DOYLE AIMS TO BE “AHEAD OF THE GAME”

Former world champion Jason Doyle hopes his Australian Championship challenge helps him get “ahead of the game” in the Speedway GP title race.

Doyle goes into the Aussie Championship final round at North Brisbane on Wednesday leading the standings on 50 points, having won all three rounds so far at Gillman, Albury and Kurri Kurri.

He needs 17 championship points to be certain of top spot and the title still hangs very much in the balance, with Speedway GP rival Jack Holder close behind on 47 and firmly in contention for his first Aussie crown in a competition where race points convert to championship points.

Lifting his second national title would come as the ultimate boost for Doyle as he bids to get back to his best in Speedway GP after finishing ninth in 2021 and 10th in last year’s championship.

The Newcastle-born racer pulled no punches in reflecting on his recent SGP seasons. “The last two years have been a disaster in the series,” he said. “I have lacked speed for too many seasons now.

“Trying to ride the bike harder than the bike allows means that you make mistakes, and I do things I shouldn’t be doing on a bike. I am anticipating the start a lot because I need to get the bike off the line. I have some big changes in the coming season. I think that’s the main reason why I am riding in Australia – to get a little bit ahead of the game before the Grand Prix series starts.

“Despite the way the last two years have gone, I know the Jason Doyle from 2017 is still in me. The drive to win GPs and world titles is still there.

“If I didn’t have that drive, I would have pulled out of the GPs after last season.  I feel there is something still in me to push hard for wins and then go for the title.”

Doyle famously became the first Aussie to seal the Speedway GP world title on home shale, when he topped the podium at the 2017 FIM Australian Speedway GP in Melbourne.

That remains Doyle’s most recent SGP win. The Norwich-based racer is determined to end this victory drought, and he believes his decision to go racing Down Under rather than merely hitting the testing track will pay dividends.

He explained: “People need to understand that it costs a lot of money to go testing, and the best testing is racing – not going to a track and practising, doing lap after lap. The best way is from the tapes with three other riders.

“Going to Australia and having my best gear over there costs a lot of money. But I want to make it work and push really hard for the 2023 season.”

Doyle admits he is making a number of changes as he bids to keep Speedway GP life simple and enjoyable this year.

He said: “We’ve had a massive clear-out. We are going to go for pretty simple speedway again and we’re going to make it fun again. For the last two years, we have been chasing too many things and it just hasn’t worked. I guess it’s about going back to the stuff we know, and we can work from there.

“Having a fast engine under you always helps you to score points. We are going to chase some glory this year – that’s the main thing for us. I also want to have some fun because you never know when your last season will be.”

The final round of the Aussie Championships is available to watch live online via pay per view, with commentary from David Tapp and Rod Colquhoun, plus interviews from Sam Ermolenko.

Coverage from North Brisbane is available on Wednesday from 17:45 Queensland time / 08:45 CET / 07:45 UK here: https://livestream-australia-pty-ltd.cleeng.com/2023-australian-speedway-championship-round-4-final/E476149533_AU?fbclid=IwAR0TJ87sbRMwh323yCqv_Tfl0zFgGjv8pPcVhWFPqhvUXJshdhHYb6ortSI

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 1 Jason Doyle 50, 2 Jack Holder 47, 3 Rohan Tungate 38, 4 Max Fricke 36, 5 Brady Kurtz 34, 6= Justin Sedgmen 31, Josh Pickering 31, 8 Chris Holder 30, 9 Zach Cook 20, 10 Zane Keleher 14, 11 James Pearson 13, 12= Sam Masters 8, Ben Cook 8, 14= Patrick Hamilton 5, Jye Etheridge 5, 16 Cooper Riordan 4, 17 Fraser Bowes 3, 18 Brayden McGuinness 2, 19= Maurice Brown 0, Michael West 0, Kane Lawrence 0.