LOCAL HERO GUSTS HANDED SPEEDWAY GP DEBUT IN RIGA AS HOLDER WITHDRAWS

Latvia will have two riders in Saturday’s OlyBet FIM Speedway GP of Latvia – Riga as local hero Francis Gusts steps into the starting line-up.

Australian racer Jack Holder has reluctantly been forced to admit defeat in his battle to recover from a hand injury sustained in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Final in Wroclaw. He underwent successful surgery in Lublin on August 1, but was unable to recover in time for Riga.

Speedway GP first reserve Andzejs Lebedevs was due to serve as this weekend’s wild card, but he will now instead replace Holder in the line-up.

As a result, Gusts has been handed the dream chance to race as wild card, taking the No.16 race jacket from Lebedevs to make his Speedway GP debut in his home city.

Gusts’ promotion to wild card sees Ricards Ansviesulis step up as first track reserve at No.17, with his international teammate Ernests Matjusonoks joining the Riga line-up as second track reserve at No.18.

The young Latvian trio also line up for their country in Friday’s DeWalt FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 event as his side takes on 15-time winners Poland, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Denmark, Australia and Germany for the FIM SON Under-21 World Championship.

We wish Jack a speedy and successful recovery from his injury.