Jason Crump talks to SGP record breaker Bartosz Zmarzlik
Australian legend Jason Crump says the 2024 FIM Speedway Grand Prix class is facing the Ivan Mauger or Tony Rickardsson of their era after Bartosz Zmarzlik surpassed the three-time Speedway GP world champion’s record wins times with victory in Sweden over the weekend, marking the Pole’s record 24th SGP event victory.
The Lublin and Lejonen star matched Crump’s previous mark of 23 when he won the No. 4 Speedway GP world title at Poland’s FIM Speedway GP – Torun on September 30, 2023, bringing him closer with Mauger and Rickardsson’s all-time FIM record of six Speedway World Championships.
Zmarzlik went four rounds without winning the Speedway GP at the start of 2024. But that ended with his fourth win in Malilla – adding to his 2017, 2021 and 2022 wins at the venue. points in the Swedish jungle – as he broke the long-standing SGP record Crump claimed his 23rd and final victory at the FIM Speedway GP Denmark – Copenhagen on 9 June 2012.
Crump shared that he enjoyed watching Zmarzlik rewrite the sport’s history book and pay tribute to a former rival who continues to set new standards on the track.
Jason Crump
“Honestly, it’s no surprise that he broke the record. If you look at Bartosz and his consistency over the last five years, it’s been remarkable. It was fun to watch and the record wasn’t something I was disappointed to lose.
“Every record is made to be broken and losing a record to a rider of his skill and passion is something you shouldn’t worry too much about. I certainly don’t. I evaluate the guy in all aspects, not just as a speed racer. I evaluate how he operates, how he drives and how he goes about his business. I think he is a credit to himself, his family and to speedway. I wish him all the success in the world.
“One thing is for sure – the generation of riders now have the Ivan Mauger or Tony Rickardsson of their era to look up to and strive for better results. They have a lot of work to do.”
Crump raced his final season of Speedway GP in 2012 – the year Zmarzlik made his series debut, with the Gorzow academy graduate surprisingly finishing third as a wild card in the event his local, Poland’s FIM Speedway GP – Gorzow at Edward Jancarz Stadium.
But their paths crossed long before this moment. “My memories of Bartosz go back many years,” he said. “I remember seeing him teasing Gorzow as a child before league games and open meetings.
“There is a photo of me on the podium at an open meeting in Gorzow with him standing in front of me. He sent me the photo. I sent him a text when he won the World Championship the first time and he came back to me with the picture and said: ‘Do you remember this?’ It’s pretty awesome.”
When asked what qualities he believes put Zmarzlik at the top of the speedway world, Crump responded with one key word: “Hungry,” he said. “He is motivated from being a better rider than yesterday – not from what the results say. He wants to continue to achieve and get as close to perfection with his riding as possible. Having the drive and motivation to constantly want to improve and better yourself is a great trait in a sportsperson.
“That’s what makes these people different. It’s like Ivan was there in the sixties and seventies, Tony was there in my era and Hans Nielsen (four-time FIM Speedway world champion) was there in his era. Their level of performance is not based on what others are doing. It is purely based on their motivation and desire to always be better than everyone else.
“Ove Fundin (five-time FIM Speedway world champion), I don’t know much about that, but obviously, he’s also motivated to win. We all have different levels of this and Bartosz is in the absolute elite with his level and drive. His motivation is to always improve himself and that’s a great motivation to have.
At 29, Zmarzlik still has plenty of time to add four more Speedway GP world championships and 24 SGP wins – starting with his home event at Poland’s ISS FIM Speedway GP – Gorzow on the 29th. June.
When asked how much he believes Zmarzlik can come in to win, Crump replied: “Honestly, when you say the sky is the limit for someone, I believe the same is the case with Bartosz on the velodrome. Currently, all odds are in favor of Bartosz dominating the sport for the foreseeable future.
“There are clearly people trying to stop him. Artem Laguta has the championship in his hands in 2021. There are riders in the Speedway GP who have talent on the bike; The question is whether they have the necessary skills to beat him in the 10 or 11-GP season.”
