The 48th Golden Helmet was the 2008

2008 in sports

2008 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* Louisiana State University Tigers defeat The Ohio State University Buckeyes 38-24 in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game, thus becoming the first two-time BCS National Champions, and the first BCS titlists with two...

 version of the Golden Helmet

Golden Helmet (Poland)

The Golden Helmet is an annual speedway event, and has been organized by the Polish Motor Union since 1961. The race is held in PC Team 3rd from last season , with the top twelve riders in the Extraleague and the top four riders in the First League...

 organized by the Polish Motor Union

Polski Zwiazek Motorowy

The Polski Związek Motorowy is an automobile club and the governing body of motorsports in Poland. It is based in Warsaw.Established in 1950 by merging the Polish Car Club and the Polish Motorcycle Association...

 (PZM). It took place on October 25 in the Olympic Stadium in Wrocław, Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

. Defending Winner is Grzegorz Walasek

Grzegorz Walasek

Grzegorz Walasek is a Polish speedway rider who has ridden for the Polish national team and has also competed in the Speedway Grand Prix series.For his sport achievements, he received:...

 from Zielona Góra

ZKZ Zielona Góra

Falubaz Zielona Góra is a Polish speedway team based in Zielona Góra who currently races in Speedway Ekstraliga. The club has won Polish Speedway League five times . It is commonly known as Falubaz due to one of its former names....

.

Original date of Final was October 17, but after canceled of German Grand Prix

2008 Speedway Grand Prix of Germany

The 2008 Speedway Grand Prix of Germany was the eleventh and closing race of the 2008 Speedway Grand Prix season. It was scheduled to take place on October 11, 2008, in the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. However, the meeting was cancelled because the track was deemed unsafe by the...

 and re-started Final Grand Prix on October 18, Main Comminsion for Speedway Sport decided aboute change date. After resignations top riders, Main Commission decided that top three riders are automatically qualify for 2010 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification

2010 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification

The 2010 Individual Speedway World Championship Grand Prix Qualification were a series of motorcycle speedway meetings used to determine the three riders who qualified for the 2010 Speedway Grand Prix. The top eight riders finishing the 2009 Grand Prix series automatically qualified for 2010...

 without Domestic Qualifications.

The Golden Helmet was won by Damian Baliński

Damian Balinski

Damian Baliński , a Polish speedway rider, current member of the Polish national teamDamian Baliński may also refer to:* Damian Baliński jr , his nephew, a former Polish speedway rider...

 from Unia Leszno

Unia Leszno

Unia Leszno are a motorcycle speedway team established in 1938 and based in Leszno, Poland. They compete in the Polish Ekstraliga and are the league champions from the 2010 Speedway Ekstraliga season. The team's home track is at the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium....

, who beat Jarosław Hampel (Unia Leszno also) and Adrian Miedziński

Adrian Miedzinski

Adrian Miedziński is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider has won Team Under-21 World Champion and Individual Under-21 Polish Champion titles.His father, Stanisław Miedziński was also a speedway rider....

 (Unibax Toruń

KS Torun

KS Toruń is a Polish speedway team from Toruń, Poland. Formerly known as Apator Toruń .- Team Information :* Full name: Klub Sportowy Toruń Unibax SA* Address: 87-100 Toruń, ul. Pera Jonssona 7...

). It was first time in history, when Baliński won in Golden Helmet; in 2005 he was second. Hampel was third in 2003, and Miedziński never won medal in this competition.

Starting positions draw

Main Commission for Speedway Sport (Główna Komisja Sportu Żużlowego, GKSŻ) which is a part of the Polish Motor Union

Polski Zwiazek Motorowy

The Polski Związek Motorowy is an automobile club and the governing body of motorsports in Poland. It is based in Warsaw.Established in 1950 by merging the Polish Car Club and the Polish Motorcycle Association...

 nominated 20 riders (12+3 track reserve from Ekstraliga

2008 Speedway Ekstraliga

The 2008 Speedway Ekstraliga season is the 9th since its establishment. The first fixtures of the season are scheduled for April 6, 2008, and the season will end on October 19, 2008. Unia Leszno are the defending Polish champions. The Speedway Ekstraliga is the top division of speedway in the...

 and 4+1 from First League). Rafał Dobrucki, Tomasz Jędrzejak and Norbert Kościuch later replaced the injured Adrian Gomólski, Tomasz Gapiński and Krzysztof Buczkowski. After changed of Final date, Janusz Kołodziej must resigned, because on October 24 he was started in frendly match United States

United States national speedway team

The United States national speedway team are an international speedway team from the United States who compete in the annual major international speedway competition, the Speedway World Cup. They are managed by David Joiner and the current captain is 1997 World Champion Greg Hancock...

 vs. Rest of the world

Rest of the world

The Rest of the World within sports and games played at the international competitive level, refers to a team of players from many countries of origin who compete against a single individual or a team from a single group, such as a club or country.-Overview:...

