DOYLE: WE NEED HOLDER BACK
World champion Jason Doyle admits Team Australia needs Chris Holder back after they fell short of the rostrum in the Monster Energy SON.
13 / 06 / 2018, 12:33
World champion Jason Doyle admits Team Australia needs Chris Holder back in the side after they fell short of the rostrum in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations Finals.
The Aussies were fifth overall on 35 in Wroclaw – finishing just a point short of hosts Poland (36) and level with Denmark, who were classified fourth after the Danes won their two head-to-head battles 7-5.
Doyle was partnered by former World Under-21 champion Max Fricke who was unable to make the most of his home-track knowledge in Wroclaw, finishing on six points over two days.
We need Chris back, but Max is an up and coming young Aussie and he didn’t let himself or his country down.
Jason Doyle
While he continues to emerge as one of Australia’s brightest stars, there’s no doubt the Roos missed 2012 world champion Chris Holder – one of the world’s most talented team riders.
He sat out the tournament as he continues to resolve some personal issues away from the shale. Doyle hopes to have his SGP rival back alongside him in 2019, but also paid tribute to Fricke’s efforts throughout the tournament.
He said: “Chris was our No.1 choice, but sadly he has a few things he has to sort out and couldn’t make it for Team Australia this year. Hopefully next year we’ll have him back in the team. He is a massive part of Australian speedway. He’s a very good team rider and a great guy as well.
“We need Chris back, but Max is an up and coming young Aussie and he didn’t let himself or his country down.
“It’s very difficult to ride these meetings and it just shows the class. It’s not just the SGP boys. There were the German boys Martin Smolinski and Kai Huckenbeck too, who are very good around big tracks. There was not one slow rider out there. That just showed in a great Final.”
Doyle was gutted to fall just a point short of reaching the final knock-out race. They tallied 20 points on day two with Doyle racing to a sweet 16, but he admits the team’s 15-point total on day one cost them.
He said: “We didn’t expect to get so close but be so far away. I guess we did struggle on the first day and that really played a big part in us not making the grand final.
“We live and learn. We did our best and gave our nation something to be proud of. I guess the better teams have won.”
Doyle scored 29 points from a possible 36 over the Finals and admits his Monster Energy SON form gives him a timely boost as the FIM Speedway Grand Prix series resumes with the Danish SGP on June 30.
He said: “It’s only two GPs in and we have another eight to go. We still have a lot of racing to go in the leagues and GPs. It has been a very slow start in the GPs, but I just need to take a step back and enjoy myself.
“Even in the races I didn’t win, I was on par and really rode hard. Finally I could race and have the speed to stay with the top boys and that’s nice to know.”