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FRICKE MAKES UK COMEBACK WITH BELLE VUE

Australian champion Max Fricke is set for a sensational return to Britain’s SGB Premiership as he leads Belle Vue into 2022. The FIM Speedway Grand Prix star opted out of racing in the UK ahead of the cancelled 2020 season – ending a run of five straight seasons with the Aces. With riders in Poland’s PGE Ekstraliga only able to race in one other league, Fricke opted to compete for Swedish side Indianerna in 2021. But with the Victorian star’s Polish club Zielona Gora relegated to the First Division, he now has the option to race in an additional league – wasting no time in signing for the Aces, where he joins forces with 2019 British champion Charles Wright. Fricke’s comeback is a massive boost to the Manchester club following the departure of FIM Speedway of Nations winner Dan Bewley, who will compete for Smederna in Sweden’s Bauhaus Elitserien alongside his meetings for Polish champions Wroclaw. Belle Vue director of speedway Mark Lemon is delighted to be reunited with his compatriot at the National Speedway Stadium. He said: “Max Fricke’s return is not only a massive plus for the sport in Manchester, but also for speedway on a national scale. “This is a man who cut his professional teeth with Belle Vue for five years before progressing to the Grand Prix series and we’re delighted to have him back with us in 2022. “Charles is another rider we were very enthusiastic about bringing back to the Aces, and I think we saw glimpses of his potential last season. He is a quality sportsman with a lot to offer this club and I am confident he will step up his game and tap into his full capabilities.”

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LAGUTA’S DREAM WEEKEND IN MONACO

FIM Speedway Grand Prix top gun Artem Laguta admits it was a dream come true to stand alongside the sport’s world champions at the FIM Awards in Monaco on Saturday night. Laguta was recognised for his epic SGP title triumph at Sporting Monte-Carlo, where all the FIM’s world champions for 2020 and 2021 were honoured. He was joined by title rival Bartosz Zmarzlik, who received his 2020 prize after last year’s ceremony was cancelled due to the pandemic. While the Pole visited the iconic motorsport nation in 2019 when he won his first title, Laguta made his first trip to the FIM Awards this weekend. The Motorcycling Federation of Russia’s first-ever speedway world champion admits it was a special feeling to celebrate his historic year among a galaxy of motorcycling stars. He said: “I am thrilled. When I was a kid and I started racing motorbikes, I wanted to be the world champion. To be here in Monaco is something special. “I can go on holiday with my family wherever I want, but when you get an invitation to be here because you are world champion, it is something special. “Monaco is very famous for all the motorsport riders and drivers - they all dream about this place. So being here makes me happy. “It’s a dream come true to stand next to all these world champions and know I am one of them. “That gives me the desire to come to the FIM Awards more often - not just the once. It makes me smile when I know I am one of these champions.” Zmarzlik loved his second visit to Monaco in a year he came within three points of being crowned a triple world champion. He said: “This is my second time in this country, which is beautiful for me. I am here with my mother and father as a gift for them. We have done a lot of work together over this season as a family. It’s only three days, but it’s three days in a beautiful place. It’s so nice here.” The evening saw four-time SGP world champion Greg Hancock officially named an FIM legend, before he presented awards to the FIM’s young champions. Paul Bellamy of BSI Speedway was also named a FIM promoter legend after spearheading the SGP series for nearly two decades. FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship winners Jaimon Lidsey and Jakub Miskowiak were both in Monaco to collect their medals for 2020 and 2021 respectively, along with FIM Youth world champion Oskar Paluch of Poland. FIM Speedway of Nations winners MFR (2020) and Great Britain (2021) were also celebrated, along with back-to-back FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship winners Poland.

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LAGUTA AND ZMARZLIK SET FOR FIM AWARDS IN MONACO

FIM Speedway Grand Prix top two Artem Laguta and Bartosz Zmarzlik will both be honoured for their title wins at the FIM Awards in Monaco tonight. The ceremony will celebrate all the FIM’s world champions for 2020 and 2021 from their many motorcycle disciplines, with Zmarzlik being recognised for his 2020 SGP triumph, while Laguta was crowned champion this year. Riders will gather at the Monaco Top Cars Collection in the afternoon, before heading to Sporting Monte-Carlo in the evening for the awards ceremony. This year’s FIM Awards will also celebrate the 2020 champions after last year’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic. With Laguta and Zmarzlik both winning an astonishing five FIM Speedway Grand Prix rounds this year, as Laguta beat Bartek to gold by three points, it’s fitting that both will feature on the red carpet. They will be joined by American great Greg Hancock. The four-time SGP world champion will be honoured as an FIM legend and present the track racing prizes. Representatives of the Motorcycling Federation of Russia and Great Britain will be on hand to toast their FIM Speedway of Nations world-title wins in 2020 and 2021 respectively. This year’s FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship winner Jakub Miskowiak will also be in attendance. Fans around the world can tune into the FIM Awards online from 22:00 CET (21:00 UK) on Saturday night. Visit www.FIM-Awards.com or the FIM Awards Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1488407941579399?ref=newsfeed

