Jerzy Szczakiel was one of three Polish nationals to have won the Speedway World Championship, the others being 2010 World champion Tomasz Gollob and the 2019 Speedway Grand Prix winner and 2019 World Champion, Bartosz Zmarzlik.
12 Facts About Jerzy Szczakiel
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Jerzy Szczakiel rode in the World Final in 1971 at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, where he failed to score in his five rides.
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Jerzy Szczakiel won the title after a run-off with the defending champion Ivan Mauger of New Zealand after both riders tied on 13 points.
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Jerzy Szczakiel finished a distant last in his first race, retired with engine failure in his next two, and was excluded from his last race for breaking the tapes at the start.
5.
Four time World Champion Barry Briggs from New Zealand reported during commentary for ITV of the WTC Final that Jerzy Szczakiel had a major crash in practice three days earlier when he went over his bikes handlebars in turn one and lacerated his leg, severing a blood vessel.
6.
Briggs helped secure a pair of bikes for the Final as Jerzy Szczakiel's crashed bike was the only one he had available.
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In defence of his World title, Jerzy Szczakiel was seeded straight to the Continental Semi-final at the Motodrom Halbemond in Norden, West Germany.
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Jerzy Szczakiel was winner of the World Pairs Championship with Andrzej Wyglenda in 1971.
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Jerzy Szczakiel scored 15 points in the final, held at the Rybnik Municipal Stadium in Rybnik, Poland.
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At home in Poland, Jerzy Szczakiel rode for first division team Kolejarz Opole in the Pierwsza Liga in 1970's.
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Jerzy Szczakiel continued to ride for Opole until his forced retirement from a back injury in 1980.
12.
Jerzy Szczakiel stayed involved with the team as Manager until 1986 and became an honorary member of the club.