Ahead of the highly anticipated 2017 QBE Insurance FIM Speedway Grand Prix held this Saturday at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, the press was treated to an all-star pre-event press conference on the newly minted Speedway track that only a few short weeks ago served as the throbbing heart of Melbourne’s football scene. With AFL duties complete for 2017, who better to be master of ceremonies than popular sporting identity and commentator, Brian Taylor (BT).  

What they said:
Jason Doyle (AUS)
“It’s been a hard season and I’ve been riding with pain, but the hard work is paying off. I just have to go out there and bag some points and have fun. Its motorsport and it only takes a split second to come undone or be crowned champion. I am so focused this year and it’s great to finish it off in front of my home crowd. It’s a massive moment for myself and the other Aussie boys to show the world what we are made of.”

Patryk Dudek (POL)
“I am very happy with my year and to be sitting in second place, so close to the leader. We will have to see what happens at the meeting on race day. It’s cool to be here in Australia and to be sitting with Jason Crump today, because my dad used to race with him overseas many years ago. The track here at Etihad Stadium looks to be in great condition.

Chris Holder (AUS)
“Doyle and Patryk have been strong the whole way through competition this year and there is not a lot of points in it between those two. The best man will win Saturday, but for our sake lets hope that it’s Jason!

“Day in day out we are chopping and changing bikes and we all have three or four tuners that we all use and the bikes are so comparable that its all down to skill and luck really. Let’s just get out there and put on a show!”

Jason Crump (AUS)
“I was in this sport for 21 years and I remember Dudek, charging around the pits as a little boy around his dad’s ankles!”

“In this kind of racing, its anyone’s game. Most of the time when you are dealing with the best riders in the world, it’s tough for each one to get a hole shot off the line and the pick of the line into the turn, when they are all so fast and consistent. This track is amazing because it’s a really big and fast track and the guys will be having a ball riding it. You really need to trust yourself and back yourself at this level.”

Fanzone | What’s on in Melbourne

Make a day of it in Melbourne with the QBE Insurance Australian SGP Fanzone at Etihad Stadium from 14:00.

Don’t miss your chance to get a photo or #speedwayselfie with the FIM Speedway World Championship trophy Jason Doyle or Patryk Dudek will be lifting this Saturday night from 14:00 until 15:30.

Aussie sports commentator and speedway expert David Tapp will be on stage for a live Q&A at 14:45.

Grab some autographs and freebies at the always-epic Monster Energy Rig Riot from 16:30, featuring Aussie icon Chris Holder, Tai Woffinden and Patryk Dudek.

With the SGP only visiting the Southern Hemisphere once a year, we’re giving you the chance to meet eight stars at our signing session from 17:10. Catch Aussie hero Doyle, Bartosz Zmarzlik, Maciej Janowski, Martin Vaculik, Piotr Pawlicki, Peter Kildemand, Martin Smolinski and wild card Sam Masters.

Purchase your 2017 QBE Insurance Australian FIM Speedway Grand Prix here!

Can’t make it to the track? FOX SPORTS will deliver LIVE and EXCLUSIVE coverage of the final event of the year, with no ad-breaks during racing and in HD, on FOX SPORTS 506. Sat 28 Oct: LIVE at 7.00pm EDT on FOX SPORTS 506

Stay up to date with all the happenings of everything Speedway by visiting the Speedway Website or by following the Australian Speedway Championships Facebook page.

Pictures courtesy of Russell Colvin, 26/10/17, Melbourne
Picture 1: Jason Doyle
Picture 2: Chris Holder, Jason Doyle and Patryk Dudek
Picture 3: Patryk Dudek
Picture 4: Chris Holder
Picture 5: Jason Crump
Picture 6: FIM Speedway GP Trophy