Landshut club chairman Gerald Simbeck paid tribute to his team after they were awarded the FIM Speedway Local Organiser of the Year prize for 2025.
Simbeck and his team received the award from FIM Speedway World Championships director Laura Manciet, who visited the city on Thursday to present the trophy to the club.
The Speedway GP series returned to Landshut for the first time since 1997 last year and the club was nominated for the 2025 prize by the Warner Bros. Discovery Sports team in recognition of the significant improvements they made from 2024 to this year’s season-opener in May, as well as for the dedication and responsiveness of their team in the build-up to a hugely-successful event.
The OneSolar Arena was packed in both 2024 and 2025 for the biggest speedway event staged in Germany. The 2026 season sees the club stage a mouth-watering double-header of FIM Speedway action, kicking off with WWK FIM Speedway World Cup Semi-Final 1 on Friday, May 1, which sees Germany battle three other nations for a spot in the PZM FIM SWC Final.
The sport’s top individual stars then take to the track on Saturday, May 2 for the FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship season-launching WWK FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Landshut.
Landshut club president Gerald Simbeck saluted his team as they celebrated the FIM Speedway Local Organiser of the Year prize.
He said: “From the club’s side, we are very, very happy and proud. It’s a big honour for the club and our staff, for the whole club and our partners, sponsors and fans.
“It’s a big sign for the team behind myself and vice-president Kerstin Rudolph. We have only volunteers – 25 guys take one week off from their main job.
“The focus from all of the guys involved from our club is to work on a high level with our partners and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to have a great event for all the speedway fans in the world. This is the goal for us, and this is why we are very happy about this trophy. We are very proud.
“We would like to say a big thanks also to Laura and the whole team from WBD Sports. It’s a pleasure to work with them. We have a lot of tasks and big things to do. But we all have the same focus for the event, and we have fun together.
“It is not easy to hold such big events and have such fun together. But in the last two years, from the first day, we had a very good feeling. I think after two years, the last GPs were a sign to the speedway world that we are ready for big events.”
Laura Manciet, FIM Speedway World Championships director commented: “It was an absolute pleasure to present this prize to Gerald, Kerstin and the team from Landshut.
“We moved the FIM Speedway GP of Germany to their OneSolar Arena in 2024 and the sight of so many fans streaming through the gates as soon as we opened the stadium was fantastic to witness. The club has improved their organisation in every area from 2024 to 2025 and it is a pleasure to work with them.
“We thank Landshut and all of our local organisers, who have staged events in the four seasons that WBD Sports has served as FIM Speedway global promoter. We wish them every success for 2026 and beyond.”