Ruthless Fricke wins Aussie speedway title

The Victorian won three rounds and finished on the podium in the other two

Max Fricke admits it's a "great honour" to add his name to the list of Australian speedway champions after clinching the 2019 title with a brilliant five-round exhibition of raw speed and unerring consistency.

Fricke wrapped up the title in the speedway hotspot of Kurri Kurri (NSW) on January 12, and was already the new Aussie No. 1 before finishing second behind outgoing champion Rohan Tungate in the final.

Fricke, the former world under 21 champion and reserve rider for the 2019 Speedway second reserve, who won three rounds at Gillman, Undera and Albury and finished second and third in Kurri Kurri and Mildura respectively, said: “I am over the moon. This year I got my first round win and also the championship.

“I am super stoked with everything and I can’t thank everyone enough for supporting me – family, friends, my girlfriend, all my sponsors and everyone who has helped me get to this point.

“Words can’t describe it. I am just so happy to have been crowned Australian champion and to be in such good company. All the boys racing are so fast and Rohan was super quick. We have had some really good racing.

“To be Australian champion is a great honour. A lot of big names have won this in the past multiple times. It’s a proud moment to be able to put my name among those guys.”

Outgoing champion Tungate fired the ultimate parting shot with victory on the night to seal a sensational 19-point maximum.

Despite a strong title defence, he was gutted to fall just short of back-to-back championships. He said: “I worked hard and I did my job on Saturday, but he was away too far with the points.

“I am disappointed. But I am happy with the way I am riding. I came here in good form. I took the win and that’s a positive. I come away from here and feel good. Max is a good friend of mine. We have been team mates for the last two years and I am really happy for him.”

Fricke: “To be Australian champion is a great honour. A lot of big names have won this in the past multiple times. It’s a proud moment to be able to put my name among those guys.”

Fricke pushed his rival hard in the A Final, taking second place on a night he only dropped points to Tungate. Newcastle-born racer Sam Masters took third place, with B Final winner Chris Holder fourth.

Fricke, Tungate and Holder will now fly the Australian flag in the FIM Speedway Grand Prix qualification semi-finals in the spring as they race for places in the GP Challenge at Gorican on August 24, where the top three earn spots in SGP 2020.

Holder – third overall – was pleased to seal his shot at an SGP return as he raced in his first Australian Championship since 2015.

He said: “It was not too bad. I didn’t have the speed I would like, but it was good, fun racing and I had some good races with Max and Rohan.

“I ran out of steam I reckon at the end. It just wasn’t working. But third overall is pretty cool. It’s good to be back here – I hadn’t raced in Australia for a few years. I did it for years and the last few years I haven’t had a chance to. I have been stuck in Europe.

“It’s good to be back and, as stupid as it sounds, doing all those Ks is good when you’re home.

“Overall, I am pretty satisfied. Hopefully next year can go a lot better. But this puts me in the qualification for the Grand Prix, so that’s good. That’s what I wanted to do.”

RELATED: Fricke on the road to stardom

KURRI KURRI SCORES: 1 Rohan Tungate 15, 2 Max Fricke 14, 3 Sam Masters 12, 4 Chris Holder 12, 5 Brady Kurtz 10, 6 Nick Morris 10, 7 Jack Holder 9, 8 Jordan Stewart 8, 9 Jaimon Lidsey 7, 10 Justin Sedgmen 5, 10 Zach Cook 4, 12 Ryan Douglas 4, 13 Ben Cook 4, 14 Todd Kurtz 3, 15 Zane Keleher 2, 16 Kye Thompson 1.

B Final: C Holder, J Holder, Morris, Kurtz.

A Final: Tungate, Fricke, Masters, C Holder.

FINAL AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 1 Max Fricke 83, 2 Rohan Tungate 77, 3 Chris Holder 70, 4 Sam Masters 53, 5 Jack Holder 52, 6 Brady Kurtz 51, 7= Jaimon Lidsey 45, Nick Morris 45, 9 Jordan Stewart 34, 10 Ryan Douglas 31, 11 Todd Kurtz 26, 12 Justin Sedgmen 23, 13 Ben Cook 19, 14 Zane Keleher 17, 15= Kye Thompson 11, Zach Cook 11, 17 Josh Pickering 1.

Ruthless Fricke wins Aussie speedway title

Tags