Polish star Patryk Dudek insisted “returning to the SGP series is very important to me” as he bids to secure a 2026 FIM Speedway Grand Prix spot by sealing the Speedway European Championship.
The former world No.2 extended his SEC lead from four points to six by winning round three of the European series in Leszno last Saturday.
If Dudek scores 13 points or more in the final round at Czech track Pardubice on September 19, he will lift the SEC title and be guaranteed a place in next season’s Speedway GP series.
After missing out on an SGP spot for the past two seasons, one of the sport’s in-form riders is determined to punch his ticket for next year’s World Championship.
The Torun rider said: “My goal is the European Championship title. Every medal matters and the chance to qualify for the World Championship makes it even more motivating. The plan is clear, and I’ll do everything I can to make it happen because returning to the SGP series is very important to me.”
Having missed out on a permanent wild card for 2025, Dudek is determined to take his future in his own hands for 2026, insisting: “I want to earn it on my own.”
He has enjoyed an outstanding 2025 season and is currently second only to five-time Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik in the PGE Ekstraliga average charts – registering 2.311 points per race for Torun so far this year.
Dudek would love to bring this form on to the sport’s biggest stage, and he certainly wouldn’t be there to make up the numbers if he makes it back into Speedway GP.
He said: “My goal is to keep this level of performance every season and push myself to be at my best, no matter what. My goal is to play a key role in the SGP series, not just be in the background. Anything is possible.”
Poland already has three riders with guaranteed places in the 2026 Speedway GP series, with Zmarzlik certain to finish in the top seven, while Dominik Kubera and Kacper Woryna qualified at the FIM SGP Challenge in Holsted, finishing first and second respectively on August 9.
Dudek would love to make it four Poles in the line-up. He said: “That would definitely be great for the Polish fans. I hope it turns out just like that.”