April 13, 2022 - Speedway's 100th anniversary begins in Međimurje when it will host the Tehnix FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Croatia on April 30!

After ten years, the World Speedway Championship returns to Međimurje, to the Millennium Stadium, where the 16 best drivers in the world will compete. Last season's runner-up Bartosz Zmarzlik leads 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 drivers come from Hungary and Slovenia, Nick Skorija and Denis Fazekas.

"We expect a sold-out stadium, about 7,000 visitors, of which 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, the director of the Tehnix FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Croatia and a representative of the FIM World Motorcycle Federation, when presenting one of the largest sporting events in Croatia this year. 

"This 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," the director added, thus making it clear that the Međimurje race is on the calendar of other major world centers. Furthermore, the quality was recognized by FIM and the new promoter Discovery Sport Event as the owners of Eurosport, which will broadcast the speedway and the image of Međimurje to 40 countries around the world.

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

"I am glad that we are coming to this mega event for Croatia after the break, as such sports events greatly contribute to the development of tourism, especially in the continent. We all know that our successful athletes are the best promoters of the whole country. This race is crucial for the development of continental tourism, and we are delighted that all accommodation capacities in 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 especially commented on the pride that this race would be held in 2022, when Međimurje was the first to win the European Region of Sport title.

"There are several basic reasons why this event is of special importance; one is certainly how this great spectacle is held in Međimurje, which proudly bears the title of sports region, while the other is that the race is held on Međimurje County Day, or April 30. In addition, this gives us the chance to promote our identity and values and be more recognizable throughout Europe and the world. The added value is that it also marks 100 years of the speedway. Here we have a team of people who are perhaps the only ones in Međimurje and Croatia who are the real promoters of the 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, the track, and the processes. They proudly announced that the track would be prepared in the best possible way to the satisfaction of all drivers. Although the celebrated driver decided to end his career, Jura emphasized that this is not forgotten and that adrenaline will pull him to 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 so that the race is as even as possible so that the audience enjoys all the fights and one attractive speedway day," added Jura.

Zvonimir pointed out how proud he is that young people took the helm.

"What I can say is that I am happy that the organization is committed to quality and good hands, but also that it has been proven that after the speedway, there will be - a speedway. Both 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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March 7, 2022 - After two years, difficult and uncertain for sports, Donji Kraljevec and Speedway Stadium Milenium once again hosted the Danish speedway team led by the legendary world champion Hans Nielsen!

The "Professor" is a four-time world individual champion, but also the winner of 18 other world championship titles, the most trophy-winning and, according to many, the best speedway driver of all time. "The weather is better than in Denmark at this time of year and now we are here for the second time with the Danish national team and it is really wonderful in Međimurje, we always feel at home here. The track is top-notch, the conditions are top-notch, and we had fans in the stands these days," Hans Nielsen began. "We have three Grand Prix drivers in the team, we wanted them to feel the track, on April 30 and the first race of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship is being ridden on this track in Donji Kraljevec and we are looking forward to it."

Four-time world individual champion, and winner of 18 other world championship titles, Hans Nielsen.

After a long time, Denmark has three drivers in the championship, Mikkel Michelsen, Leon Madsen, and Anders Thomsen. "Again, we have three drivers among the 16 best in the world and I expect a lot from them. Leon Madsen is an experienced driver, in 2019 he was close to the title, Mikkel Michelsen is a two-time European champion, an extremely fast driver, and Anders Thomsen made his debut in the SGP last season and is ready for great things."

Anders Thomsen (middle), and Mikkel Michelsen (right).

Mikkel Michelsen will stay in Međimurje for a few more days after representing the Kingdom of Denmark at the Millennium Stadium. The Polish Extraliga in Lublin will follow on Monday: "I drove many times on this track, the first race takes place right here and I haven't been lucky in Croatia, but hopefully that will change.”, said Mikkel and added: "Last season I achieved my best result in the Polish Extraliga, we were silver as a team and it was a great feeling. I hope we can achieve something similar this year, or even better yet. I'm looking forward to the season, it's time''.

Mikkel Michelsen.

Speedway is celebrating 100 years of sport this year, and as it is devised in Australia, a return to this continent awaits us: ''Australia is supposed to be the last race of this season. It is difficult to look so far ahead, but with the new season we are all looking forward to new experiences and a new vision of the sport.'', said Mikkel. "The finals in Australia await us after the club and league finals, but now my focus is on the first race. We will return really soon here, to Croatia, and then we go a step further."

Along with three Grand Prix drivers, Denmark brought to Međimurje six of the best national drivers who drive on leagues from England, Denmark, and Sweden, and with them a young driver in training, European U19 champion, and sports hope of Latvia Francis Gusts.

The opening of the season in Croatia will be on April 30 with the first race of the FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX, which returns the World Championship to Međimurje after 10 years, a place that lives for speedway. The 16 fastest drivers in the world will compete at one of the world's best speedway stadiums and start the story of speedway together with Discovery Sports Events, the new promoter.

More information and tickets for the first race can be found in Entrio.

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