Aussie racer Max Fricke would love to join Jason Doyle in the club of FIM Speedway grand slam champions but admits “you have to be in it to win it” as he bids for Speedway GP survival.
Fricke helped Australia to an unforgettable victory at the BOLL FIM Speedway World Cup Final – Warsaw on August 29, adding to the 2022 FIM Speedway of Nations gold medal he won in Vojens.
The only world title missing from his collection is the Speedway GP crown, but he finds himself eighth in this season’s standings on 71 points – one short of the top seven automatic qualification places with two rounds remaining.
The 2016 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion has never finished inside the senior World Championship’s top seven, but he is determined to secure his spot in the series for 2027 as he bids to add to his FIM medal haul.
He said: “With the World Under-21s, SON and now the SWC, it’s a pretty cool collection that I have. A medal in Speedway GP would be cool, and a gold would be an absolute dream come true.
“You have to be in it to win it, and that is my goal for the rest of the season. I will just keep working, keep my head down and push it all the way until the end.”
Fricke collected seven points for Australia at the BOLL FIM SWC Final – Warsaw, winning his first and final rides.
Despite scoring just one in his middle three outings, a high-pressure victory over Polish icon Bartosz Zmarzlik in heat 18 put one hand on the trophy for Australia.
“With the races I was in, it was tough,” he said. “I was out after grading and things like that. I felt my speed wasn’t too far off. I made a few bike changes and got a bit more comfortable. That made a big difference for my last one.
“I knew it was a high-pressure heat, and I needed to perform and put it all on the line. I was able to bring home an important three points.”