Australian ace Jack Holder insisted “we’ll save the very best for Saturday” after main the Roos by to the FIM Speedway of Nations Last with victory in Semi-Last 2 in Torun, Poland on Wednesday.
The lads from Down Below topped the rating chart on 41 factors, with Denmark additionally qualifying for the Last, ending second on 37.
Czech Republic punched the seventh and final ticket for the Last by seeing off Ukraine 6-3 in an epic Last Qualifier to achieve their first FIM SON Last since they completed fifth on the 2022 match in Vojens, Denmark.
They be part of host nation Poland and Semi-Last 1 high trio Sweden, Nice Britain and Latvia in what’s set to be an epic battle to develop into 2025 FIM Speedway world group champions.
Victory in Semi-Last 2 belonged to a power-packed Aussie facet, with skipper Jack Holder starring on 18 factors, whereas world No.2 Brady Kurtz collected 14 and 2017 Speedway GP world champion Jason Doyle notched 9.
Holder was delighted to see all three riders play their half within the group’s victory and insists there’s extra to come back within the Last.
He stated: “The plan was to make use of everybody and get everybody dialled in for the massive one on Saturday. I’m comfortable to get by and get the win on the night time. That was even higher, however we’ll save the very best for Saturday. If all of us flip up on Saturday and do what we did on Wednesday, I can’t see why we received’t be standing on the highest.”
Staff supervisor Mark Lemon admits his facet’s high-scoring heroics have given him the nicest of issues as he decides which riders will take to the monitor on Saturday night time.
He stated: “I’ve in all probability an even bigger headache than I had earlier than the beginning of the assembly, to be trustworthy. Brady, Jack and Jason all rode tremendously. I believe they oozed class, which was nice to see. It’s a Semi-Last and we got here right here to qualify. The purpose was to get to the Last, which we’ve got performed. We haven’t received a Semi-Last for a variety of years now, in order that’s sort of good.
“The boys rode rather well. They rode nice as a collective. I believe they discovered heaps because the monitor modified. They tailored rather well, and this was an excellent final result for us.”
Danish champion Michael Jepsen Jensen topped his facet’s scoring on 16 factors, with fellow 2026 Speedway GP qualifier Leon Madsen registering 15 and skipper Mikkel Michelsen including six factors.
The Aussies took victory on the night time after successful their head-to-head race with the Danes 7-2. However Madsen says his facet discovered classes from the Semi-Last as they search to high the rostrum on Saturday.
He stated: “It was an excellent night time. We examined a number of issues. We had an excellent night time collectively. We had been working very properly collectively as a group.
“Australia beat us in our race with them, so now we all know what to do otherwise on Saturday. I don’t thoughts them beating us now if we beat them on Saturday.
“There are a number of good groups within the Last on Saturday. It’s going to be a really shut race. I believe will probably be an excellent race. The margin between successful and coming final can be very small. To win, we’ll want all riders within the group to carry out at their greatest. That’s what we’re going to attempt to do. It’s going to be an in depth and nice battle on Saturday.”
Danish boss Nicki Pedersen noticed his facet win 2024 FIM SON Semi-Last 2, solely to complete sixth within the Last. He’s decided to be taught from that disappointment because the group bids for its first FIM SON world title and the nation’s first world group crown since 2014.
He stated: “I believe we discovered rather a lot, even final 12 months in Manchester. We had been actually sturdy within the Semi-Last. We had been so comfortable we beat the Australians then, however we forgot there was additionally a Last that we wanted to do properly in. We plan to do it a bit of bit otherwise this 12 months.
“We blended it a bit of bit extra with the riders this 12 months. We stated we’d gamble a bit of bit with totally different setups and take a look at just a few riders right here and there. We knew Australia can be sturdy and the battle was all the time going to be between Denmark and Australia.
“It will likely be a totally totally different format on Saturday with totally different riders. We simply wished to get by right here. Saturday is the following step, and everybody has to place 10 p.c extra into it. We’ve just a few days off now and we stay up for Saturday.”
Czech skipper Jan Kvech led his facet’s scoring on 16 factors, with teenage sensation Adam Bubba Bednar including eight, in addition to accumulating a cool and composed victory forward of Ukraine’s Nazar Parnitskyi within the Last Qualifier, whereas Kvech claimed the all-important third place forward of Marko Levishyn for a 6-3 win.
Kvech insists there isn’t any stress on his facet forward of Saturday’s Last on his Polish residence monitor in Torun.
He stated: “We certified for the Last and that was essential for us. I’m very pleased with the group efficiency. Bubba Bednar is a younger Czech expertise, and he did an excellent job.
“We made errors in some heats, so we had to decide on begin positions second for the Last Qualifier, which was a bit of bit worse for the Czech group. However now we are able to give attention to the Last. We don’t have any stress, which is typically good. We simply wish to benefit from the Last. We will benefit from the assembly and make an excellent outcome hopefully.”
Delighted group supervisor Zdenek Schneiderwind added: “I’m very, very comfortable. We’ve a younger group and for us, reaching the Last is a giant success. The Last can be a brand new day, and we’ll see what occurs.”
Following the completion of the FIM SON Semi-Finals, the taking part nations at the moment are confirmed for the 2026 FIM Speedway World Cup. Host nation Poland is assured a spot within the Last, together with the winner of this 12 months’s FIM Speedway of Nations – or the runners-up if Poland tops the rostrum.
The Semi-Finals will happen in Germany and Latvia, with these international locations seeded into the rounds as host nation. Last qualification ensures that Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Nice Britain and Sweden will at the least earn a spot within the 2026 FIM Speedway World Cup Semi-Finals. They’re joined by Ukraine and Norway – two international locations participating within the SWC for the very first time.
After Thursday’s relaxation day in Torun, the 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations continues on Friday with SON2 – the FIM Staff Speedway Below-21 World Championship, as hosts Poland chase an 18th gold medal in opposition to Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Nice Britain, Latvia and Sweden.
The FIM SON then climaxes with Saturday’s senior Last on the Marian Rose Motoarena as Poland bids for a primary SON gold medal in opposition to Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Nice Britain, Latvia and Sweden.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday’s title deciders are nonetheless out there on-line. Safe your spot in Torun HERE now.
2025 FIM SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS SEMI-FINAL 2 SCORES:
1. AUSTRALIA 41: 1. Brady Kurtz 14, 2. Jack Holder 18, 3. Jason Doyle 9.
2. DENMARK 37: 1. Leon Madsen 15, 2. Michael Jepsen Jensen 16, 3. Mikkel Michelsen 6.
*3. CZECH REPUBLIC 27: 1. Vaclav Milik 3, 2. Jan Kvech 16, 3. Adam Bubba Bednar 8.
*4. UKRAINE 32: 1. Nazar Parnitskyi 21, 2. Marko Levishyn 11, 3. Roman Kapustin DNR.
5. FRANCE 22: 1. Dimitri Berge 16, 2. David Bellego 6, 3. Mathias Tresarrieu 0.
6. FINLAND 18: 1. Jesse Mustonen 3, 2. Antti Vuolas 15, 3. Tero Aarnio 0.
7. ARGENTINA 12: 1. Fernando Garcia 2, 2. Cristian Zubillaga 8, 3. Facundo Albin 2.
* After Last Qualifier
Phrases by FIM Speedway – Function Picture by Taylor Lanning
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