KURTZ TAKES AUSTRALIAN SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING ROUND

Speedway GP newcomer Brady Kurtz kicked off his Australian Championship series in style with victory in round one at Adelaide’s Gillman Speedway on Friday, January 3, 2025.

Kurtz triumphed in the final ahead of SGP rival Jack Holder, with 2012 Speedway GP World Champion Chris Holder in third. Former SGP2 star Keynan Rew was fourth.

Chasing his first Aussie title since he lifted the trophy at the first attempt in 2016, Kurtz dropped just one point in the heats, beaten only by fellow Speedway GP qualifier Max Fricke.

He then won the first semi-final ahead of Rew, Fricke and 2020 FIM Speedway Under-21 World Champion Jaimon Lidsey, with Chris Holder victorious ahead of younger brother Jack in semi two, which saw Zach Cook placed third and reigning champion Rohan Tungate exit after being disqualified.

Kurtz headed Jack and Chris Holder in the final to end his night on 18 championship points, taking a three-point lead into round two in Mildura on Sunday, with the Holder brothers joint second on 15 apiece. Rew is fourth on 13 and Fricke is fifth on 11.

While Kurtz topped the heat scoring, Chris Holder also impressed on 13, winning his opening three rides, before recording two seconds. Rew also starred – matching Jack Holder’s 12-point haul over five rides – while Fricke registered 11.

Tungate and Lidsey notched nine to reach the top eight, with Zach Cook claiming the last semi spot on eight points. Josh Pickering just missed the cut on seven, with Ben Cook placed 10th with six.

The series resumes at Victorian venue Mildura on Sunday, before moving to Albury-Wodonga on Wednesday and concluding at North Brisbane on Saturday, January 11.

The top two riders in the series secure places in the 2025 Speedway GP qualification rounds where they will compete for spots at the FIM SGP Challenge in Holsted, Denmark on August 9. They will be joined in the qualifiers by the winner of the FIM Oceania Championship at Gillman on January 25.

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER ROUND 1/4):

1. Brady Kurtz 18

2= Chris Holder 15

2= Jack Holder 15

4. Keynan Rew 13

5. Max Fricke 11

6= Rohan Tungate 9

6= Jaimon Lidsey 9

8. Zach Cook 8

9. Josh Pickering 7

10. Ben Cook 6

11. Mitchell McDiarmid 5

12. Harrison Ryan 4

13= James Pearson 3

13= Michael West 3

15= Patrick Hamilton 2

15= Mitchell Cluff 2,

17. Harry Sadler 0.

GILLMAN HEAT SCORES: 1. Brady Kurtz 14, 2. Chris Holder 13, 3. Keynan Rew 12, 4. Jack Holder 12, 5. Max Fricke 11, 6. Rohan Tungate 9, 7. Jaimon Lidsey 9, 8. Zach Cook 8, 9. Josh Pickering 7, 10. Ben Cook 6, 11. Mitchell McDiarmid 5, 12. Harrison Ryan 4, 13. James Pearson 3, 14. Michael West 3, 15. Patrick Hamilton 2, 16. Mitchell Cluff 2, 17. Harry Sadler 0.

SEMI-FINAL 1: Kurtz, Rew, Fricke, Lidsey.

SEMI-FINAL 2: C Holder, J Holder, Z Cook, Tungate (exc).

FINAL: Kurtz, J Holder, C Holder, Rew.