Max Fricke 2016 Speedway Under-21 World Champion

Australian speedway fans mourn injury of Jason Doyle but celebrate a new World Champion in Max Fricke

20-year-old Mansfield (VIC) resident Max Fricke admitted it was a “dream come true” to cap off a sensational 2016 with FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship gold in Gdansk on Sunday.

Fricke went into the meeting as joint series leader on 30 points with Robert Lambert and topped the heat scorechart on 12.

He then finished second in his semi-final behind eventual meeting winner Viktor Kulakov of Russia, meaning nearest rival, Poland’s Krystian Pieszczek had to qualify from semi two to keep his title hopes alive.

The Gdansk-born star was second behind fast French racer Dimitri Berge, but smashed the Sheffield star into the home-straight fence with a rush of blood going into lap two.

Pieszczek was excluded, handing the title to Fricke. The Zielona Gora rider had to make do with silver, while Great Britain star Robert Lambert won a run-off for bronze with Aussie Under-21 champion Jack Holder after they tied on 37.

But the night belonged to Fricke. Having won titles with Rospiggarna in Sweden and Danish club Region Varde, as well as reaching the British Elite League Grand Final with Belle Vue, the Victorian star was glad to add junior speedway’s biggest prize to his CV.

Max Fricke

“It has been hard work all season. I had a bit of a tough first round at King’s Lynn – a big crash and a few other things. To come back from it is awesome. After such a tense meeting all the way through, it’s such a relief to come out on top and be world champion.I can’t thank everyone enough – all the boys, my mechanics, Johnsy, Lemo – everyone who has helped me over the year. It has been awesome. Everywhere in the leagues, I have had a really good year. To be world champion is a dream come true for everyone who rides speedway, so this is surreal.”