SPEEDWAY/INTERVIEW/PGEE: Adam Goliński: Leon Madsen feels great in our team

The STELMET FALUBAZ-Zielona Góra team is meticulously preparing for the new season in the PGE Ekstraliga. The president of the Zielona Góra club, Adam Goliński, talks about the preparation plans and new acquisitions for the team in an interview for ekstraliga.pl.

• The winter preseason preparation plan for STELMET FALUBAZ-Zielona Góra includes a trip to a training camp in Gdańsk (26.02 – 01.03).
• Sparring plans for Piotr Protasiewicz’s team – competitions with teams from Leszno, Rybnik, Toruń.
• Our new stars are ready to ride in Zielona Góra. Leon Madsen feels great in our team and is eager to get to know the city, said Adam Goliński, president of STELMET FALUBAZ, about the team’s new acquisitions.
• Follow our official profiles on social media

Łukasz Rusiecki (ekstraliga.pl): What are the club’s plans for the first three months of the year? Are there any planned actions in the organizational or infrastructural field?

Adam Goliński (president of STELMET FALUBAZ-Zielona Góra): I don’t foresee any revolutions. This is the time we dedicate to preparing for the season in terms of sports, as we provide activities for the youngest groups and finalize the last details related to the training camp trip. We are also addressing all administrative and sponsor-related issues to ensure nothing surprises us during the season. The most important thing is that the coaching staff and team are stably built for the 2025 season. There is understanding and good communication within the team and the club, and plenty of enthusiasm and positive energy throughout our organization, so we are looking forward to starting the season. We are also in the process of reorganizing our cooperation with the city of Zielona Góra. Discussions are underway to establish the terms of long-term cooperation. That is still ahead of us. 

What does the current training schedule look like regarding the athletes’ physical training? Does the club monitor each athlete’s preparations, and who is responsible for it?

The young adepts of the Zielona Góra school resumed general development training in November and will continue until late February and early March. Meanwhile, the leaders are working in their tried and tested preparation mode. The athletes are in constant contact with Piotr Protasiewicz, but each leader prepares for the season independently. All athletes will meet during the training camp in Gdańsk, which will have an integrative-sporting character. We have planned activities both outdoors and in a sports hall. This will allow the physical preparation coaches and Piotr Protasiewicz to see the athletes’ current progress and possibly influence the final weeks of the preparation process. 

Is there a planned conditioning camp? If so, where and when?

From February 26 to March 1, our team will travel to Gdańsk. Previously, we chose Świnoujście for several years, but it’s time for a change. We will be at a facility already used by other athletes, including footballers, basketball players, volleyball players, rugby players, and track and field athletes. This place has very good recommendations. The team will be supported by a team of physical preparation experts, including an acrobatics coach. Fans will be able to follow our stay in Gdańsk through our social media.

Are there preliminary plans for the first rides on the track and where they might take place outside of Zielona Góra?

We already have sparring matches planned. At this stage of preparation for the season, our opponents will be teams from Leszno, Rybnik, and Toruń. On March 29, we’ll compete in Leszno, and the next day I invite you to a rematch at W69. On April 2 and 9, we’ll face this year’s newcomer to the PGE Ekstraliga, and on the 5th and 6th, a week before the inauguration, KS APATOR Toruń. Of course, we want to get on the track in Zielona Góra as soon as possible, but the main factor here is the weather. We intend to practice at home from the beginning of March, and we will be ready for that. Cautious training, as the weather allows, will contribute to a smoother entry into the season. 

What criteria did the coaching staff use in selecting preseason sparring partners, and how much did the tracks of the opponents play a role in this?

Our priority was the condition of the tracks at the sparring partners. We wanted them to be as well-prepared as possible after the winter. But that was not the only factor considered by Piotr Protasiewicz. We believe that sparring on tracks similar to ours, which we’ve chosen, will give us the opportunity for more effective preparation for the first home match. Additionally, FOGO UNIA Leszno, KS APATOR Toruń, and INNPRO ROW Rybnik are teams with potential. We know our sports capabilities, and the distances between us are not too demanding, so this was the most suitable choice.  

How is the acclimatization of the new team members – Leon Madsen and Damian Ratajczak – progressing?

Our new stars are ready to ride in Zielona Góra. Leon Madsen feels great in our team and is eager to get to know the city. He prepares his workshop here, integrates with fans, and meets with students. He also attended a basketball match. With each visit, he emphasizes that Zielona Góra is becoming closer to him. Recently, he spent two days with us and was very impressed with the speedway atmosphere in Zielona Góra. He will certainly be here more often during the season, not just for training and matches. Damian also gladly visits our city. In December, he met with fans during a holiday charity event. He also attended an exhibition celebrating 100 years of speedway and participated in the final of WOŚP, where he auctioned a racing vest with his signature for a substantial sum. He is a very open, positive young man. Surely, fans will meet him on the Zielona Góra track during the season. 

What does Damian Ratajczak’s team look like following Mariusz Szmanda’s departure? Will the club support the athlete in this regard?

Damian will receive professional assistance from the club. Moreover, he has a well-organized personal team. During the contract negotiations, we discussed his team, and we know who his mechanic will be and who will assist him, so we are confident that he will be well-prepared for the season.  

What is the minimum goal for the upcoming season for the PGE Ekstraliga’s first team?

STELMET FALUBAZ Zielona Góra is ready to fight for a stable, good position in the PGE Ekstraliga, specifically the top four. This is a completely realistic plan, which will be ensured by our leaders: Leon Madsen, Jarosław Hampel, Przemysław Pawlicki, Rasmus Jensen, and our talented young trio, Damian Ratajczak, Oskar Hurysz, and Michał Curzytek. Our athletes will certainly give their all, and our final result in the standings will reflect what happens on the track. 

What goals are set for the youth – from the youngest to those participating in junior competitions and the U24 Ekstraliga 2025?

We want to invest in youth from the age of ten. Youth training is based on sports director Piotr Protasiewicz and Grzegorz Walasek, along with other dedicated club staff. Grzegorz has been with us for a year and devotes his heart and knowledge to the kids who have discovered their passion for speedway. We aim for high-level training, so we focus on working with experts, organizing regular trials, with the first one this year on February 6. Currently, we have ten licensed juniors in various categories in our school. We hope our training efforts will deliver more homegrown talent to the Zielona Góra club. We believe that with the right commitment, consistency, and ongoing work, current students will soon strengthen the first team. In the U24, we rely on the league experience of Michał Curzytek and our youth players. We will also rely on Mitchell McDiarmid, who fans met last year in a very positive light, and the young, ambitious William Cairns. STELMET FALUBAZ Zielona Góra supports the U24 Ekstraliga, and we will strive to ensure that training within this project provides tangible results in the future. 

Łukasz Rusiecki