Australia wins 2022 Speedway of Nations
Australia has taken out the 2022 FIM Speedway of Nations, with the three-rider team achieving the nation’s first victory at this level since the FIM Speedway World Cup in 2002.
In its fifth year under the new format that replaced the Speedway World Cup in 2018, this year’s Speedway of Nations (SoN) was held in Vojens, Denmark, with the semis, final and grand final all held at the same venue over four days. Team Australia was up against last year’s SoN world champions, Great Britain, as well as Poland (silver medallists from 2018 to 2020), Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, France, USA, Germany, Ukraine, Latvia, Slovenia, Italy, Norway and Denmark, who as hosts, received an automatic entry.
Managed by Mark Lemon, the Aussie squad was made up of the experienced Jason Doyle, who served as team captain and guided team mates Max Fricke and Jack Holder through the heats and semis.
Jack Holder, the younger brother of former Speedway GP World Champion Chris Holder, was making his SoN debut this year and proved to be up to the task, finishing third in his first heat, then winning every other heat he started. Fricke was runner-up in three heats, which helped ensure Team Australia won the first semi-final ahead of Finland, while Poland beat out Germany in the race-off for third place.
In the second semi-final, Sweden were the best of their pool, leading the Czech Republic and Great Britain, who survived a last-chance qualifier against France. Team GB’s squad was unchanged from the lineup that won the 2021 SoN, consisting of Dan Bewley, Robert Lambert and three-time Speedway GP World Champion Tai Woffinden.
Ahead of the final at Vojens, Woffinden was injured and would not race, leaving the duties to Bewley and Lambert, while Team Australia went with Fricke and Holder, given their strong form in the heats. Team GB’s 32 points after the final automatically put them into the grand final, leaving Sweden and Australia to race off for the remaining two spots on the start line.
In the last-chance qualifier, Fricke got the jump from the inside, while Holder threaded his way through the Swedish pair to put Australia in a strong position on the opening lap. As Holder moved to the lead, Sweden’s Fredrik Lindgren got past Fricke, then slowed to allow team mate Oliver Berntzon to catch the Aussie, but on the fourth and final lap, Fricke and the chasing Berntzon touched, with the Swede crashing out.
In what was seen as a controversial decision by some, Berntzon was excluded from the race, given he was behind Fricke when they touched and he fell, meaning Team Australia won by 6 points to 3 and would progress to the grand final.
For the grand final, Fricke and Holder started from gates 2 and 4, respectively, with both Aussies making super starts to lead Team GB into the first corner. Lambert tried to pass on the inside and Bewley on the outside, but the Aussie pair held formation on the opening lap, with Fricke blocking for the leading Holder.
Bewley challenged Fricke through the remaining laps but couldn’t make a pass stick, leaving Holder to take the win from Fricke, ensuring Team Australia would wear the gold medals as 2022 FIM Speedway of Nations world champions.
“When I was on that last whole lap, I was yelling underneath my helmet,” Holder said. “We’ve been waiting so long for this one. It’s my first year in it and… it’s awesome!”
Fricke added: “Jack’s been riding unreal - so hats off to him and a big shout out to all of us, Team Australia and Lemmo (Team Manager Mark Lemon) especially.”
Team Captain Jason Doyle also praised Lemon: “For 20 years [Lemmo] has been pushing for this world title and it’s finally happened. So, he’s got some tears of joy and it’s amazing to see! The boys did an amazing job.”
Of this drought-breaking win, Mark Lemon, who has managed the Aussie squad since 2012, said: "You dream of these moments. You know, it’s all about these guys that ride week in, week out and get the honour to represent their country. For me, it’s an honour to be part of it. It’s just amazing!”
Team Australia was supported at the 2022 Speedway of Nations by CBS Bins, Sport Australia and Motorcycling Australia.