Debrecen4U March 27, 2026

Easter Cup to Open Speedway Season in Debrecen

The 2026 speedway season in Debrecen gets underway with five international competitions, a strong field, and a special opening format. The Easter Cup will be held on 4 April at the Pál Perényi Speedway Stadium, marking not only the start of the season but also reaffirming Debrecen’s role as the stronghold of Hungarian speedway racing.

At the season-opening press conference, representatives of the city, organisers, sponsors, and key figures of the sport all emphasised that speedway is an integral part of Debrecen’s past, present, and future.

Held on 4 April, the Easter Cup will once again bring together the speedway community. This year, the city will host five international events—particularly significant given that Debrecen is now effectively the last bastion of this traditional motorsport in Hungary.

Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa stressed that speedway is not merely a series of sporting events but part of the city’s identity. Generations have grown up attending races in Debrecen, and the city leadership sees it as natural to support the sport’s continuation. He added that spectators experience not only competition but a strong sense of community, where fans and participants alike feel at home. He also highlighted the importance of having Hungarian riders for local supporters to cheer on—athletes who can represent the city internationally.

Norbert Baráth, Managing Director of SpeedWolf Sportszervező Nonprofit Kft., explained that organisers aimed to offer a richer calendar than last year, with five international events already scheduled. He noted that the season effectively began in March with international training camps held at the stadium, where dozens of riders prepared for the season. The official opening, however, will take place on Holy Saturday with the Easter Cup.

He outlined the key events of the season, including:

• the U24 European Cup Final on 1 May, featuring riders from 15–16 nations,
• the U19 European Championship semi-final on 20 June, where Zoltán Lovas will compete on home soil,
• the 51st Debrecen Grand Prix on 20 August, held alongside the Debrecen Flower Carnival, expected to attract world-class riders,
• and a closing international invitational event on 24 October.

István Papp, Managing Director of Hajdúhús 2000 Kft., spoke personally about his long-standing connection to the sport, recalling childhood memories and expressing pride in supporting its preservation in Debrecen. He noted it is a special honour for the company to be among the naming sponsors of the season opener.

Zoltán Lovas, a young Debrecen rider, said his preparation has gone well, with several training sessions already completed and his international race schedule about to begin. He welcomed the opportunity to compete at home early in the season, despite the added pressure, and emphasised that his focus is on delivering his best performance and contributing as many points as possible for his team.

Legendary Debrecen speedway figure Zoltán Adorján, acting as honorary team manager and mentor, highlighted the strong traditions of the Easter Cup and its role as an early-season benchmark. He expressed confidence in Lovas’s preparation, technical background, and determination, and thanked the city for continuing to support the sport.

This year, the Easter Cup introduces an exciting new format: instead of the traditional four-rider heats, five riders will line up at the start, promising even more intense racing. Five international teams of three riders each will be led by former Hungarian speedway legends as honorary team managers. At the end of the day, the top performers will compete in a special knockout race to determine the overall winner, who will lift the Hajdúhús 2000 Kft. trophy.

Organisers emphasised that making speedway accessible to a wide audience remains a priority. Accordingly, discounted spring ticket prices are available: with a Debrecen City Card, adult tickets start from HUF 3000, while children under 6 and those aged 6–14 with a Junior City Card can attend free of charge. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.speedwolf.hu. Stadium gates open at 12:00, with racing starting at 14:00.

EASTER CUP | Debrecen | International invitational team competition
4 April 2026 (Holy Saturday), 14:00

Teams and line-ups:

Red Team – Mentor: Sándor Tihanyi (HUN)
Norbert Magosi (HUN)
Antti Vuolas (FIN)
Francis Gusts (LAT, U24)

Blue Team – Mentor: László Szatmári
Matic Ivacic (SLO)
Sven Cerjak (SLO)
Gregor Zorko (SLO, U24)

White Team – Mentor: Attila Stefáni
Adrian Gala (POL)
Bartosz Szymura (POL)
Jędrzej Chmura (POL, U24)

Yellow Team – Mentor: Zoltán Hajdú
Oleg Mihailov (LAT)
Michael West (AUS)
Richárd Füzesi (HUN, U24)

Green Team – Mentor: Zoltán Adorján
Viktor Trofimov (POL)
Emil Breum (DEN)
Zoltán Lovas (HUN, U24)

Participating nations: Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Latvia, Finland, Denmark, Australia.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu