Poland's Ekstraliga to limit U24 reserve riders to Polish nationals, affecting Stal Gorzów

The PGE Ekstraliga speedway league plans to amend the rules for reserve riders numbered 8 and 16 starting next season. Under the proposed change, only riders holding a Polish licence and aged up to 19 may occupy these spots, effectively barring foreign juniors from the U24 category.

Club officials argue the move will hurt teams that have invested in developing foreign talent. Stal Gorzów, which currently uses riders such as Mathias Pollestad and Adam Bednar as “kevlar” reserves, says the rule will force them to drop one of these riders. “It is simply unfair,” said Ireneusz Zmora, a commentator on the issue. League president Wojciech Stępniewski explained, “From next year we intend that under numbers 8 and 16 only riders with a Polish licence up to age 19 will be allowed.”

Critics, including Adam Krużyński of PRES Toruń, claim the amendment undermines clubs that have spent resources training foreign juniors and will benefit those that rely solely on Polish youth riders.