BSI Speedway, rights holders of the world championship FIM Speedway Grand Prix series (SGP), has today announced a new contract with the City of Gorzow, Poland, to host a round of the SGP series at the Edward Jancarz Stadium for the next five years (2011 - 2015).
The inaugural Grand Prix in Gorzow will mean Poland will once again host three rounds of the SGP series - Marian Rose Motoarena, Torun and the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium, Leszno, being the other host venues.
Construction and refurbishment of the Edward Jancarz Stadium will be complete in time for the start of the 2011 Grand Prix with the addition of a second tier and new grandstand facility to the existing structure.
Commenting on this exciting new deal, Paul Bellamy, managing director, BSI Speedway said: "The City of Gorzow and the speedway club Stal Gorzow has impressed us with the current stadium and their forward thinking and development plans for their stadium.
"The support from the local council for both the team and the stadium is integral to the success of this venture and we are delighted to sign this new contract to ensure world championship speedway continues to be showcased in the best speedway stadiums in the world."
Polish hero and Gorzow rider Tomasz Gollob clinched the world title last weekend, ending a 37 year old drought for the fanatical Polish supporters to salute a winner of the individual championship.
The sport is very much on a crest of a wave as Bellamy explains: "It is testament to the position of Polish speedway that not only does the country have the individual world champion in the shape of Tomasz Gollob, but they also won the team world championship this year for the fourth time.
"With this success at the highest level we are looking forward to continued growth of speedway in Poland."The prospect of a Grand Prix in Gorzow is something the whole city is looking forward to, as president of Gorzów Wielkopolski, Tadeusz Jędrzejczak, explained:
"As the president of the town I am enormously happy and proud that Gorzów Wielkopolski will host a round of the Grand Prix series. We have the World Champion, Tomasz Gollob, in Gorzów and we are also going to have one of the world championship battles.
"My dream is coming true, a dream that required hard work from myself and many colleagues. I also need to stress the involvement of the City Council and, in particular, Władysław Komrnicki, President of Stal Gorzów. Together we have worked very hard and eventually succeeded.
"Gorzów loves speedway we have been looking forward to this moment. We are happy that during next five years we are going to host the best speedway riders in the world and are ready to welcome them to our modern stadium, which is going to be officially opened next year."
The president of Stal Gorzów, Władysław Komarnicki, who has worked alongside the council to bring the Grand Prix to Gorzow said: "Someone once said that it is important to have dreams and we in Gorzów have also had them. Later we started to realize them.
"First we hosted the Under-21 Speedway World Cup in 2009, then the opening event of the 2010 FIM Speedway World Cup (SWC). Now, for 2011, Gorzow will host both a Grand Prix and the Race Off and Final of the SWC.
"We would not have achieved it all without the determination of Tadeusz Jędrzejczak, President of Gorzów Wielkopolski, and hard work that we have done together to attract the world's best speedway to our town. I am grateful to the Council and fans for supporting the sport that is very important to us.
"And last but not least I want to say thank you to our World Champion - Tomasz Gollob. He has given all Poles a reason to be happy and proud. We are delighted to have him in Gorzów and we look forward to seeing him compete in the Grand Prix round in our town."
As well as hosting a Grand Prix in 2011, the Edward Jancarz stadium will also be the venue for the 2011 FIM Speedway World Cup Race Off and Final, with home nation Poland looking to defend their team world championship and win the title for an unprecedented fifth time.
