April 13, 2022 – Speedway’s 100th anniversary begins in Međimurje when it hosts the Tehnix FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Croatia on April 30!

After ten years, the Speedway World Championship returns to Međimurje, at the Millennium Stadium, where the 16 best riders in the world will compete. Last season’s runner-up Bartosz Zmarzlik will lead drivers from all over the world, but also a representative of the host, Slovenian champion Matej Žagar, who will drive as a wildcard. In addition, two reserve pilots come from Hungary and Slovenia, Nick Skorija and Denis Fazekas.

“We expect a sold out stadium, around 7,000 visitors, including 3,500 tourists, will spend the night from Zagreb to Sv. Martin and record 20,000 overnight stays during this event alone,” said Darija Pavlic, director of Tehnix FIM Speedway. Croatian Grand Prix and a representative of the FIM World Motorcycle Federation, during the presentation of one of the biggest sporting events in Croatia this year.

“It will also be an opportunity to celebrate 17 years of our stadium in Donji Kraljevec, after which Warsaw and Prague will host the GP until the 11th race in Australia”, added the director, specifying that the Međimurje race is on today’s agenda. schedule of other major world centers. Moreover, the quality has been recognized by the FIM and the new promoter Discovery Sport Event as the owners of Eurosport, which will broadcast the circuit and the image of Međimurje in 40 countries around the world.

Secretary of State for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Sandra Herman, continued to congratulate the Pavlic family. The whole team gathered at the Speedway Club Millennium for the strong desire, the will and the knowledge necessary to organize such competitions.

“I am happy that we are coming to this mega event for Croatia after the break, because such sporting events contribute greatly to the development of tourism, especially on the continent. We all know that our successful athletes are the best promoters of everything. the country. . This race is crucial for the development of continental tourism, and we are glad that all the accommodation capacities of Međimurje and neighboring counties are already filled. We will always encourage such events, and our new tourism development strategy until 2030 emphasizes the development of sports tourism and active vacations in the coming period,” said Herman.

Međimurje County Prefect, Matija Posavec, particularly commented on the pride that this race is taking place in 2022, when Međimurje was the first to win the title of European Sports Region.

“There are several fundamental reasons why this event is of particular importance; one is certainly the way this great spectacle is held in Međimurje, which proudly bears the title of sports region, while the other is that the race takes place on Međimurje county day, or April 30. Moreover, it gives us the chance to promote our identity and values ​​and to be more recognizable throughout Europe and the world. that this also marks 100 years of speedway. Here we have a team of people who are perhaps the only ones in Međimurje and Croatia who are the true promoters of speedway as a sport. Thank you, Zvonko, Jura and Darija,” Posavec emphasized and invited everyone to the race on Međimurje County Day.

Zvonimir and Jurica Pavlic are the sports hosts and responsible for the stadium, track and processes. They proudly announced that the track would be prepared in the best possible way to the satisfaction of all drivers. Although the famous pilot has decided to end his career, Jura underlined that it was not to be forgotten and that the adrenaline would pull him towards the track. He mentioned how nice it is to watch from the outside and prepare the track for his friends and colleagues.

“Our goal is to prepare the track for the most even racing possible so that the public enjoys all the fights and an engaging day of speedway,” added Jura.

Zvonimir stressed how proud he is that youngsters have taken the helm.

“What I can say is that I am happy that the organization is betting on quality and the right hands, but also that it has been proven that after the speedway there will be – a speedway. Jura and I were competitors, so as a driver I can say that the event awaits us, something that will be remembered,” said Pavlic, announcing the technically extremely demanding preparations and the race itself.

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