Another wild card for SEC 2018 series is a true legend. Man, who has already won a lot in speedway, but is still hungry for more. After a tough injury, he's back into racing and has been doing it great. He already started as a wild card in a single SEC round, back in 2017 and found noone who could have defeated him. Naturally, we're talking about Jarosław Hampel!
Started his career in Polonia Piła and has been racing speedway for 20 years. His effectiveness made his cabinet full of trophies - both individually and in team, he's a rider who's achieved nearly everything. Along with the Polish National Team, in Speedway World Cup series, he's reached for gold six times. Individually - in Grand Prix series, he got silver in 2010 and 2013.
Back in 2015, his career slowed down because of a serious injury. In June, during the semi-final of Speedway World Cup in Gniezno, Jarosław Hampel got his hip bone seriously broken and many doubted that he would be back into racing at the highest level.
However, "Mały" did not surreneder and was back into a great shape, representing Falubaz Zielona Góra.
Culmination came in 2017 season, when on June 30th, first round of Speedway Euro Championship was held at Motoarena. Hampel got the wild card for this round and amazed everyone by winning it. In the final heat, he defeated Vaclav Milik, latter European Champion - Andzejs Lebedevs and Przemysław Pawlicki. It was a clear message - "I'm back on top".
Beginning of 2018 season brought a phenomenal Pole's disposition. Along with Fogo Power, he dominated Speedway Best Pairs series and once again, in Toruń, he felt like a duck in water. It was no different in Rzeszów and Landshut and his great shape found a confirmation also in the league meetings.
Now, it's time to make another step. Surely, his mind is filled with a thought of coming back to world championship, but a great chance to show up comes in reaching for medal, especially gold in the Speedway Euro Championship.