WORLD U21 CHAMP LIDSEY: I NEARLY MISSED 2020 SEASON

Aussie shooting star Jaimon Lidsey admits he nearly stayed at home this season as he missed the birth of his first child to chase his speedway dream.

Lidsey lines up for his country in tonight’s Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations Final Day 1, joining forces with Jason Doyle and Max Fricke to face Poland, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Great Britain and the Czech Republic.

The three-time Aussie junior champion is enjoying a month he’ll never forget. He stormed to FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship glory in Pardubice on October 2 and then bagged the decisive win as Leszno clinched their fourth straight PGE Ekstraliga title on October 11.

But Lidsey admits his stellar season nearly didn’t happen as he agonised over whether to return to Europe and race amid a global pandemic, or stay Down Under with partner Darcie, who gave birth to their son Eddie Hayze in Australia on August 1.

“There were thoughts of not coming back this year,” he said. “If I didn’t come back, it would have put a damper on my career. It’s lucky I did come back because I have done well. It was worth coming back, but I also can’t go back and be there for the birth of my child.

“At the end of the day, I am here for them, working so I can buy a house and put a roof over their heads. There are always pros and cons, but next year they will be here with me, and that will be awesome.”

Lidsey hailed Darcie for taking care of their special delivery in his absence. He said: “She has done an awesome job. She’s a very strong girl and I am very lucky that she is very strong and could do everything by herself – give birth to our little boy and bring him up by herself for the last two months.

“She has been getting up in the middle of the night and watching my meetings, and getting up for him too. I am very lucky to have her.”

After winning World Under-21 and PGE Ekstraliga gold, Lidsey would love to make it a hat-trick by winning the Monster Energy SON as the Aussies chase a first world title since 2002.

“That would definitely top off my year,” Lidsey said. “But there are six other great teams that want the same thing, and it all comes down to one final at the end of the two days.

“We will have to wait and see what happens this weekend. Hopefully we can all ride well and get a medal.”

Photo: Taylor Lanning