At one point during the season I was required to race in 11 meetings in 14 days across 5 countries
Max Fricke- Being crowned Speedway U21 World Champion means I can tick off one of the major goals I set myself this year. Winning the title, which is contested over three rounds throughout the year, is a major achievement for me and I join just 4 other illustrious Australians who’ve won it in the past. Poland is a major speedway player and has produced the last three U21 World Champions so I’m rapt to get Australia back on top of the podium.
The 2016 season has been immense for me. I’ve been extremely busy committing to four teams throughout Europe riding for The Belle Vue Aces in the UK, Region Varde Elite Sports in Denmark, Rospiggarna in Sweden and KS ROW Rybnik in the Polish PGE Estraliga. All of these teams participate in the top league of racing in their respective countries and race on a weekly basis, sometimes twice a week. This, together with individual U21 and GP Qualifying events, Australian World Cup and U21 Australian Team responsibilities meant that there was very little down time. At one point during the season I was required to race in 11 meetings in 14 days across 5 countries. But I’m not complaining. In fact it has always been my dream to race at this level and I am very fortunate that I have done well enough to secure my spot in each respective team.
It takes a huge amount of planning to sustain this punishing schedule which runs from March – October each year and I am lucky to have a great team of mechanics supporting me. I have two employed in Poland to service my Polish, Swedish and Danish commitments and another team set up in the UK. Both teams run 2 bikes and a van and it is their responsibility to get my machinery prepared and transported to each event so that I can just fly in and fly out to race at each meeting. I spend an awful lot of time in hotels and at airports meeting my team and individual obligations.
I’ve had some great team success this year as well as plenty of personal highs. Some of the best results include winning the Grand Finals in Denmark and Sweden and being runner up in the UK after finishing top of the league ladder. In Poland, it was Rybnik’s first year at the top level of racing and we finished in 6th place. Being the most competitive and strongest league in the world, I was expected to find my first year racing at this level in Poland very challenging however, I surprised many with my consistent scoring and I am honoured to have been voted “PGE Discovery of the Season” which is a great acknowledgement of how successful my debut season was. Rybnik have reinforced their faith in me by offering me a two-year contract for 2017/18 and I’ve also re-signed with Rospiggarna in Sweden where I had some great meetings, again surprising many with how well I performed for the team.
Australian Team success has also been achieved. From the 10 Australian riders named in the World Cup squad I was very happy to be included in the four-man team to represent my country in the World Cup where we finished fourth and, in the U21 Teams event where we placed second to defending title holders, Poland.
Personally, as well as contesting the World U21 Title, I participated in the GP qualifying events progressing through to the three round GP Qualifier final. To make the final was the other goal I set myself heading into this season. I ended up in 10th place being the highest placed Australian. Next year I will aim to improve on that result.
Finally, I have again been offered the reserve spot at the Melbourne Speedway GP which is being held at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne on 22 October. This is the 12th and final round of the GP series where the Senior World Champion will be crowned. Although I’m not guaranteed a ride, it’s a dream come true for any speedway rider to be involved in a GP and this exciting event is certainly an experience not to be missed by any motorsport fan.
In the off season I love getting on my dirt bikes and this November I’ll be racing in the Australian 4 Day Enduro which is happening in my back yard, Victoria’s High Country. Then I am required to return to Berlin to participate in the FIM World Champions Gala Presentation which I’m extremely excited about. Being World Champion is possibly a once in a lifetime privilege and I’ll get to mix with some of my all time sporting idols which is pretty cool for a young kid from Mansfield who left home at 16 to move to the UK to pursue his dream of being a professional speedway rider.
After the Victorian State Title at Broadford early December, I will enjoy a bit of a break prior to contesting the four round Australian and U21 Championships in January before heading back to start the 2017 European Season in March.
I’d really like to thank my Mum and Dad, the Lund Family in Denmark and Scott Somerville in Edinburgh who have supported me from the very beginning starting out as a junior. Their faith in me has been incredible and it’s been great to be able to repay their confidence in my ability by doing well.
