Polish skipper Bartosz Zmarzlik is determined to write more history for his country as they go for gold in the 2026 BOLL FIM Speedway World Cup Final – Warsaw at the iconic PGE Narodowy on Saturday evening.
The reigning SWC champions take on 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations world champions Australia, Denmark and Great Britain in the biggest track racing event in the world this year – raced in front of over 40,000 fans in Poland’s most iconic arena.
The last showdown between the four nations in 2023 produced one of the all-time great FIM Speedway world team finals as just six points separated champions Poland and fourth-placed Australia after 20 heats.
Zmarzlik can’t wait to be part of another thriller on Saturday as Poland bids to win the SWC for a record-extending 10th time.
He said: “I am so happy to be at PGE Narodowy again. It’s such a privilege to be here with my red and white colours. Being with Poland is the best evening from a sporting side. I would like to tell you that it’s just another day at the office. Everything is set up for tomorrow.
“This is the most beautiful stadium in the world, so I would also like to make tomorrow evening very beautiful. When I ride in Speedway GP or the SWC, I like to represent my country and be the best version of myself.
“We are looking forward to tomorrow evening. Of course, we have a great history in the SWC, and we will do everything to make our dreams of gold come true.
“There is a bunch of very important speedway meetings this year, but this is the most important one. We are motivated and we want to win the gold. That’s our goal for tomorrow.”
Aussie captain Brady Kurtz rides in the BOLL FIM SWC Final for the first time in his career after serving as a non-riding reserve in Manchester in 2016.
Kurtz made his Speedway GP World Championship debut in 2025, finishing second in the standings – one point short of a stunning debut-season gold medal. After winning SON gold in Torun last October, he admits it’s a dream come true to lead his country into the BOLL FIM SWC Final – Warsaw.
He said: “It’s really cool to be here. It’s my first time and to be captain as well is a very special moment. I waited pretty much my whole life to be a GP rider. I feel like I completed that last year, and I think tomorrow will be equally as special. Everyone will be watching the World Cup, and I believe it’s the biggest event of the year. Being here with a good team and being the captain is really something to remember.”
With Speedway GP star Jack Holder missing the event due to injury, Australia hands debuts to Ryan Douglas, 32, and Rohan Tungate, 36, as both compete in comfortably the biggest meeting of their careers so far. Kurtz is backing the in-form duo to thrive in the PGE Narodowy spotlight. He added: “It’s a shame Jack is not here with us. He got us here with me by winning the SON in Torun, so it’s a shame he won’t be a part of this tomorrow. It is something of a downer on our side.
“But I still think Ryan is coming in with massive potential and I am still really confident that we have a solid team. I think both Ryan and Rohan have huge potential. Ryan is in the starting four and he has had two really good seasons. The indoor tracks are something that will suit him. We had practice today and we will find out when the real show starts tomorrow. But I am really confident that they can put in a good performance.
“We have all been talking about how we are looking forward to this all year. We are super excited. Team Australia is a special environment, and we are going to give it our best go. We have as good a chance as ever.”
Danish captain Michael Jepsen Jensen last raced in Warsaw at PGE Narodowy’s first Speedway GP event in 2015. After around a decade largely in the international wilderness, he stormed back into Speedway GP for 2026 and is currently fourth in the World Championship.
MJJ won the 2012 FIM SWC Final with Denmark at Swedish venue Malilla and is relishing the chance to repeat that triumph 14 years on in Warsaw.
He said: “It’s going to be mega. We have some very strong line-ups. I think it’s going to be one of the best events in many years. Of course, the venue only makes it better. It’s awesome and I am very excited for tomorrow.
“I think the spirit in the team is good. We are working fine together. I think we are all very hungry and it’s going to be exciting to see what tomorrow will bring.
“It was many years ago when I was in the line-up in 2012. That was the last SWC that I won. It’s going to be very tight, and we need to push. But I think we have a strong line-up, so anything can happen.”
Great Britain skipper Robert Lambert admits it’s a shame to go into the BOLL FIM SWC Final – Warsaw without the injured Dan Bewley and the now-retired three-time world champion Tai Woffinden. But he hopes the Lions can make the most of the biggest FIM Speedway world team final for generations.
