DOYLE: REKINDLING THE LOVE

Aussie ace Jason Doyle admits his 2024 layoff has “rekindled my love” for racing as he roars back into FIM Speedway Grand Prix action in 2025.

Doyle spent last summer on the sidelines after sustaining a torn rotator cuff in a Rowe Motor Oil Premiership match for Ipswich at King’s Lynn last May.

After a patient recovery, the 2017 Speedway GP world champion is back on track. He scored a nine paid 12-point maximum from four rides for Ipswich as they thumped visitors Oxford 65-25 on Thursday.

He will also line up for Czestochowa in their PGE Ekstraliga opener at home to his 2024 club Grudziadz, which has been switched to Saturday due to an adverse weather forecast.

Doyle makes his SGP comeback in the series-opening WWK FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Landshut on May 3, and he returns more determined than ever to relish his racing.

He said: “When you are out injured, you realise how much you miss speedway. I was coming to the end of my career, I thought. I thought I was done and dusted. I was getting sick of speedway. But having these 10 months off has kind of rekindled my love for it, so that’s a good thing.”

Asked what he would consider a successful season, he admitted: “I think it just needs to be a happy and healthy 2025 and one I enjoy. 

“It’s tough to enjoy it when you’re competing at the top of the world in the GPs, but there are a lot of riders striving to get there. I have been there now for 10 years and it’s a great honour to be riding in the GPs.”

Doyle started the 2024 season in red-hot form, taking second spot at the FIM Speedway GP of Croatia, before winning the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw – his first SGP victory since the night he sealed his world title at the 2017 FIM Speedway GP of Australia – Melbourne.

He also reached the 2024 FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Landshut semis, and Doyle believes a strong start to last year helped him ensure his return as a permanent wild card for this term.

“I think that’s the only reason I am back in the GPs,” he said. “I did have three good GPs. I don’t think I would have had a wild card otherwise.

“It is nice to be back in the GPs. It’s where everybody wants to be racing. I have a lot of unfinished business after winning a GP again in Warsaw. It makes me feel it is possible again.”

Doyle may be approaching his 40th birthday this October, but his injury battle hasn’t left him in any mood to consider hanging up his boots.

“I have many years left now, I think,” he said. “I’m not going to retire soon, barring an injury. I feel like I have another 10 years left in me. 

“You look at the likes of Greg Hancock – he lasted until he was 48. Sadly, he couldn’t keep going because of family reasons, but I want to be in the position to be riding for as long as I can.”