Robert Lambert, Bartosz Zmarzlik, and Brady Kurtz contest Speedway Grand Prix world title in Toruń
The 2026 Speedway Grand Prix season concludes at the Motoarena on Saturday, where standings leader Robert Lambert, six-time champion Bartosz Zmarzlik, and Brady Kurtz compete for the world championship across qualifying sprints and evening heats.
Three-way title battle at Motoarena
The 2026 Speedway Grand Prix season concludes on Saturday at the Motoarena in Toruń, with three riders competing for the world championship. Robert Lambert enters the final round wearing the gold race jacket as the championship standings leader. Bartosz Zmarzlik, who holds six world championship titles, is targeting a seventh gold medal. Brady Kurtz enters the final round among the top three riders in the world standings after securing his place in the series. The main racing program is scheduled to begin at 19:00.
Sprint format and championship arithmetic
Before the main evening event, riders participate in timed qualifying trials followed by an afternoon sprint race for the top four qualifiers. The sprint awards championship points on a 4-3-2-1 scale to the top four finishers, adding directly to the overall standings. Former Polish national team coach Marek Cieślak expressed concern over the format, noting that varying track conditions during time trials make the system unpredictable. A four-point sprint victory by Lambert alongside a scoreless sprint for Zmarzlik would extend Lambert's lead to five points before the evening heats.
I am not worried about the main event, but rather about the time trials and the sprint race.
- 1st place
- 4 points
- 2nd place
- 3 points
- 3rd place
- 2 points
- 4th place
- 1 points
Track conditions and venue dynamics
Motoarena features a sunken bowl structure below ground level and a partial roof, which alters airflow, air pressure, and temperature as night falls. Former team manager Jacek Frątczak pointed out that motorcycle setups adjusted for warmer afternoon sprint conditions will not translate directly to the cooler evening heats. Track preparation for the Grand Prix is managed by series director Phill Morris rather than the local host club. In the Polish Ekstraliga final at the venue the previous Sunday, Pres Toruń defeated Betard Sparta Wrocław 55:35, but track officials are expected to configure the racing surface independently for international competition.
- Pres Toruń defeats Betard Sparta Wrocław 55:35 in the Ekstraliga final at Motoarena
- Per Jonsson and Adrian Miedziński meet supporters at Toruń Plaza
- Timed practice and qualifying sessions take place at the Motoarena
- Top four qualifiers race in the sprint heat for championship points
- Main Grand Prix event commences at the Motoarena
Kurtz's rise and Toruń connections
Kurtz's path to the championship podium followed a career breakthrough at ROW Rybnik across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Australian rider previously stepped away from winter racing in Australia to reset mentally after riding for Polonia Piła, Leszno, and Orzeł Łódź. He later considered switching to long track racing and purchased a motorcycle from Tai Woffinden before committing fully to speedway with British-Polish tuner Ashley Holloway. Toruń club Pres sought to sign Kurtz to replace Paweł Przedpełski, but Andrzej Rusko secured his transfer to Sparta Wrocław.
Brady sat in my office and said: listen, I have had enough of these Grand Prix qualifiers. I want to become world champion.
The race weekend in Toruń also featured promotional events on Friday at Toruń Plaza. Former Apator Toruń riders Per Jonsson and Adrian Miedziński met with supporters alongside a display of vintage motorcycles and photography by Jarosław Pabijan. Miedziński recalled his 2013 wildcard victory at the Motoarena, where he overtook Greg Hancock in the final heat to win the round.
