FRICKE BIDS TO MAKE LIONS ROAR AGAIN

Speedway GP star Max Fricke hopes to “keep the good times rolling” at Leicester as the 2024 Rowe Motor Oil Premiership Grand Finalists bid to roar back into title contention this year.

Fricke’s side faced off with Belle Vue in last year’s British title showdown, losing out to the Dan Bewley and Brady Kurtz-inspired Aces 103-77 on aggregate.

Fricke heads into his third straight season with the Lions this year and is loving life at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park as he bids to take Leicester one better.

He said: “Over the last two years since the club returned to the Premiership, I think they have made some great steps forward. It has been a pleasure to be a part of that. I have really enjoyed my time there so far and hopefully we can keep the good times rolling.

“For us as riders, we want to do the best job we can on the track every time. Being in that position last year was great – seeing the level of success we have had. We were winning meetings throughout the year and making the final was a great achievement. We could see how far everyone had come.

“We want to try and improve on that this year. It’s nice to be in the final, but of course we always want to win it. We came up short last year, but it was a great effort from all and we are going to keep pushing again this year.”

The 2016 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion joins forces with fellow Aussie stars Sam Masters and Ryan Douglas, who made the switch to Leicester following Wolverhampton’s closure at the end of 2023. Fricke was pleased with how they acclimatised to their new surroundings. 

He said: “Those guys rode great last season once they learned the Leicester track and they created a bit of a home-track advantage. 

“This always takes time when you change to a new club, especially for guys who had moved from Wolves. Sam had been there for a really long time. It was really cool to see them settle in and get that place pretty well dialled.”

The Aussie trio joins forces with FIM North America champion Luke Becker, former Speedway GP star Craig Cook, Kyle Howarth and rising star Sam Hagon.

Fricke believes the Leicester team spirit could play a huge role in the club’s 2025 title hopes. He said: “I think, from a team atmosphere point of view, we all get on great. 

“We all work well together in the pits, and we are willing to help each other out. Hopefully that goes the extra mile when it comes to some of these matches and hopefully it creates a few extra points to get us across the line in a couple of tough matches.”