goes.”
His compatriot Tino Stjernegaard Olsen made history as the first-ever FIM SGP4 world champion after the competition was upgraded to full world-championship status for 2025 by the FIM.
The youngest FIM world champion at the Lausanne event impressed an audience of motorcycling stars with a fantastic interview on stage as he collected his gold medal.
He said: “It’s a big honour to be here tonight with the world champions, especially with my idol, Bartosz Zmarzlik. He’s the one I want to be like when I am older. I want to say thanks to my family – especially my mum and dad. Without them, I wouldn’t be here, so I am very grateful to them.”
FIM Speedway of Nations world champions Australia were also celebrated in Switzerland, along with Germany, who triumphed in SON2 – the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship – to claim their first world team title at any level of the sport.
Great Britain’s Zach Wajtknecht – a familiar face to speedway fans – was also honoured after lifting his first FIM Long Track World Championship, along with the FIM Long Track of Nations trophy with GB.