SPEEDWAY/INTERVIEW/M2E: Jakub Jamróg with Ambitious Goals for Next Season. Why Did He Choose CELLFAST WILKI?
15.02.2025 08:59
Last autumn, Jakub Jamróg found his seventh club in his career. The speedway rider, after a successful season with INNPRO ROW Rybnik, with which he won the METALKAS 2. League, moves to Krosno, where alongside Tobiasz Musielak, he will represent the power of the Polish senior formation. How is he preparing for the upcoming season and what are his expectations?
- In the last season, Jakub Jamróg recorded an average of 2.039 points/race, which was the thirteenth best result in the entire league and the third in his then team.
- One of the permanent elements in the speedway rider’s preparation for the season is cold-water immersion. He emphasizes that he is also developing in this aspect.
- The team has a very nice and friendly atmosphere. No one acts superior, and everyone feels comfortable, says Jamróg about his new team.
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Marcin Rusewicz (ekstraliga.pl): How is your preparation for the new season going? Do you think your form at this stage of preparation is what it should be?
Jakub Jamróg (CELLFAST WILKI Krosno): Yes, absolutely. For many years, I have had tried and tested methods for preparing for the season. This period has always been a strong point for me because I generally enjoy working on my body, improving fitness, or training in the gym or doing cardio. I really like such workouts because there are always new insights and changes. I haven’t had any injuries or surgeries, so I can fully implement all my plans.
And what about cold-water immersion?
I’ve updated my cold-water immersion routine and taken it to a higher level. I recently attended special training in this area, as I have been doing it for many years, so I have moved to professional cold-water immersion and am also developing this part of my training.
In January, you were at a camp in Arłamów with the entire CELLFAST WILKI team. What is the atmosphere like in the team?
The team has a very nice and friendly atmosphere. The guys are ‘just themselves’. No one acts superior, and everyone feels comfortable. I appreciate such gatherings because they are a great opportunity to get to know each other better. Once training, sparring, or matches begin, it’s hard to have more integration.
A year ago when you moved to Rybnik, I asked you what made INNPRO ROW better than other clubs, as it was already your sixth team in your career. Now you are moving to Krosno, which is your seventh club. Is there anything that makes CELLFAST WILKI stand out from the other teams?
What stands out is the great ambition and freshness present in the club. People here have great energy in what they do and approach everything with full professionalism, which I highly value. Many structures are already at the top league level. CELLFAST WILKI Krosno is also the closest club to my hometown of Tarnów. Fans are also highly involved in supporting the team.
I assume the offer from Krosno wasn’t the only one you received, but did you have offers from the PGE Ekstraliga?
No, I didn’t have any offers from the PGE Ekstraliga, but there was action in the METALKAS 2. League. This year’s transfer market was very crazy due to what was happening with Tarnów and Łódź. I’ve never experienced such a tense and unpredictable period in my career. Fortunately, I’ve already established a position on the market where I was relatively stable and didn’t have to make any nervous moves.
Were you quietly hoping to ride in the PGE Ekstraliga?
Of course, I was hoping to ride there with Rybnik. I realize that I spent most of my career on the second tier, and certain stereotypes and beliefs in speedway are very strong, and sometimes even harmful to many riders. But I didn’t really believe that a club from the PGE Ekstraliga would contact me. I know exactly what I need to do to get such an offer. I think I had a good season, but not good enough to receive that offer. For me, the most natural thing was to advance together with the team, which has already happened in my career, and I took it for granted, but it backfired a bit. I take what fate has given me and don’t consider it some kind of punishment.
Do you have any regrets that despite the promotion and a good season for you, you will still be racing in the METALKAS 2. League? How did you take the fact that you will no longer be a rider for INNPRO ROW?
I’ve spoken on this topic many times, and I think the narrative went a bit too far. I don’t play this sport just for money or fame. I love what I do, and it’s a great passion for me. The fact that it brings me profits is something incredible, and I treat it as a side effect. So, as an athlete and a person, this situation hurt me. That’s life, and I take it as it is. I love the romantic speedway, like the final in Bydgoszcz, where I was ecstatic and jumping with joy, but later, not everything depends on me. Although I’ve been with many clubs in my career, I try not to be a typical mercenary. I don’t make changes for the sake of making changes.
After several years, AUTONA UNIA Tarnów returns to the METALKAS 2. League, with which CELLFAST WILKI will meet in the fifth round. Will it be a special or different kind of match for you?
Definitely, but I’ve already had some of these sentimental matches. I’ve ridden against AUTONA UNIA several times, and the great emotions associated with such meetings have already passed. It certainly won’t be an ordinary match because I still operate in this city, but I focus on my job, and it won’t distract me.
It’s known what the METALKAS 2. League looks like now and who are considered favorites in the competition. Have you already discussed with coach Piotr Świderski what your main goal is for the next season and what it entails?
We’re going for the highest goals because in sports, you can’t just aim for third or fourth place and let others fight it out while we take what’s left. We want to win every match, but we won’t pull our hair out if we don’t manage to advance, though it would be nice to surprise everyone.
And what are your individual goals for the 2025 season? Last year, it was the IMP Final, and now?
Now, I’ll keep them to myself. They aren’t very different from last year’s. I’ve thought it over and analyzed everything, and I’m working on achieving these individual goals, which are certainly ambitious—believe me.
Marcin Rusewicz
