Jack Holder takes a last gasp victory in the 2023 Australian Speedway Snr Solo Championship

Jack Holder has added an Australian Speedway Snr Solo Championship to his growing list of achievements after topping the podium at North Brisbane at the final round of the Australian Championships.

After helping Australia to a dramatic 2022 Speedway of Nations win in August, 26-year-old Holder took on Team Australia captain Jason Doyle who had arrived at the North Brisbane venue as the understandable warm favourite for the Championship.

Doyle had taken the overall victory in three of the four rounds but was overhauled at the final round thanks to Holder’s consistent points results in the heat races.

Playing the points game saw Holder rapidly gain on Doyle and as we came to the business end of the night, an unfortunate result in semi-final saw Max Fricke take the win, local lad (and wildcard) Ryan Douglas second with Doyle in third and therefore out of the final.

Doyle was now stuck on 11 points for the night and 61 points for the overall. Jack Holder won his semi-final and now had the chance to take the title if he was first or second in what would be a very tense and fitting final to the 2023 Australian Speedway Solo Championship.

Deciding that playing for second was not an option, Holder was hard at it from the gate and took the win in both the final and the Australian Championship, overhauling Jason Doyle by just 2 points (63 to 61).

Reigning champion Max Fricke took the overall points victory on the night (17 for the round, 53 overall), and secured third in the overall title chase with Rohan Tungate (13/51) fourth overall and Brady Kurtz in fifth (11/45).

While it was not the fairy tale ending for 37-year-old Novocastrian Jason Doyle at what he said might be his last Australian Championship, Jack Holder’s victory was a clear sign that Australian Speedway is powering ahead and the 2017 Speedway Grand Prix champion and 2022 Speedway of Nations Team Captain Doyle could complete his final Australian Championship secure in the knowledge that he has left the sport in Australia better for his considerable presence and brilliance.

Jack Holder: “I’ve wanted this one for so long, worked my butt off to get here. Spent a lot of money bringing my bikes back, but hard work pays off!

“I just want to thank everyone. It’s been awesome and we did it!

“I knew what I needed. It’s racing you know, you put the helmet on, and you do what you gotta do. We all want to win and I just made a very smart first corner and got into that lead and was just counting down the laps and holding my breath.

“Everything worked out!”

Max Fricke: “It’s a tough old series to do, it’s a lot of driving and a lot of races.

“A massive shout to all my family and to those helping out; Chris my mechanic, all my sponsors and everyone helping us to get here. It’s been a fun series and looking forward to the next one.”

Jason Doyle: “What can I say? Jack rode very well throughout the whole series and he’s a deserved winner. Hats off to him, he’s under pressure all night and he came through with the goods. Thanks to Brisbane- all the people here- it was a great night. Not the result I wanted, but happy for everyone to come here and have a great evening.

“I’m done with the Australian team now, let the young kids come through and hopefully they can shine bright. I’ve had an amazing ten years with team Australia, we’ve finally got a couple of golds, a couple of bronze and it was an amazing feeling to ride for my country.”

Results – Round 5, 2023 Australian Speedway Snr Solo Championship

Semi-Final 1: M Fricke, R Douglas, J Doyle, Z Cook.

Semi-Final 2: J Holder, R Tungate, B Kurtz, Z Keleher.

Round Final: J Holder, M Fricke, R Douglas, R Tungate.