AMERICAN SIDE CONFIRMED FOR CALIFORNIA TEST

FIM North America champion Luke Becker will lead the United States side into their first home test match in 35 years at Kern County Raceway in Bakersfield, California on February 4.

The riders in Stars and Stripes face off with a Rest of the World team, spearheaded by double Speedway GP winner Dan Bewley.

Becker joins forces with 2022 FIM Speedway of Nations teammates Broc Nicol and Dillon Ruml. Veteran Billy Janniro is in the side, along with former FIM North America champion Max Ruml and Gino Manzares, who have both raced in the FIM Speedway World Cup. Alex Martin and No.8 Slater Lightcap complete the team.

Along with Bewley, the USA will be up against Danish champion Rasmus Jensen, double Swedish champion Jacob Thorssell, Great Britain stars Adam Ellis and Tom Brennan, Canadian racer Kyle Legault and Swedish-born Wilbur Hancock – eldest son of American great Greg Hancock.

The American team, managed by Steve Evans, races on home shale for the first time since the 1988 World Team Cup Final at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, California, which saw them finish second to Denmark.

With the USA missing out on FIM SWC qualification for Wroclaw this summer, the test match offers the Stars and Stripes some welcome international action, an opportunity to push their case for FIM SON selection in 2024 and the chance to impress club promoters in Europe.