2022 FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS - SoN
THE ROOS CAN’T LOSE!
Australia last won the World team title in 2002, but the Roos finally saw an end to this twenty-year wait when event rookie Jack Holder, Max Fricke and Jason Doyle masterminded a famous FIM Speedway of Nations victory at the Vojens Speedway Center in Denmark at the end of July.
With team captain Doyle advising from the sidelines, it was down to Holder – the younger brother of 2012 FIM Speedway World Champion Chris – and Fricke to get the job done over a marathon four days and ninety heats.
The pair certainly did not disappoint, and they booked their nation’s place in the last two when they dispatched the Swedish pairing of Frederik Lindgren and Oliver Berntzon in the grand final qualifier with a six-three scorecard.
This put them through to the final where they lined up against defending champions Great Britain who were weakened by the loss of triple World champion Tai Woffinden who injured his back in training the evening before.
In an identical scenario to 2021 when Woffinden picked up an injury before the final, Dan Bewley stepped up to represent Great Britain alongside Robert Lambert, but this time around there was a different outcome.
From the start of the final, Australia placed one-two into the first corner. Lambert tried to make a pass on the inside while Bewley looked for a wide line, although the leading pair held formation and would not budge with Fricke blocking for Holder.
Bewley challenged Fricke repeatedly throughout the race without success and the Australians powered to victory in the four-lap finale to end their nations’ two-decade drought with a seven-two victory as Holder scored four points to Fricke’s three.
The podium was completed by Sweden.
PALMARES
FIM Speedway of Nations World Champions: 2022