Motor Lublin wins PGE Ekstraliga bronze as Mateusz Cierniak calls it most demanding award

Orlen Oil Motor Lublin secured the bronze medal in the PGE Ekstraliga speedway season after defeating Fogo Unia Leszno in the third-place playoff, concluding a campaign marked by persistent roster turbulence, as reported by speedwaynews.pl.

Mateusz Cierniak Operates the Clutch From the Pits After Hand Surgery

For Mateusz Cierniak, the final stretch of the season unfolded far from his usual spot on the track. The 24-year-old rider missed the decisive medal matches after undergoing surgery for a broken hand sustained in the opening phase of the playoff clash against Leszno. Confined to the team’s machine park on race day, the Tarnów native watched from the sidelines while continuing his rehabilitation, telling speedwaynews.pl that his recovery was progressing smoothly despite the disappointment of missing the action.

Rather than remaining a passive observer, Cierniak found unconventional ways to contribute within the pits. Driven by race-day adrenaline, he even used his right, recently operated hand to help his teammates assemble clutches between heats. Admitting that he may have pushed his physical limits too soon, Cierniak told speedwaynews.pl that the experience offered him a rare perspective on the sport away from the pressures of starting grid competition.

The Toughest Podium Campaign in Recent Lublin History

The bronze finish marked Motor Lublin’s sixth appearance on the PGE Ekstraliga podium, following a sequence that included silver in 2021, three consecutive championship titles, and a runner-up finish the previous year. However, the path to the 2025 medals proved uniquely arduous. Entering the year with ambitions of reclaiming the gold, the team battled a wave of injuries that forced them to fight through the closing rounds of the regular season just to secure a playoff berth, as detailed in the sources.

Reflecting on the campaign during the medal ceremony, Cierniak described the bronze as the most demanding award of his tenure with the club. While traditionally holding the lowest prestige by metal color among the podium finishes, the sheer accumulation of misfortune, missed starts, and physical setbacks elevated the value of the achievement. The team was forced to operate under severe duress during the return fixture, losing Kacper Woryna in a first-heat crash that sent the Polish representative to the hospital with suspected rib fractures.

Martin Vaculik Helps Motor Secure Victory over Leszno

Fogo Unia Leszno failed to capitalize on Lublin’s early roster depletion. Instead, Martin Vaculik delivered a standout performance for the hosts, anchoring the lineup alongside team captain Bartosz Zmarzlik. Vaculik recorded 16 points for the fixture according to the sources, erasing any hopes of an upset by Leszno. Following tied results in the opening two heats, Motor reeled off seven consecutive heat victories to build an insurmountable 35–19 advantage.

Despite strong individual efforts from Benjamin Cook—who scored 12 points for Leszno—and junior rider Kacper Mania, the visitors lacked the collective depth to challenge the home side. Keynan Rew crossed the line first in one outing, but referee Bartosz Ignaszewski correctly ruled that the Australian rider had crossed the inner track boundary with both wheels, resulting in an exclusion and the annulment of his points, as reported in the sources.

Stadium Modernization and the Move to Tarnów

The bronze-medal matchup marked the final fixture hosted at the Stadion przy Alejach Zygmuntowskich for the immediate future. Following the conclusion of the meeting, supporters lingered in the stands to celebrate the team’s latest medal before the venue closes its gates for a comprehensive, large-scale modernization project, according to the sources. Consequently, Orlen Oil Motor Lublin will temporarily shift their home fixtures to the track in Tarnów while construction work proceeds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Lublin’s Bronze Finish

What was the final aggregate score between Motor Lublin and Fogo Unia Leszno?

Why did Mateusz Cierniak miss the final playoff matches? Mateusz Cierniak was forced to sit out the medal rounds after sustaining a broken hand in the opening phase of the playoff clash against Leszno, requiring successful surgery, according to speedwaynews.pl.

Where will Motor Lublin play their home matches during stadium renovations? Orlen Oil Motor Lublin will temporarily shift their home fixtures to the track in Tarnów while their primary venue at Aleje Zygmuntowskie undergoes general modernization, as reported in the sources.