Title defended by Poles. Joy of the Czech representative with a medal (comments after the U23 European Team Championship final in Krakow)

– I am happy that we defended the title – said Bartłomiej Kowalski after winning another gold medal in the U23 European Team Championship. In an interview for ekstraliga.pl, Jan Kvech and Mateusz Cierniak also assessed the tournament.

The Czech team in the U23 European Championship, which took place in Krakow, surprised everyone by winning a silver medal. It was an outcome that few had expected, especially considering the strength of their rivals. One of the heroes of this success was Jan Kvech, who proved to be the strongest link in his team.

Despite initially low expectations for the Czech team, Kvech along with his colleagues showed remarkable determination, which resulted in an unexpected success and a place on the podium. – We came here to fight; nothing is impossible. I already received a question before the league match whether we were able to beat the best team in the PGE Ekstraliga. Everything is possible. A new day, a new deal. We managed to ride well in these competitions and win second place – emphasized the Czech player.

Despite being a reserve player, Kvech played a crucial role in his team’s success, and his performance was admirable. – We had to be tactical. I think everyone from the team performed a very good race. We came here as outsiders. I would like to thank everyone who supported us and helped us. Those who didn’t believe need to be reassured, because as you can see, we have a silver medal – he added.

Although the Krakow track left much to be desired, Kvech would gladly return for future competitions, seeing the potential of the place despite difficult conditions. – If I ever have a chance to race here again, I would be very happy to come and train. The track was not one of the best. It was not in the best condition, but we managed. The most important thing is that we finished the competition and can return home safe and sound. The track certainly was not suitable for fighting – said Jan Kvech, who pointed out the differences in motorcycle behavior depending on weather conditions, highlighting the importance of proper settings.

– Motorcycles always behave differently. Engines also behave differently. We ride in various conditions. At the beginning of the season, it is cooler; now it is hot. It’s all about proper settings, and in every weather, you can achieve a good result – he concluded.

Mateusz Cierniak, serving as a reserve during the U23 European Team Championship in Krakow, confirmed his class by scoring a full set of points. He turned out to be the best player of the Polish team, which defended the championship title. Although he was unsure whether he would get on the track at all, his riding brought excellent results.

– Despite feeling really good after training, I didn’t know at what point coach Dobrucki would send me on the track, or if I would be needed at all. So, essentially, the first start I had in the ninth race, which was halfway through the competition, was a bit of an unknown. It was a start a bit to get a feel – explained the Polish representative.

After the first race, Mateusz and his team had to adjust the motorcycle settings to meet the demands of the Krakow track, which proved crucial for further starts. – We made slight changes to the motorcycle because the track was very demanding. This motorcycle needed a bit more flexibility in riding, as the surface was bumpy, and the most important thing was that the motorcycle would not dictate the conditions but that the rider could go where he wanted. You could say that I felt better and more confident gradually – described Cierniak.

Bartłomiej Kowalski, despite two falls during the competition, played an important role in winning the gold medal for the Polish team. The representative of BETARD SPARTA Wrocław in PGE Ekstraliga, faced issues that contributed to his falls. Appropriate changes allowed him to continue riding at a high level. – I am happy that we defended the title. In my first fall, I made a mistake. Later, the motorcycle was very bumpy, so I changed it. On the second one, the ride was great and probably could be seen. The second fall was caused by a throttle cable breaking. The motorcycle stopped, and I couldn’t do anything. The falls were safe enough that everything is fine with me – explained our interlocutor.

The rider also pointed out the difficult conditions on the track, which made riding challenging and affected the quality of the spectacle, but emphasized that in speedway, the ability to adapt to any conditions matters. – The track was really very difficult and demanding, bumpy. Holes were forming from race to race. It was getting worse, and I think that was visible. It’s a pity because the fans didn’t see good speedway, and we were all just struggling. Likewise, riders from other teams. But this shows that in speedway, you have to ride in any conditions – said Kowalski.

One of the gold medalists of the U23 European Team Championship decided to change motorcycles, which allowed him to regain control over his ride and continue contributing to the team’s score. – I didn’t change the settings at all. I was just looking for a way to ride normally. In the first two races, I couldn’t manage, but I switched to a gentler motorcycle, and later it was great – he concluded.

Weronika Cich