Post by admin on Dec 4, 2010 16:39:13 GMT
FIM Speedway Grand Prix champion Tomasz Gollob trounced incredible competition from the world’s motorcycling icons to become FIM Personality of the Year and admitted “it was one of the best nights of my life.”
World Under-21 champion Darcy Ward was also crowned FIM Rookie of the Year at the Gala Ceremony in Estoril, Portugal.
This caps an astonishing year for Gollob, who ended his 20-year quest for speedway’s biggest prize when he was crowned world champion in his home town Bydgoszcz on October 9.
The 39-year-old has established himself as one of Poland’s sporting greats and the nation’s finest ever rider. But the Gorzow and Hammarby hero was bowled over to beat 19 of motorcycling’s brightest stars and claim the FIM’s top prize.
He said: “It was one of the best nights of my life, not only to receive the gold medal with such a tremendous amount of world champions, but also Personality of the Year.
“It’s a dream come true. It’s what I have been waiting for after 22 years of speedway and 34 years of riding.
“I would like to thank my fans from all over the world for voting for me. It shows that what I do gives many people all over the world pleasure. If I can give so many people around the world so much pleasure, it makes me that much happier.
“What I have achieved here just came out of the blue. It’s incredible. To be able to win against Jorge Lorenzo (FIM MotoGP Grand Prix world champion) is amazing.
“Of course it’s fantastic for me, but it’s also fantastic for our sport as a whole. It shows the sport is growing in size and popularity from year to year, and hopefully we can just keep the momentum going.”
While Gollob had to wait two decades for his first world individual crown, Ward won the World Under-21 Championship at the first attempt last year and retained it at Pardubice in October.
The 18-year-old is the youngest rider ever to win the competition and only the second to claim the gold twice.
Ward jetted in from Australia to collect his Rookie of the Year title in Portugal. And despite the prospect of another 24 hours on a plane ahead of him, the two-time Aussie junior champion was glad he made the trip.
He said: “That was cool. I didn’t think I would get the award, let alone Tomasz. It was pretty cool for both of us to get it.
“This should elevate me in some ways, but it was good just to come here and see Jorge Lorenzo, David Knight (MAXXIS FIM E3 Enduro world champion), and Toni Cairoli (FIM MX1 Motocross world champion). It was a good experience.”
Speedway’s sensational double triumph left BSI Speedway managing director Paul Bellamy over the moon, and he admits Gollob and Ward have “put the sport on the map.”
He said: “For Darcy to win Rookie of the Year and Tomasz to get Personality of the Year is great for speedway. It was voted for by the fans. It shows we have a strong fanbase.
“Darcy flew all the way back from Australia for this and I think it has been a great night for him.
“I’m really pleased for Gollob as well. He deserves everything he is getting at the minute and the recognition he is getting is superb. He was in some incredible company, and yet he was named Personality of the Year, which is tremendous.
“It has just capped a fabulous 2010 season for us. I’m delighted for the sport and for Darcy and Tomasz. Hopefully we can build on this.”
