ZABIK, Karol
DATE OF BIRTH: 25 October 1986, Torun, Poland.
BRITISH CAREER: (2006) Peterborough; (2008) Poole, Peterborough; (2009) Peterborough.
MAJOR HONOURS: European Under-19 Champion: 2005; World Under-21 Team Cup Champion: 2005, 2006; Polish Under-21 Champion: 2006; World Under-21 Champion: 2006.
RIDER LINKS: Son of Jan Zabik (born: 1 January 1946, Kielp, Poland).
ADDITIONAL INFO: (1) Zabik joined Peterborough in June 2006, but quit the club two months later, when he stated that he wasn't happy with his relationship with the club; (2) The talented Pole was to endure a roller-coaster run of incidents during what turned out to be a short spell with Poole at the start of 2008, beginning with a heavy fall whilst holding a safe third place during heat fourteen of the Pirates' Craven Shield match at home to Eastbourne on 21 March. On the third bend of the last lap, Zabik audaciously attempted to blast around Eagles' Cameron Woodward, but lost control of his steed and crashed into the air safety barrier, injuring his left wrist. The Pole bravely rode on in subsequent meetings, but aggravated his sore wrist when he came down unchallenged in heat nine of Poole's home league encounter with Lakeside on 9 April. Then, later in April, he spent time in hospital in his homeland because he was suffering from gallstones. He was subsequently replaced in the Pirates side the following month by Magnus Zetterstrom; (3) Having missed the opening weeks of the 2009 season due to a family illness, Zabik was re-declared in the Peterborough team in April, when he replaced the injured Claus Vissing. However, towards the end of the following month, the club was hit by a major blow when the Pole quit the club for what were described as "personal reasons". He was replaced in the side by the returning Ales Dryml.

ZAGAR, Matej
DATE OF BIRTH: 3 April 1983, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
BRITISH CAREER: (2003) Trelawny; (2004-07) Reading; (2009) Swindon.
MAJOR HONOURS: Slovenian Champion: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; European Under-19 Champion: 2002; European Champion: 2004, 2008.
RIDER LINKS: Son of Franci Zagar (born: 12 July 1951, Ljubljana, Slovenia).
ADDITIONAL INFO: (1) Zagar received a 28-day ban from the BSPA in 2007 after missing the prestigious Elite League Riders' Championship at King's Lynn on 30 August. This came after the Slovenian ace had also been absent from a number of Reading's away fixtures during a troubled season for the Berkshire club; (2) Having missed the entire UK campaign in 2008, Zagar made a return to the British scene late in May 2009, when he was signed by Swindon as a temporary replacement for the injured Troy Batchelor. However, after a string of sizzling performances for the Robins - including unbeaten returns at Ipswich (15) and Coventry (14+1) - it was announced in June that Zagar would remain with the club for the remainder of the season, whilst Batchelor was made available for loan elsewhere.

ZETTERSTRÖM, Hans Magnus
DATE OF BIRTH: 9 December 1971, Eskilstuna, Sweden.
BRITISH CAREER: (1996) Poole; (1998-99) Poole; (2000) Peterborough; (2001) Poole; (2002) Poole, Peterborough; (2003) Poole; (2004) Poole; (2005-07) Somerset; (2008) Poole; (2009) No official appearances.
MAJOR HONOURS: European Champion: 2002; Premier League Riders' Champion: 2006; Swedish Champion: 2008; Grand Prix Challenge Champion: 2009.
CLUB HONOURS: Craven Shield winner: 2002 [Poole]; British League Cup winner: 2003 [Poole]; League Championship winner: 2004, 2008 [both Poole]; Knock-Out Cup winner: 2004 [Poole]; Four-Team Championship winner: 2005 [Somerset].
ADDITIONAL INFO: Although his first name is actually Hans, the Swede has always been known by his middle name, Magnus. After giving several years of excellent service to Poole, Zetterström enjoyed a successful testimonial at Wimborne Road on 30 March 2005, when a four-team tournament resulted thus: DJN Associates Kangaroos 40, Poole Bay Freight Euros 35, Farson Transport Vikings 32, Travis Perkins Bulldogs 18. Having signed for Somerset two years previously, ‘Zorro' - as he is affectionately nicknamed - concluded the 2007 season in controversial fashion, as he was handed a 28-day ban and a £1,000 fine by the sport's governing body for choosing not to compete in the Premier League Riders' Championship, but instead opted to ride in a Polish Play-Off fixture. Having rejoined Poole as a replacement for Karol Zabik in May 2008, Zetterström appeared lost to the British scene in 2009, but a sensational performance - at the age of 37 - saw him win the Grand Prix Challenge at Coventry on 18 September to qualify for the following year's series. Shortly afterwards, he agreed to again link with the Pirates for a series of late-season challenge matches as the club experimented with different riders.