He said: “At the beginning of the season, we were thinking that if everyone is fit, we could push for the gold. But it is going to be very tough for us and we need to set realistic goals. I think if we can push for a medal, we would be super happy with how the weekend has gone.
“For me to have had a little bit of experience in such a great stadium is quite nice. When it comes to the World Cup, it’s the pinnacle of the sport and every rider wants to be in the team.
“We are always looking for that moment in the calendar when the World Cup comes. To have it in this stadium is going to be incredible and to captain the team is always nice. We are really looking forward to putting on a performance here.
“It’s unfortunate circumstances. We were hoping that Woffy was going to be fully fit, but he got injured again and has now retired. We have also had the bad luck of losing Dan too.
“We have brought in some young blood, which is great for the future. It will be a great experience for them, and it’ll be nice to see what they can do. We are all excited and looking forward to seeing what level we are at. We’re in high spirits and keen to get out on track.”
2026 BOLL FIM SPEEDWAY WORLD CUP FINAL – WARSAW STARTING LINE-UPS:
RED – POLAND:
1. Bartosz Zmarzlik ©
2. Maciej Janowski
3. Dominik Kubera
4. Patryk Dudek
5. Kacper Woryna
Team Managers: Stanislaw Chomski / Dariusz Cieslak
BLUE – GREAT BRITAIN
1. Robert Lambert ©
2. Charles Wright
3. Adam Ellis
4. Leon Flint
5. Tom Brennan
Team Manager: Oliver Allen
WHITE – DENMARK
1. Mikkel Michelsen
2. Leon Madsen
3. Michael Jepsen Jensen ©
4. Anders Thomsen
5. Frederik Jakobsen
Team Manager: Nicki Pedersen
YELLOW – AUSTRALIA
1. Ryan Douglas
2. Brady Kurtz ©
3. Jason Doyle
4. Max Fricke
5. Rohan Tungate
Team Manager: Mark Lemon
WARSAW FANZONE
Enjoy an afternoon of entertainment at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy ahead of the 2026 BOLL FIM Speedway World Cup Final – Warsaw on Saturday afternoon.
The fanzone will be open in the area near gate one from 13:00 CEST, and it features the official SWC autograph session, where fans can meet all 20 riders from 16:15 and get some signatures or selfies.
The Monster Energy Rig Riot brings the noise from 17:00 – grab some goodies and get ready for a special Warsaw burnout. There will also be Monster Energy Trials action at 14:00, 15:30 and 17:30.
Visit the BOLL zone to meet Team Poland and Aussie icon Brady Kurtz from 15:45 and win exclusive Speedway GP prizes in our quizzes on the big screen at 13:30 and 15:00.
Pose for a photo with the SWC trophy throughout the afternoon. Meet the Monster Energy Girls for a photo and grab a selfie with FIM Speedway mascot Speedy.
Fans can also enjoy photo opportunities, the We Love Speedway sign, Kids Corner, food and drink stalls, the Speedway GP merchandise shop and much, much more.
The fanzone closes at 18:30 ahead of the opening ceremony at 18:45, with racing getting underway at around 19:00.
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can catch every moment of 2026 Speedway GP and SWC action live on global broadcaster Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platforms HBO Max or discovery+. Coverage of every Speedway GP Qualifying session is also available on these platforms.
HBO Max is available across Europe, with FIM-MOTO TV providing coverage around the world.
ACROSS EUROPE: Live on HBO Max and discovery+
REST OF THE WORLD: Live on FIM-MOTO TV
BRITAIN: Live on HBO Max and TNT Sports
POLAND: Live on Eurosport 3, HBO Max and Player
SWEDEN: Live on Kanal 9 and HBO Max
DENMARK: Live on 6’eren and HBO Max
AUSTRALIA: Live on Fox Sports
GERMANY: Live on HBO Max and discovery+
ACROSS THE BALTICS: Live on Go3, TV3 Sport and HBO Max
CZECH REPUBLIC: Live on HBO Max
SLOVAKIA: Live on STVR Sport and HBO Max
USA/Canada: Live on Racer