DATE OF BIRTH: 22 August 1982, Zielona Gora, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2004) Swindon.
CAREER RECORD WITH SWINDON: Meetings: 3 (3 League) Rides: 12 Points: 13 Bonus: 1 Total: 14 Average: 4.67 Maximums: None
CLUB DEBUT: 12 May 2004 versus Poole (Away) Elite League; 1 point (4 rides).
SWINDON'S league form had already been indifferent during the early stages of the 2004 campaign - their first back in the top-flight - but a narrow 47-46 loss at home to Belle Vue came as a big blow on 22 April.
Claus Kristensen, a popular team member at Premier League level, had found points hard to come by at the higher grade of racing and although Andrew Moore had stormed to a brilliant 8+2 points return from the home match versus Oxford on 8 April, he was rarely available for Blunsdon meetings, due to the same Thursday race-night of his parent club, Sheffield.
As such, team boss Alun Rossiter decided to dispense with the ‘doubling-up' reserve and in came Pole Rafal Kurmanski, a much-sought rider who had finished seventh in previous season's World Under-21 Final. A look at the vital statistics showed Rosco to be correct with his decision, Moore having averaged 4.44 from four matches, while Kristensen's three appearances had yielded a disappointing 2.00 figure.
Kurmanski duly arrived on these shores to make his club debut in an Elite League match at Poole on 12 May and, although only able to speak limited English, he was evidently happy to be part of the Robins' set-up. Following the return fixture against the Pirates, during which the knowledgeable Abbey regulars really took to him, the lad who hailed from Zielona Gora made what was to be his third and final appearance for Swindon in a home match versus Eastbourne on 27 May.
After starting with a third bend fall in heat two, he recovered brilliantly to take victory five races later, when shepherded home by skipper supreme Leigh Adams. The youngster was then on the receiving end of a 5-1 in heat eleven, but finished in style by leading partner Andy Smith across the line for a match-winning 5-1 in the penultimate race. The joy was there for all to see as he punched the air and, when he returned to the pits, there was an infectious grin from ear-to-ear.
The next morning, Alun Rossiter helped to bandage a grazed leg, which Kurmanski had sustained in his heat two tumble, before the rider left for his homeland. Tragically, in the early afternoon of Sunday 30 May, came the news that Rafal had taken his own life. It was a terrible shock to everyone connected with the club and certainly put any unfavourable on-track results into perspective.
Although deeply saddened, Swindon rode with great passion to triumph 47-43 at Coventry the evening following the dreadful news; the win fittingly dedicated to the memory of the likeable Pole, who had totalled 13 points from his three matches in the side for a 4.67 average.
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DATE OF BIRTH: 22 August 1982, Zielona Gora, Poland.
After starting with a third bend fall in heat two, he recovered brilliantly to take victory five races later, when shepherded home by skipper supreme Leigh Adams. The youngster was then on the receiving end of a 5-1 in heat eleven, but finished in style by leading partner Andy Smith across the line for a match-winning 5-1 in the penultimate race. The joy was there for all to see as he punched the air and, when he returned to the pits, there was an infectious grin from ear-to-ear.
