FRICKE DEFIES SPEED STRUGGLE

Aussie racer Max Fricke reached his first ever FIM Speedway Grand Prix final in Hallstavik last Saturday and admitted “I never really felt overly fast.”

The Rospiggarna rider raced to eight points in his heats to make the semi-final cut on his Elitserien home track. He then produced one of the rides of the season to go from last to first inside a lap and win semi-final one ahead of Martin Vaculik, Freddie Lindgren and Bartosz Zmarzlik.

While he couldn’t reach the rostrum, Fricke was more than happy to break new ground in his SGP career on a night where he didn’t feel at his best.

He said: “It was a tough night. I never really felt overly fast or 100 percent happy. We were fighting with bikes and setups all night, changing all sorts.

“I made the semi-final and I was quite surprised. Then we just went to work and got through the semi.

“It was nice to make my first final, and especially on a night where I probably didn’t ride the best I have ever ridden.

“It’s another step further forward and progress. After making the semi last time, my next goal was to make a final. I didn’t expect to get it this week, but I’ll take it! I’m pretty excited.”

Fricke produced a big ride to qualifying for the final, but admits he needed to be faster from the tapes to reach the rostrum.

He said: “In that semi-final I felt really good. My starts let me down a bit and that final goes to show you can’t really come into a final without making the best starts.

“It was all good in the end, though. It was nice to make a final and I’m quite happy with the fact I think I can do better. It’s nice was nice to be in Hallstavik and have a good GP on my home track in Sweden.”

Fricke rides for his country at the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations Finals in Togliatti on July 20 and 21.