. A few days before The Final, Tomasz Gollob, Rune Holta, Rafał Dobrucki and Robert Kościecha resigned. Next riders who resigned was Krzysztof Kasprzak, Krzysztof Jabłoński, Tomasz Chrzanowski, Sebastian Ułamek and Wiesław Jaguś, Mariusz Węgrzyk, Marcin Rempała, Maciej Kuciapa and Patryk Pawlaszczyk.

Original riders

1. Krzysztof Kasprzak
   Krzysztof Kasprzak
   Krzysztof Kasprzak is an international speedway rider who became World Under-21 Champion in 2005. He is a son of former Polish national speedway team member Zenon Kasprzak...
   
    (Unia Leszno SSA)
2. Adrian Gomólski
   Adrian Gomólski
   Adrian Gomólski is an international speedway rider, representing the Poland national U-21 team. He started his speedway career in 2003...
   
    (KM Ostrów)
3. Tomasz Chrzanowski
   Tomasz Chrzanowski
   Tomasz Chrzanowski is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider and has represented the Polish national team.- Speedway Grand Prix results :- World Championships :...
   
    (Lotos Gdańsk)
4. Adrian Miedziński
   Adrian Miedzinski
   Adrian Miedziński is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider has won Team Under-21 World Champion and Individual Under-21 Polish Champion titles.His father, Stanisław Miedziński was also a speedway rider....
   
    (Unibax Toruń)
5. Tomasz Gapiński
   Tomasz Gapinski
   Tomasz Gapiński is an international motorcycle speedway rider who was riding in 2007 Speedway Grand Prix of Europe...
   
    (CKM Złomrex Włókniarz Częstochowa)
6. Sebastian Ułamek (CKM Złomrex Włókniarz Częstochowa)
7. Jarosław Hampel (Unia Leszno SSA)
8. Tomasz Gollob
   Tomasz Gollob
   Tomasz Gollob is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider who has appeared in every Speedway Grand Prix series since its inaugural season in 1995. His brother Jacek is also a speedway rider.-Career summary:...
   
    (Caeleum Stal Gorzów)
9. Damian Baliński
   Damian Balinski
   Damian Baliński , a Polish speedway rider, current member of the Polish national teamDamian Baliński may also refer to:* Damian Baliński jr , his nephew, a former Polish speedway rider...
   
    (Unia Leszno SSA)
10. Piotr Świderski
    Piotr Swiderski
    Piotr Świderski is an international speedway rider who rides for the Ipswich Witches in the British British Elite League.- Career history :...
    
     (RKM Rybnik)
11. Grzegorz Walasek
    Grzegorz Walasek
    Grzegorz Walasek is a Polish speedway rider who has ridden for the Polish national team and has also competed in the Speedway Grand Prix series.For his sport achievements, he received:...
    
     (ZKŻ Kronopol Zielona Góra)
12. Robert Kościecha
    Robert Kosciecha
    Robert Kościecha is a Polish speedway rider has won 2005 European Pairs Speedway Champion title.His father Roman was speedway rider also....
    
     (Unibax Toruń)
13. Rune Holta
    Rune Holta
    Rune Holta , grew up in Randaberg Norway. He is an international speedway rider who has been a Polish citizen since 2002, allowing him to represent Poland in international competitions and was a member of their Speedway World Cup winning teams in 2005, 2007 & 2010...
    
     (Caeleum Stal Gorzów)
14. Janusz Kołodziej (Unia Tarnów ŻSSA)
15. Adam Skórnicki
    Adam Skórnicki
    Adam Skórnicki is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider who was the 2008 Individual Polish Champion and a former Polish Under-21 international. He rides for the Wolverhampton Wolves in the British Elite League.-Career:...
    
     (PSŻ Milion Team Poznań)
16. Wiesław Jaguś (Unibax Toruń)
17. Rafał Dobrucki (ZKŻ Kronopol Zielona Góra)
18. Tomasz Jędrzejak
    Tomasz Jedrzejak
    Tomasz Jędrzejak is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider who is a member of Poland national speedway team.- World Championships :* Individual World Championship...
    
    (ATLAS Wrocław)
19. Piotr Protasiewicz
    Piotr Protasiewicz
    Piotr Protasiewicz is a Polish international speedway rider. He has ridden for the Polish national team in the Speedway World Cup in 1996 and 2005. He was also World U-21 Champion in 1996....
    
