They go from zero to one hundred in two seconds, and on a 400-meter circuit covered in cinder or loamy sand, they race on a motorcycle without brakes or a gearbox at speeds of over 100 km/h. Only the fastest can win.
The speedway in Žarnovica is currently the only one in Slovakia. Its history dates back to 1953, when the first races were held on the black cinder oval. Today, thanks to
the Speedway Club Žarnovica, the stands of the speedway are filled with spectators several times a year. We talked to
the most successful speedway driver in the history of Slovakia, Martin Vaculík , who is very close to the most valuable title in his career.
What does flat track mean to you?
Speedway is my life, my lifestyle, the sport I love above all else, the greatest hobby I have. I can't imagine my life without it, it has touched me deeply.
You have flat track in your blood, you "inherited" it from your father, former racer Zdeno Vaculík. How do you remember your childhood? When was the first time you sat on a motorbike?
From my very childhood, when I was a really little boy, my father would take me to the stadium to watch training or races. When I was there for the very first time, we had to go home after a while because I started crying, it was probably too loud for me (laughs). Then, when I was about 3-4 years old, I started to perceive it differently, I was already riding my bike on a "flat track" wherever I could, around the house, on the housing estate, we would meet up with my friends and pretend to be riders. When I was 9 years old, I told my father that I wanted to try it on a flat track too. He did everything he could to get me my first motorbike and when I was 9 years old I started training under his supervision. He really devoted himself to me and the whole family supported me a lot from early childhood in creating the best possible conditions for me. My father, who was a rider, definitely influenced me in particular. He wasn't riding anymore when I was born, but his experience was invaluable to me; he was the one who pulled me and taught me.
You started racing at 15. How did you get started?
At 15, a racer gets his license, which is when he can start racing. But until then, it is possible to train and improve to become a complete, competitive rider.
At my first competition, I think I finished last or second to last, with one point, because there were more experienced riders there who already had one or two seasons behind them. It was some kind of Czech junior championship. The second, third and fourth races it really picked up speed and things started to move forward. I gradually progressed, a year later I had even better results and at the age of 17 I was already the Czech Republic Senior Champion. That was my first major success, because it wasn't just among juniors, but I was competing with seniors, and I won as the youngest ever in the history of the Czech championship. It was perhaps the first reflection that I had some potential and maybe even talent, which, with work, starts to benefit and I can compete with the best.
So you started winning fairly early on. How does it feel to be good at what you do, what you enjoy?
The best feeling. Just doing what you enjoy and having it as your job is an amazing feeling and I think everyone should choose a job that truly fulfills them. The fact that you have results and are doing well is a bonus of the whole thing. I enjoy it and I'm really looking forward to it.
You have many victories in Slovakia and around the world. What do you consider to be your greatest sporting achievement?
So, without a doubt, the European Champion in 2013 and three wins in the World Championship in the Speedway Grand Prix series. I am also very pleased - and these are rather sentimental victories and sentimental feelings - with the victories in the Golden Helmet race in Żarnowice. I have already managed to do it six times, and it is always very pleasant. The victories in the Polish league also taste really special. So far, I have managed to win the title of Polish Champion with my club in the Polish league once, and that is a special moment, because the Polish league is the most difficult in the world and winning it is a really great feeling and result, so I really appreciate it. I have also won some leagues in Sweden and other countries, they are all pleasant memories.
In flat track racing, a rider can race in multiple leagues. Where are you currently racing?
Yes, in speedway it is possible to race in several leagues. It is not like in football where you can only sign up for one club, because we do not have something like the European club competition, where a club from the Italian league can meet a club from the English league, and therefore a conflict of interest could arise. There is no risk of that with us. Each league is "closed" and has its own day of the week, so as long as you can manage it and it does not conflict with your deadlines, it can be done that way and it is fine.
For the last 10 years I have been regularly competing in Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. This year I have made a small change, I want to focus on the World Championships, the Speedway Grand Prix, and the Polish league, plus I have the Czech league for our club in Žarnovica, which competes in the Czech competition. I skipped Sweden, so I have a little less to do this year, but I think it will have a positive effect on my form and on not being so scattered and tired.
So you probably travel a lot?
Yes, especially the beginning of the season is so chaotic because there are a lot of training sessions and test "matches". There is a lot of testing, looking for the right bikes, engines, settings, so it is important that you complete a lot of training sessions and tests, and then during the season I am at the races for 2-3 days a week and the rest I am at home.
How many motorcycles do you need for one season?