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KILDEMAND MAKES UK COMEBACK WITH KING'S LYNN

Danish racer Peter Kildemand is back in Britain for 2022 after signing for SGB Premiership side King’s Lynn. Kildemand was unveiled as part of a side also featuring 2021 Stars riders Richard Lawson, Thomas Jorgensen and Lewis Kerr. Richie Worrall makes the move from Belle Vue, while promising Aussie racer Josh Pickering joins from Sheffield. Norfolk youngster Jack Thomas completes the line-up after being handed the club’s Rising Star spot. Former FIM Speedway Grand Prix star Kildemand last competed in the UK when he had a stint with Poole in 2018. He won the 2014 FIM Speedway World Cup with his country, before racing to 2015 Danish SGP and 2016 Slovenian SGP victories. While he has not followed up those successes in recent years, King’s Lynn boss Alex Brady says he won’t be short of back-up in a side he feels has plenty of strength in depth. He said: “Overall I'm really, really pleased with how we have built the 2022 side. We have not gone for an out-and-out No.1 like Ipswich have with Jason Doyle, but we've followed the strength-in-depth approach with almost five or six No.5s, and our three starting heat leaders all have the potential to improve their average. “In fact, had Richard Lawson not had his unfortunate accident at the back end of last season and continued in the same vein he had all year, he would've finished with an average in excess of eight points. “The strength-in-depth approach is something which leaves us with a strong reserve all season long, meaning that if a member of our top five is having an off-night, we have suitable replacements, something we did not have the luxury of in 2021. “I'm aware there will be mixed feelings in some quarters, but as a one-to-seven team, management team and a club in general, we're all really pleased with how we are set to line up. “I think the Premiership in 2022 will be one of the most competitive seasons for years. I can't wait to get started!” Elsewhere, Ipswich have named former Sheffield star Danyon Hume as their No.8 rider for 2022.

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HOLDER LEADS STELLAR SHEFFIELD SIDE

SGP first reserve Jack Holder is back with British side Sheffield to lead a stellar side for 2021. The Aussie icon teams up with British champion Adam Ellis, former SGP star Craig Cook, Polish racer Tobiasz Musielak and British racer Kyle Howarth in a power-packed top five at the Owlerton club. Reserve duo Stefan Nielsen and Connor Mountain complete the line-up, with Dan Thompson named as Tigers’ No.8 rider. Five of the riders return from the team that reached this season’s SGB Premiership semi-finals, but the arrival of Cook and Musielak significantly strengthens the Yorkshire side, placing them among the early title favourites. Elsewhere, reigning champions Peterborough line up with six of the stars that lifted the 2021 SGB Premiership title. Former SGP regulars Hans Andersen, Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls all return, along with Ulrich Ostergaard, Michael Palm Toft and Jordan Palin. Danish prospect Benjamin Basso replaces the retired Bjarne Pedersen after a sensational British debut season with SGB Championship double winners Poole. Meanwhile, Aussie icon Jason Doyle has been reunited with fellow countryman and former Swindon team mate Troy Batchelor at Ipswich. The pair joined forces to win the first and only league and cup double in Robins’ history in 2019 and will hope to bring the best out of each other again – this time at Foxhall. German international Erik Riss also takes his place in the Ipswich side, along with Danny King, Cameron Heeps, Anders Rowe and Paul Starke. Wolverhampton stepped up their team building for 2022 by recruiting Aussie racer Ryan Douglas. He joins British young guns Drew Kemp and Leon Flint at Monmore Green. King’s Lynn are set to announce their one-to-seven on Thursday evening, while Belle Vue Aces are yet to unveil their stars for next season. Photo: Taylor Lanning

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FRICKE MAKES UK COMEBACK WITH BELLE VUE

LAGUTA’S DREAM WEEKEND IN MONACO

LAGUTA AND ZMARZLIK SET FOR FIM AWARDS IN MONACO

KILDEMAND MAKES UK COMEBACK WITH KING'S LYNN

HOLDER LEADS STELLAR SHEFFIELD SIDE