Franciszek Szczyrba – world and European mini-speedway champion

Franciszek Szczyrba is a young, 12-year-old mini-speedway rider who recently won the title of individual European champion and unofficial individual world champion just day after day. Furthermore, he rides in the Team Ekstraliga Cup for STILMAR WŁÓKNIARZ Czestochowa, where he also achieves very good results.

Franciszek’s adventure with speedway, and especially with mini-speedway, came naturally. He is the son of former RKM Rybnik rider Marek Szczyrba. As reported on rybnicka.eu, the black sport has always been in their home, and interest was a formality. – We always had speedway at home, so it was natural for my son to be interested in it. We watched matches together. I also had my photos from my youth when I raced on my phone, and my son liked to look at them – to this day, he finds some archival recordings on various channels and shows them to me, sometimes we laugh together at certain situations – says Mr. Marek.

Franciszek’s first official training took place under the eye of coach Antoni Skupień, who now also holds this role with the first team of the Rybnik club. – As far as I remember, Franek was very dissatisfied with the first training, because Mr. Antek thought he would ride slowly, and Franek, already experienced on the meadow track, opened the throttle and took off. Mr. Antek quickly ended Franek’s ride, fearing that such a small boy could be in danger. My son told me then, ‘Dad, I don’t want to ride here anymore, because Mr. Antek won’t let me ride my way!’ It didn’t take long, and Franek quickly got along with Mr. Antek and became a trainee at MKMŻ Rybki Rybnik – we read on rybnicka.eu.

Less than two weeks ago, Franciszek became the European champion. At the competitions in Zarnowica, Slovakia, he defeated, among others, representatives of the Czech Republic, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Exactly one day later, at the same venue, he won the FIM Track Racing Young Gold Trophy, the world championship in the 125cc category. – It is a phenomenal feeling that is slowly beginning to sink in. I believe I won this title through hard work and many people around. I always believe it will work out, and I went to these competitions with the thought that I am capable of winning this title, and I did. It was a great motivation for me to do it. And it worked – said Szczyrba

You can read the entire interview HERE.

Marcin Rusewicz