Bartosz Bartkowiak, an 11-year-old speedway rider from Rybek Rybnik in Poland, won the FIM Track Racing Youth Gold Trophy in the 125cc class in Workington, England, winning every race in the competition. He finished ahead of fellow Pole Sawin Turowski of KS Toruń and Latvia's Hugo Polaks.
The win comes as Poland's Bartosz Zmarzlik pursues this year's Grand Prix cycle title, which would make him the sole leader among the sport's most decorated riders, ahead of New Zealand's Ivan Mauger and Sweden's Tony Rickardsson.
A broken thigh bone, then recovery
Bartkowiak's career nearly ended before it began. His father, Paweł Bartkowiak, told Interia that Bartosz started racing a year ago and could compete with the best from his very first event, but broke his right femur in a motocross crash after that season. The father said he thought it was over, but credited Marcin Momot, manager of rider Mikkel Michelsen, with arranging a doctor and physiotherapist who got Bartosz back on his feet over the winter. He added that his son shows no fear since the injury, only sporting anger, having already faced the worst.
Next steps
Bartkowiak will race mini speedway for Rybek Rybnik for two more seasons before possibly joining the city's senior team. His father said Bartosz already trains with ROW Rybnik, which has given strong support, and that the family has no plans to move. He finished fourth grade with distinction and excels in science subjects, though his father said speedway will come first if that is where his path leads.
Young Poles have won the 125cc world title three times before: Maksymilian Pawełczak of Polonia Bydgoszcz in 2022, and Franciszek Szczyrba, also of Rybek Rybnik, two years ago.