     (ZKŻ Kronopol Zielona Góra)
20. Krzysztof Buczkowski
    Krzysztof Buczkowski
    Krzysztof Buczkowski is a Polish speedway rider and has ridden for the Polish national junior team.He started speedway in 2002 with Piła, riding for GKM Grudziądz...
    
     (Polonia Bydgoszcz)

Note: riders in bold type is Wrocław' rider.

Final participants

1. Sławomir Drabik (Unia Tarnów ŻSSA)
2. Piotr Protasiewicz
   Piotr Protasiewicz
   Piotr Protasiewicz is a Polish international speedway rider. He has ridden for the Polish national team in the Speedway World Cup in 1996 and 2005. He was also World U-21 Champion in 1996....
   
    (ZKŻ Kronopol Zielona Góra)
3. None
4. Adrian Miedziński
   Adrian Miedzinski
   Adrian Miedziński is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider has won Team Under-21 World Champion and Individual Under-21 Polish Champion titles.His father, Stanisław Miedziński was also a speedway rider....
   
    (Unibax Toruń)
5. Tomasz Jędrzejak
   Tomasz Jedrzejak
   Tomasz Jędrzejak is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider who is a member of Poland national speedway team.- World Championships :* Individual World Championship...
   
   (Atlas Wrocław)
6. Roman Povazhny
   Roman Povazhny
   Roman Povazhny is a Russian-Polish international motorcycle speedway rider.- Speedway Grand Prix results :- World Championships :* Individual World Championship...
   
    (Marma Polskie Folie Rzeszów)
7. Jarosław Hampel (Unia Leszno SSA)
8. Norbert Kościuch (PSŻ Poznań)
9. Damian Baliński
   Damian Balinski
   Damian Baliński , a Polish speedway rider, current member of the Polish national teamDamian Baliński may also refer to:* Damian Baliński jr , his nephew, a former Polish speedway rider...
   
    (Unia Leszno SSA)
10. Piotr Świderski
    Piotr Swiderski
    Piotr Świderski is an international speedway rider who rides for the Ipswich Witches in the British British Elite League.- Career history :...
    
     (RKM Rybnik)
11. Grzegorz Walasek
    Grzegorz Walasek
    Grzegorz Walasek is a Polish speedway rider who has ridden for the Polish national team and has also competed in the Speedway Grand Prix series.For his sport achievements, he received:...
    
     (ZKŻ Kronopol Zielona Góra)
12. Daniel Jeleniewski
    Daniel Jeleniewski
    Daniel Sebastian Jeleniewski - a Polish speedway rider. He was a member of Poland national team.He gained his speedway licence in May 1999.- Honours :*Individual European Championship:...
    
    (Atlas Wrocław)
13. Grzegorz Zengota
    Grzegorz Zengota
    Grzegorz Zengota is an international speedway rider who was a member of Poland U-21 national team. He has won Under-21 Speedway World Cup twice .- World Championships :...
    
     (ZKŻ Kronopol Zielona Góra)
14. Rafał Trojanowski (PSŻ Milion Team Poznań)
15. Adam Skórnicki
    Adam Skórnicki
    Adam Skórnicki is a Polish motorcycle speedway rider who was the 2008 Individual Polish Champion and a former Polish Under-21 international. He rides for the Wolverhampton Wolves in the British Elite League.-Career:...
    
     (PSŻ Milion Team Poznań)
16. Jacek Rempała (Unia Tarnów ŻSSA)
17. Patryk Pawlaszczyk (RKM Rybnik)

Heat details

• 2008-10-25, 19:00 CEST
• Refeere: Wojciech Grodzki

Heat after heat

1. Miedziński, Drabik, Protasiewicz
2. Hampel, Kościuch, Jędrzejak, Povazhny
3. Baliński, Świderski, Walasek, Jeleniewski (d1)
4. Skórnicki, Rempała, Zengota, Trojanowski
5. Baliński, Jędrzejak, Zengota, Drabik
6. Protasiewicz, Świderski, Trojanowski, Povazhny
7. Skórnicki, Hampel, Walasek
8. Miedziński, Kościuch, Jeleniewski, Rempała
9. Povazhny, Walasek, Rempała, Drabik
10. Jeleniewski, Skórnicki, Protasiewicz, Jędrzejak
11. Baliński, Kościuch, Trojanowski
12. Miedziński, Hampel, Świderski, Zengota
13. Hampel, Jeleniewski, Trojanowski, Drabik
14. Zengota, Walasek, Protasiewicz, Kościuch
15. Świderski, Jędrzejak, Rempała
16. Baliński, Povazhny, Miedziński, Skórnicki
17. Drabik, Kościuch, Świderski, Skórnicki
18. Hampel, Baliński, Protasiewicz, Rempała
19. Povazhny, Jeleniewski, Zengota
20. Jędrzejak, Walasek, Miedziński, Trojanowski