Brady Kurtz wins in injury battle to claim first SGP victory in Gorzow

Aussie racer Brady Kurtz admits an intense week of physio helped him defy a wrist injury to deliver his first-ever FIM Speedway Grand Prix win at the Events.com FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow on Saturday.

The 28-year-old, racing in his first full Speedway GP season, topped the podium at the iconic Edward Jancarz Stadium ahead of Poland’s five-time Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik in second, third-placed British star Dan Bewley and Swedish ace Fredrik Lindgren in fourth place.

Kurtz’s victory is even more remarkable after he suffered a wrist injury when he crashed with Lindgren in heat 15 of ATPI FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Manchester R5 last Saturday. He spent the week in Poland undergoing intense physiotherapy – organised by his Polish club Sparta Wroclaw.

Kurtz was king at Edward Jancarz Stadium on Saturday. PHOTO: Taylor Lannin

The treatment paid dividends, and the Cowra-born star was pleased to follow up a 12-point PGE Ekstraliga maximum for Wroclaw on Friday with the biggest victory of his professional career so far. After reaching five SGP finals in the first six rounds of 2025, Kurtz is elated to have topped the rostrum.

He said: “I’ve lost out in the final so many times that I didn’t know if it was ever coming. I don’t really know what to say. We have worked so hard for this and it’s so nice that it has happened, and I finally got the job done in the final.”

Giving an update on the injury to his left wrist, Kurtz admitted getting it into racing shape for the weekend was no easy task.

“It’s not very good, to be fair,” he said. “Last Sunday, my hand was so swollen – my whole arm was black.

“I was in Wroclaw all week getting physio for five hours a day. I went to the same place Woffy (injured triple Speedway GP world champion Tai Woffinden) goes – just to try and get the swelling out of my hand. I couldn’t close my hand at all. It was stuck.

“When it came to dropping the clutch, I was lucky my two fingers on the right of the hand are good. I was having physio for I don’t know how many hours, but they got the job done and I was ready to go.”

Kurtz has now faced off with Zmarzlik in four Speedway GP finals so far this season, with the Pole prevailing in their first three final showdowns in Landshut, Germany on May 3 and twice in last weekend’s Manchester double-header on Kurtz’s British home track.

The Aussie was delighted to come out on top in Gorzow – the city where Zmarzlik shot to stardom, raced for 12 seasons and remains a huge favourite. He said: “It’s nice to beat Bartek anytime on any track. I said to him that he got me twice last week on my home track in Manchester. I have only got him once, so I still have some more to go.”

Kurtz knew only a lightning start would deny Zmarzlik victory on the Gorzow track where he has collected three of his record 29 Speedway GP wins.

He said: “I knew my only option was to make the start because I was never going to pass Bartek if he got in front. I think that was one of the longest races of my life. All I could hear was Bartek behind me. I was counting the laps and I was glad to finally see the chequered flag.”

Gorzow top trio Kurtz (centre), Zmarzlik (left) and Bewley (right). PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

Despite Kurtz taking victory, Zmarzlik maintained his pre-weekend Speedway GP World Championship lead of 11 points after scoring two for finishing third in the sprint race on Saturday afternoon – as well as eliminating Kurtz from the Qualifying session when he won their Q1 duel.

The Lublin star was satisfied with a taking second spot at Edward Jancarz Stadium for a second straight season.

He said: “I am very happy and proud because I was in the final again, and I think it was a good job for me and my team. Reaching a final always feels amazing and Brady did a really nice job at the start. He kept going and won his first GP. Big congrats for that because he should remember that the first one is always the best.

“It was a good night. I always look to score the points I need over the five heats. I wanted to do a really good job, and I felt really good on this track. Maybe a small mistake in the final cost me at the start, but second place is also nice.

“Always when I come back to my home track in Gorzow, it’s an amazing feeling. I want to thank a lot of people because they gave me big support, I felt this, and it felt like we went on the track together for the races.”

Zmarzlik stormed to second spot in his local event. PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

Third-placed Bewley left the Edward Jancarz Stadium with 20 championship points after bagging 16 this evening, as well as scoring an additional four points by winning the afternoon sprint race ahead of Lindgren in second, Zmarzlik in third and Aussie star Jack Holder in fourth.

He was pleased to end his wait for a first Gorzow final after coming close on a number of his three previous SGP visits. Bewley said: “I have topped the heat score chart here before, but I have never made the final. That was a little monkey off my back.

“I felt like I made a really good start in the final. It didn’t quite work out for me. Congrats to Brady and Bartek too. Gorzow is always one of my favourite tracks. It’s pretty cool. Brady and I are here with Wroclaw in the Polish league next Friday, so that was a good bit of practice for us.”

Next up for the world’s top riders is the Virkvarn FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla on Saturday, July 5. The Virkvarn FIM SGP2 of Sweden – Malilla – the opening round of the 2025 FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship – also takes place on Friday, July 4 at the Skrotfrag Arena.