Australian icon Brady Kurtz feared he had blown his ultimate shot at a 2025 FIM Speedway World Championship gold medal earlier than becoming a member of Jack Holder on the entrance to win an epic FIM Speedway of Nations Closing in Torun on Saturday.
The Roos lifted their second FIM SON world title in three years – following up their victory at Danish observe Vojens in 2022 – after Holder made a elegant begin, with world No.2 Kurtz using one of many opening laps of the season to spherical Speedway GP world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik and be a part of his accomplice for a 7-2 victory over Poland within the Grand Closing. Denmark picked up the bronze medals.
After falling some extent in need of Zmarzlik within the race for Speedway GP World Championship gold this 12 months, Kurtz was elated to win his first FIM Speedway World Championships gold medal within the FIM SON. However he thought he had blown it at the beginning of the Grand Closing.
He stated: “I really thought it was throughout when the tapes went up. I didn’t make one of the best begin in any respect. However I squeezed in there someway and obtained to the skin. I knew I needed to get to the fence.
“Jack was so strong all night time. He made each begin, seemed for me and gave me the run by way of. Certain sufficient, when the straight got here within the Grand Closing, Jack was in entrance, trying over his shoulder and ready for me to come back previous.
“As soon as we hit the entrance, I used to be checking the massive display screen each lap and we had been strong all race. We had been so good collectively. As soon as we hit the entrance, I used to be fairly assured that we might get it carried out, and I’m actually proud of this one.
“I’m relieved. I used to be a bit bit nervous. It’s an enormous deal to symbolize your nation. I attempted to not let the boys down and I’m glad we didn’t. It’s an actual honour to place this go well with on.”
Holder and Kurtz, each 29, have spent twenty years racing as teammates and rivals Down Beneath and in Europe. Having gained SON silver in Manchester final season, Kurtz was elated that they might go one higher at Torun’s iconic Marian Rose Motoarena.
He stated: “It’s positively a full-circle second, I suppose you might say. Jack and I’ve carried out extra races collectively than anybody within the historical past of speedway in all probability. We’ve carried out group occasions collectively since we had been 9, 10 or 11. Lastly, we obtained it carried out on the massive stage.”
Crew supervisor Mark Lemon hailed his stars for delivering on the observe and admits he additionally had a tricky job on his fingers.
He stated: “By comparability, my half in it has been straightforward. These guys have been wonderful. The toughest job in Crew Australia in the mean time is deciding on the riders as a result of now we have so a lot of them performing very effectively. We’ve 4 riders within the GP, and I had some robust choices to make. We labored collectively as a group, and I’m tremendous proud of all of them. Jack has carried out it earlier than, and Brady has been in such good type within the GPs. He’s in all probability one of the best rider on the earth presently.
“To win gold right here in Poland … we might have solely dreamed of that some years in the past. We obtained a style for fulfillment in Vojens and that has rolled on into 2025.
“We had been a bit unfortunate to not handle this final 12 months. Crew GB was simply too good on the night time within the Grand Closing. I simply love working with these guys and I’m so joyful and pleased with them.
“We work very well as a group and all of our mechanics behind the scenes and engine builders helped us to get us so far. It’s a feather within the cap for Motorcycling Australia, our federation, and all of the sponsors who backed us.
“For me, it’s nice that plenty of Aussies rise up in the midst of the night time to assist these guys within the GPs, SON and SWC. I’m certain there shall be some sore heads Down Beneath, however they obtained to see a pleasant victory.”
Australia’s FIM SON title win comes with the added gloss of a assured place within the 2026 FIM Speedway World Cup Closing, which shall be staged at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy. Lemon is delighted to see his aspect verify their place alongside hosts Poland within the largest FIM Speedway world group ultimate for generations.
He stated: “We mentioned that on the rostrum. It’s improbable that we get an opportunity to go straight by way of to the Closing. Australia by no means will get seeded by way of to a Closing – that is the primary time for the seniors. We’ve actually good riders to select from and it is going to be one other robust determination to choose 5. We’re in a really lucky place – now we have loads of riders in the mean time. Subsequent 12 months is one other time, however for now, we’re going to have a good time this one.”
Skipper Holder was happy to come back out on prime in a hard-fought first flip towards in-form Polish stars Zmarzlik and Patryk Dudek. He stated: “It was all occurring! I knew I wanted to look at my again, and that first nook was fairly tight. I simply held on, pushed and shoved, confirmed some Aussie grit, seemed for BK and there he was – rocket man! I simply stored trying up on the massive display screen to see the place the Poles had been and rode it dwelling.”
Australian No.3 reserve Jason Doyle could not have taken a journey, however the 2017 Speedway GP world champion was solely too joyful to assist Holder and Kurtz from trackside.
He stated: “I’m not upset in any respect, to be trustworthy, that I didn’t get a journey. In Vojens, I used to be. I felt like I ought to have gotten into the Closing with the boys and had a few rides.
“However tonight confirmed how robust our No.1 and No.2 boys are for Australia. I can’t say simply how amazingly they rode collectively. That’s what group racing is about, they usually proved some extent that they’re two of one of the best riders on the earth.”
Polish group supervisor Rafal Dobrucki was magnanimous in defeat following the Grand Closing as his aspect collected their fourth SON silver medal. He stated: “To begin with, congratulations to the Aussie guys. They did a extremely good job. In historical past, there was by no means a greater silver medal. We needed gold however that was robust as a result of the Aussie guys had been too quick – ultimately particularly.
“We did what we might and that was sufficient for the silver. We’re a bit bit upset, however we nonetheless have a silver medal, so it’s not so unhealthy.”
The Danes missed out on the Grand Closing after 2026 Speedway GP qualifier Leon Madsen was disqualified from the race after a collision with Dudek.
Crew supervisor Nicki Pedersen knew his aspect was in for fairly a battle. He stated: “We knew we needed to struggle towards Australia and Poland. They’re two superb groups and congratulations to them. It’s all the time robust. This technique works very effectively for the groups that go on to the Closing, which I feel is sweet and honest. We knew something might occur within the Grand Closing Qualifier.
“After all we’re upset to overlook out. We needed to get into the Grand Closing and we needed to have a shot on the Australians. They had been quick. However when you come to the Closing, something can occur.
“We had an exclusion within the Grand Closing Qualifier, and we had third place. We had been within the image, although, and I’m glad to see Michael and Leon do effectively. I’m fairly joyful in comparison with final 12 months.”
FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS FINAL SCORES:
1. AUSTRALIA 37: 1. Brady Kurtz 20, 2. Jack Holder 17, 3. Jason Doyle DNR.
2. POLAND 35: 1. Patryk Dudek 17, 2. Bartosz Zmarzlik 18, 3. Piotr Pawlicki DNR.
3. DENMARK 34: 1. Leon Madsen 18, 2. Michael Jepsen Jensen 16, 3. Mikkel Michelsen DNR.
4. SWEDEN 27: 1. Jacob Thorssell 6, 2. Fredrik Lindgren 21, 3. Timo Lahti DNR.
5. GREAT BRITAIN 24: 1. Robert Lambert 16, 2. Dan Bewley 6, 3. Tom Brennan 2.
6. LATVIA 18: 1. Andzejs Lebedevs 14, 2. Jevgenijs Kostigovs 0, 3. Daniils Kolodinskis 4.
7. CZECH REPUBLIC 14: 1. Vaclav Milik 2, 2. Jan Jenicek 12, 3. Jaroslav Vanicek 0.
Phrases by FIM Speedway – Function Picture courtesy of Taylor Lanning
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