Ahead of tonight’s all-important 2017 QBE Insurance Australian FIM Speedway Grand Prix held at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Motorcycling Australia (MA) caught up with the many Australian rider’s as they tested their methanol burning bikes in practice sessions.
There was a buzz in the pits as high compression, non-braked, non-geared rigid machines from every corner of the globe fired into life as their world beating pilots mounted for circulation. In between sessions, MA was lucky enough for several key Aussies to share their thoughts on the track and the highly anticipated event.
Chris Holder
“Practice went pretty well and the track was fast! The bike held together really nicely too and should be really competitive.
“This track is unique as it’s an indoor temporary one and its is awesome to ride, and now that we have all torn it up a bit, it’ll be even better tonight! Definitely one of the most enjoyable tracks of the series!”
Sam Masters
“Felt alright out there and both my bikes are great but it could be a different story tomorrow because that’s Speedway! I rode the one that I thought had the better setup – We’ll rock up tomorrow with the best package to secure a good result.
“Its always great to come and compete in front of a home crowd its really different from racing overseas and I cannot wait to get out and have a crack!”
Justin Sedgmen
“Its an awesome place to come and have a ride. Practice is only practice and the meeting is all business and totally different.
“I would be considered a local rider being from Mildura (Victoria). There is a lot of people who think I shouldn’t be here but here I am! I just want to do the best I can out there in front of all my friends and family.”
Brady Kurtz
“Its pretty cool to come to Etihad Stadium and ride in it! It’s such an iconic football arena. The track was starting to loosen up towards the end of practice, but I am sure they will sort it all by tonight so that its a super smooth and fast track.”
Davey Watt
“Its was really fun out there, the surface is really nice. Its going to be a circuit that everyone likes, its nice and wide, with loads of lines to choose from. For that reason alone it will be great to see what goes down tonight! The fast lines won’t show up until late in the meeting and that’s when it’ll all be going down to the wire. It’s such a great experience to be here in Melbourne and I’m blown away to be apart of it all! Its going to be a great show!”
2017 QBE Insurance FIM Speedway Grand Prix held this Saturday (October 28) at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium,
Purchase your 2017 QBE Insurance Australian FIM Speedway Grand Prix here!
Can’t make it to the track? FOX SPORTS will deliver LIVE and EXCLUSIVE coverage of the final event of the year, with no ad-breaks during racing and in HD, on FOX SPORTS 506. Sat 28 Oct: LIVE at 7.00pm EDT on FOX SPORTS 506
Photo courtesy Russell Colvin – 2017 FIM Speedway GP Practice
