FAMOUS FIVES SET FOR FRIDAY’S MONSTER ENERGY FIM SWC RACE OFF IN WROCLAW

27/07/2023

FAMOUS FIVES SET FOR FRIDAY’S MONSTER ENERGY FIM SWC RACE OFF IN WROCLAW

Friday’s Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Race Off in Wroclaw will feature some famous fives as the starting line-ups are revealed.

Sweden, Australia, Czech Republic and France face off in the always-epic Race Off as the teams battle it out to claim one last place in Saturday’s Final alongside hosts Poland, Semi-Final 1 winner Great Britain and Semi-Final 2 victor Denmark.

All five nations track the same five riders that featured in their Semi-Final round – but all four team managers have shuffled their riding order, keeping an ace card up their sleeve.

Teams select four starters and one reserve at No.5, who can be called into action at any time by the team manager – taking up to five rides, plus an additional tactical substitute outing if their side falls six or more points behind the leading nation.

Australia fell just a point short of Semi-Final 2 winners Denmark and name an unchanged team for the Race Off as they line up in the blue helmets.

Their starting quartet features Speedway GP trio Jack Holder, Jason Doyle and Max Fricke, with 2020 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion Jaimon Lidsey joining them after powering to an heroic 16 points on his Monster Energy FIM SWC debut for the Roos.

The Aussies also have the option of calling 2012 Speedway GP world champion Chris Holder into action at any time after naming him at No.5.

Aussie skipper Jason Doyle goes wheel-to-wheel with Danish rider-manager Nicki Pedersen. PHOTO: Taylor Lanning

After being beaten to Final qualification by Great Britain at Semi-Final 1 on Tuesday, Swedish boss Morgan Andersson also names a big-hitter at No.5 – putting world No.4 Fredrik Lindgren in the standby role.

Fast Freddie is joined by a starting quartet, featuring double Swedish champion Jacob Thorssell, former Speedway GP stars Antonio Lindback and Oliver Berntzon as the Swedes line up in white helmets.

Last year’s FIM GP Challenge winner Kim Nilsson moves into the starting four in place of Lindgren, who could have a busy night as Andersson prepares to throw him into action as and when it suits the Swedes.

Double Swedish champ Jacob Thorssell leads GB's Robert Lambert. PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

Czech Republic took the option to put their strongest rider Vaclav Milik at No.5 in Tuesday’s Semi-Final 1.

With the former Speedway GP finalist top-scoring on 11 points, boss Zdenek Schneiderwind keeps him at No.5 for the Race Off, with 2022 SGP2 silver medallist Jan Kvech, 2023 SGP2 star Petr Chlupac, Daniel Klima and Hynek Stichauer named in the starting quartet.

Czech charger Vaclav Milik takes on GB skipper Tai Woffinden. PHOTO: Jarek Pabijan

History-makers France complete the Race Off field in the red helmets, contesting the Monster Energy FIM SWC’s latter stages for the first time on their tournament debut after taking third place in Semi-Final 2 on Wednesday.

Boss Laurent Sambarrey has also moved one of his big guns to the No.5 position as Wednesday’s top scorer Dimitri Berge, who collected 14 points, takes on the roving role.

The starting quartet features skipper David Bellego, reigning FIM World Long Track champion Mathieu Tresarrieu and his nephew Mathias Tresarrieu, plus Steven Goret.