JANOWSKI: LESZNO'S STRENGTH IN DEPTH
Wroclaw's Maciej Janowski admits Leszno’s junior duo Bartosz Smektala and Dominik Kubera will make them tough to beat in the PGE Ekstraliga.
26 / 04 / 2019, 12:48
Wroclaw star Maciej Janowski admits Leszno’s junior duo Bartosz Smektala and Dominik Kubera will make them tough to beat as the Bulls chase a third straight PGE Ekstraliga title.
Janowski spearheads his boyhood club’s challenge this year alongside world champion Tai Woffinden, with Wroclaw hosting Torun on Sunday evening.
Leszno have set the early pace as the only team to win both of their opening matches. Despite Jaroslaw Hampel missing out with a broken shoulder, having the talent of Janowski’s Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations team mate Smektala at reserve is a huge boost to the Bulls. Add Kubera into the mix, and the champions take some beating.
Leszno have two very good riders in their junior positions. That’s why it’s very hard to compare with them. They have six or seven seniors in the team, if you can look at it like that.
Maciej Janowski
Wroclaw have former World Under-21 champion Maksym Drabik as their star junior rider and look set to mount a strong play-off push.
But with every club required to track two Polish under-21s in the Ekstraliga and Leszno possessing two of the best, Janowski knows wrestling the title away from Wroclaw’s near neighbours will be no easy task.
He said: “For the last three or four years, we have tried to get the gold. But it’s very hard to compare with Leszno. They have a very strong team. At the moment they are one of the teams who will fight for the gold.
“Max is a very good rider in our team. But Leszno have two very good riders in their junior positions. That’s why it’s very hard to compare with them. They have six or seven seniors in the team, if you can look at it like that.
“They are very young riders still and very good. But you know how it is in speedway. Sometimes things can change a lot. The season is very long. For the moment, the plan is to make the play-offs. Then we all start from the same points. We will see what happens.”
Janowski would love to lead Wroclaw back into the play-off final after they lost out in the 2017 decider against Leszno, before the Bulls eliminated them at the semi stages last year.
Asked how he rates their hopes of reaching the final, Magic replied: “Of course that’s our plan. But it’s hard to make plans in speedway. There are a lot of things that can happen.
“That’s the goal of every club and every rider – to start in the final in the best league in the world.”
