All four Polish Speedway GP riders have been named in new national coach Stanislaw Chomski’s 2026 squad.
Six-time Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik, FIM SGP Challenge winner Dominik Kubera, European champion Patryk Dudek and Speedway GP debutant Kacper Woryna are all selected, along with former SGP siblings Przemyslaw and Piotr Pawlicki.
They are joined in the squad by under-24 picks, two-time SGP2 world champion Mateusz Cierniak and former SGP2 bronze medallist Bartlomiej Kowalski.
The junior list features 2024 SGP2 champion Wiktor Przyjemski, former SGP2 silver medallist Damian Ratajczak, 2024 SGP3 champion Maksymilian Pawelczak, Kevin Malkiewicz, Bartosz Banbor and Leszno star Kacper Mania.
The riders will all be vying for five places in the world’s biggest track racing event of 2026 – the PZM FIM Speedway World Cup Final at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy on August 29. The Poles take on 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations world champions Australia, plus the winners of Semi-Finals 1 in Landshut on May 1 and Semi-Final 2 in Riga on August 7.
There were no major surprises on Chomski’s list. He told PolskiZuzel.pl: “Zmarzlik is a pillar of the squad, and there's no need for further comment. His achievements and stability at such a high level speak for themselves.
“Dudek, same thing. This rider’s second excellent season confirms that the previous one was no fluke. Plus, gold in the SEC.
“Kubera and Woryna deserved it by advancing to the Grand Prix through qualifying, which wasn't easy. They were also consistent in the Polish Championship.
“The Pawlicki brothers are our wild cards. You never know what to expect from them. Piotr has had a second good season and a successful return despite injury. There's potential there. He's an extraordinary personality. Dynamic, colourful, and he fully deserves this call-up.
"Przemyslaw is calmer than Piotr, but the rest of what I said applies to him as well. He has stabilised his form at a high level.”
Of Cierniak and Kowalski’s selection, he added: “They're our only light at the end of the tunnel in this position. They're at a level that allows them to compete in the Ekstraliga and beyond, as they also qualified for the Polish Championship.
“In the Ekstraliga squads, they're our only under-24 riders who can make a difference, who can add value. They're definitely slated for the Under-24 European Championships. And if they perform at their best, who knows? I'll add that the Under-24 European Championships squad could be supplemented by other riders from this category – two names come to mind – or juniors.”
Poland’s under-21 stars will be battling for three places in the FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 event in Czech capital Prague on May 22 as they bid to regain the crown they lost to shock winners Germany this year.
After missing SON2 in Torun this season, Przyjemski’s selection was a straightforward call for Chomski.
He said: “Przyjemski is a name that wasn't in doubt. He's the leader of this group, and he can show his potential in a wider range. Another such pillar is Ratajczak, who failed to advance to SGP2 but shone in the league. He changed clubs, gained a lot of experience, and should be very useful to this squad in his final season as a junior.
“As for the others, there was no doubt about that either. Pawelczak deserved it for his performance in SON2, and Mania impressed me with his performance in the Polish Pairs Championships. There, he showed good riding in difficult conditions. I have one or two more names up my sleeve, but the riders I'm thinking about need more experience.”
Chomski can add other names to his squad at a later stage, with national bosses not required to name their final squad until a month before the respective competitions.
The Polish boss, who led the country to their first SWC gold medal in 2005, added: “There will be a full squad, but we'll wait until the spring. We'll see who's available and at what level. In any case, I'm not closing the door on anyone. Even riders from the Metalkas 2 Ekstraliga have a chance, provided they show up well.”