All eyes will be on Bartosz Zmarzlik as he aims to tighten his grip on greatness with a record-equalling sixth SGP title in 2025
Can anyone stop Bartosz Zmarzlik from winning a sixth World Speedway Championship as the 2025 season kicks off on Saturday 3 May, with the first of 10 rounds starting at Landshut in Germany?
Zmarzlik currently ranks alongside Swede Ove Fundin with five world crowns, with just one more needed to match that legendary Kiwi, the late Ivan Mauger, and another Swede, Tony Rickardsson.
Since his first full season in the SGP ranks, Zmarzlik’s record has been remarkable with two silver medals, one bronze and a worst-ever finish of fifth place to go with the five golds. It’s almost unfair to compare the record of Zmarzlik and the other 14 riders in the permanent line-up trying to dethrone him.
Dan Bewley finished second in 2024, Martin Vaculik third in 2023 and Fredrik Lindgren has finished second once and third three times after invariably ‘teasing’ his fans that he could ultimately reach the top.
The only other contender to have ever been on the rostrum at season’s end is the 2017 champion, Aussie Jason Doyle.
Last year looked likely to be the best for Doyle since his title win, when after three rounds he was only three points adrift of Zmarzlik.
If he had maintained that level of scoring he would have, at least, finished very close to Zmarzlik. Unfortunately he suffered a season-ending injury last May, but has thankfully returned in good form this year.
The dominance of Zmarzlik comes down to his consistency as he invariably makes the most finals and very rarely has a poor night by his standards. That consistency is what all of Zmarzlik’s rivals are aiming for, including the quartet of Australians who will be the largest contingent from any one country.
Like Doyle, Jack Holder and Max Fricke know what it takes to win an individual round, and newcomer Brady Kurtz knows he can, and has beaten all of his rivals in league competition.
But to reach the top they must do it consistently over the 10 rounds between this weekend and mid-September.
So buckle down for what could be a historic season.
