FRICKE MAKES UP FOR LOST GP ROUNDS

Aussie star Max Fricke is determined to continue piling up the points in Speedway GP – even if he has a mountain to climb ahead of the 2024 ISS FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Gorzow on Saturday night, June 29.

The Victorian racer has been drafted into the series as first substitute after fellow countryman Jason Doyle underwent shoulder surgery, which leaves him facing potentially the rest of the season on the sidelines. Fricke did not take part in the first three Speedway GP rounds, but has racked up 28 points in just two, tallying 10 at round four in Prague and finishing second, scoring 18, in Malilla on June 15.

These results leave him 14th in the Speedway GP World Championship – 24 points short of the top-six finish needed to guarantee a place in next year’s series.

While Fricke can now prepare for the remaining rounds almost certain that he will be involved, the Leicester, Grudziadz and Vastervik rider knows he has work to do to fight his way up the standings.

He said: “It potentially makes things a little bit better that I know I am racing now. But I have missed three GPs at the beginning of the season. That’s a lot of racing and a lot of points. In the grand scheme of things, it was always going to be tough.

“We will see how things turn out. Maybe closer to the end of the season we can re-evaluate things. But for the moment, I am taking it race by race and meeting by meeting. We will see how we stack up and hopefully I can mix it up in the GPs.

“I think even getting some rides this year is a big opportunity. It’s also a chance to prove I deserve to be here.”

Fricke is among the front runners to represent reigning champions Australia at the FIM Speedway of Nations at his old home track in Manchester from July 9-13.

After playing a pivotal role in ending Australia’s 20-year wait for a world team title at Vojens in 2022, Fricke would love to continue his proud record of competing in all of Australia’s FIM SON events since the competition was launched in 2018.

But Fricke knows the Roos aren’t short of choice. He said: “I am there if I am needed, but there are lots of great candidates to go to the Speedway of Nations for Australia. Hopefully I am there.