I always build five new bikes for the season because, as I mentioned, there were years when I rode in Sweden and Poland, and you can't go everywhere by car, so I have to have bikes in Sweden and Poland, that's why the number is five, plus a full set of spare parts.
You mentioned that you will be focusing on the World Championships this year. So your goal for this year is to win the World Championship title, which you are still missing?
Yes, my dream, basically the only one that hasn't come true, since I've already fulfilled all my other sports dreams, is the World Champion title. I really feel good physically this year, I also feel great technically, my bikes are working very well. But of course, there are 15 other riders in the Speedway Grand Prix who feel very good and are determined to fight for the World Champion title, that's why this series is such a lucrative and interesting thing. But I say, I'm willing to do absolutely everything for it. I've been in the Speedway Grand Prix for some time now and I feel that now is the moment when I could really achieve a good result.
What was your best finish in the Speedway Grand Prix?
In the Grand Prix series, racers earn points for races throughout the year, and the final total is decided at the end of the year.
Last year was very affected by my injury, I rode half the season, I didn't ride the other half, it was all sorts of things. I don't even remember exactly where I finished, but the organizer gave me a "wild card", a free entry to this event, because in the races I rode I had good results, I even won some. If I could complete all the races and my season wouldn't be affected by the injury, and the results I had in the races I rode would be maintained, there is a high probability that I would be in the top five. So I think that is also why I was given a "wild card" and can start. So far, my highest ranking was 9th in the world ranking in 2017.
Speedway is not a very popular sport in Slovakia... How does it compare to Poland?
In Poland, speedway is a national sport. Its viewership is higher than that of football. We compare the national sport with the regional sport that takes place in Žarnovica and its surroundings, and that's the end of it. However, what is good is that there is a newly created Speedway club Žarnovica in Žarnovica, which tries to help riders, does various activities and so on. When I started, I was alone, now there are about 8 riders here, so there is some progress. Of course, it would take a speedway in other cities in Slovakia, and that is quite difficult. We do everything that can currently be done in Slovak speedway at 100%. Žarnovica made it to the Czech Extraliga, which is a great success, we race there with the best Czech clubs. It's going forward, if I manage to win the World Champion title, I believe that it would popularize this sport a little in Slovakia.
Do you help younger riders from the club in Žarnovica?
I rarely go to train with them, but if time allows, I like to go to a training camp with them for at least one day, tell them how I prepare, advise them on some things. I know how much I appreciated the advice of more experienced riders when I was starting out, so I try to help them and also tell them about the mistakes I made, which I learned from, so that they don't have to repeat them. Thanks to that, they move forward.
Who was your role model?
I had several role models during my speedway career. First of all, it was Tony Rickardsson, a 6-time World Champion, he was my riding role model. Then those role models changed, they were also athletes from other disciplines, I took the best from each of them. However, they all had common features, that they work hard and everything is set for only one goal.
How do you prepare for a race? Do you have any rituals?
During my career I have worked with several mental coaches and psychologists because sport is also very much about the head. Although motor sport is very specific in terms of what kind of technique you have, what kind of engines you have, and how the tuner likes you (laughs). But it is also about the head. I had to learn to deal with stage fright, fear, screaming, pressure... It was not easy, but I learned to work with it.
I don't have rituals, I really like, even though it may sound strange, in contrast to such an adrenaline sport, peace and my comfort zone. Before the race you won't see me running somewhere among the fans, after the race, yes, I am open to people, because I was also a fan once and I was also happy when someone found time for me back then. But before the race I am in my big car, which is like a kitchen with a living room inside, and I relax. I like to read books, listen to music and I really try to keep to myself.
In Žarnovica, or rather in Slovakia, we can't really imagine it, but when we go to Poland, there's a stadium with 20,000 people, there's 50-60,000 people at the Grand Prix, there's that cauldron. You come to the stadium and suddenly you feel those people, it puts pressure on you, and I always try to stay as far away from that as possible. I try to clear my head of thoughts and that's helped by that "ritual" of solitude, where I'm in the car, reading and being alone with myself. I like to be quiet and alone.
How do you spend your free time?
I don't have much free time. I'm either training for fitness or competing. If I do, I spend it with my family, I have two young sons who require a lot of attention and are at an age where you have to give them that attention. So I spend a lot of time with Mark and Max, and of course, with my wife (actress Kristína Turjanová, author's note) and I have a classic family life. I solve the usual problems and worries that all other people have when they have a family, children and so on, so we come up with a program for the children and I try to combine it with sports.
This season I will do everything in my power to win the World Champion title.
