Landshut Preview Aussie Ace Doyles Baby Boom

Speedway GP World Championship leader Jason Doyle says becoming a father “has changed my world” as he bids to build on an unforgettable Warsaw win at the Trans MF FIM Speedway GP of Germany – Landshut on Saturday.

For the first time since 1997, the Speedway GP series visits Landshut’s OneSolar Arena, and Doyle will be determined to deliver another big performance in Bavaria after ending a near-seven-year wait for an SGP win at the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw last Saturday.

Doyle racked up a sensational six heat wins from seven rides to claim a six-point lead at the top of the standings. It was his first victory since he topped the FIM Speedway GP of Australia – Melbourne podium in 2017 to seal the Speedway GP World Championship.

Seven years on, and he has 38 points heading into round three, with nearest rivals Jack Holder and Bartosz Zmarzlik tied on 32 in second and third respectively. Great Britain racer Robert Lambert is fourth on 29 as he returns to the country where he started his professional career on a German licence at the age of 14. 

Sweden’s Fredrik Lindgren is fifth on 23 points, Slovakia’s Martin Vaculik is sixth on 21 and Germany’s own Kai Huckenbeck has 20 points in seventh place after an impressive start to his SGP career, which has seen him reach semi-finals at the opening two rounds in Croatia and Warsaw.

But Doyle has been the man in form, and he admits welcoming daughter Grace into the world with wife Emily in March has played a huge role in his rapid start to the 2024 Speedway GP season. 

He said: “My baby girl Grace has changed my world. The life of just being a speedway rider is gone now. I have finally got purpose in life with having a family. I think that might help to take the pressure off because speedway is only second to me now.

“Obviously I still want to win, and I always want to be on top of the rostrum and winning races. But when I go home, I have a baby girl there and I am very happy. I obviously want to make her proud. 

“I need to thank my wife Emily too. There has been a lot of stress over the last few years with me doing what I do. She has always been by my side to give me support and let me do the training I need to do. If you have a happy life and a happy wife, it makes it a lot easier.”  

After years of injuries, issues with equipment and indifferent Speedway GP results, Doyle has returned to his best in the early rounds of the 2024 series. Motivation has never been a problem for a rider who won his 2017 Speedway GP crown, despite racing half of the season with a broken foot.

Doyle is delighted to continue defying the doubters and confounding the critics in his quest for Speedway GP world title No.2. 
He said: “I was driving alone to the stadium in Warsaw last Saturday, and I was thinking that I’m 38 years old, I rattled off all the injuries I have had throughout my career like the broken necks, broken backs and 11 dislocated shoulders, and I thought, ‘Why do you keep doing this?’

“There was only one reason why I wanted to keep doing this. I had this deep feeling that I could win another Grand Prix. It has been seven years and I have finally got that monkey off my back again.

“Next year is my 20th season in Britain. I have done so much that many people didn’t believe I could do, and I am sitting here with another trophy when many people thought I was done and dusted.

“I have read comments saying that I am too old to be in Speedway GP and this shows I have the capability to beat the top boys and I am still one of the top boys. I know I have a lot of pressure on me, and when I have this pressure, I perform better.” 

With nine rounds to race – starting in Landshut – Doyle isn’t looking too deeply into his Speedway GP world title chances just yet. “It’s too far to look into the future,” he said. “I just want to be present. I know the job ahead and it’s going to be tough.”

Doyle and his Speedway GP rivals are bidding to deny Zmarzlik a fifth world title and a third in as many years. While breaking his dominance of the series will be no easy task, the Ipswich, Grudziadz and Region Varde rider is up for the challenge.

“Bartosz is a man on a mission and has been for many years,” he said. “But I am a world champion also and I know I can match it with the top boys too. I think I’m going to be there.” 

German star Huckenbeck is set for a special night as he lines up in his first FIM Speedway GP of Germany as a full member of the SGP series, joining wild card Norick Blodorn.

Both home heroes compete on the track where they raced for the Landshut Devils in the Polish leagues, leading them to promotion to the First Division in their debut season in 2021, before racing two campaigns at that level.

While Huckenbeck departed the club for Bydgoszcz during the winter, he is still hugely popular in Bavaria and admits racing in an SGP event in front of a packed OneSolar Arena will be a real homecoming.
He said: “I am quite excited. I am looking forward to it. Landshut has been my home track for the last three years in the Polish league. 

“I think it’s going to be a good event. They have sold many tickets already, so it will be good to see a full stadium and a big German crowd.

“It’s great to have a home GP in Landshut. For me, it’s like coming back home since I have moved to Bydgoszcz in the Polish league. I am really looking forward to seeing the people again. I think it’s a great racing track and we will see a good GP.” 

Huckenbeck has been the surprise package of Speedway GP’s five new riders for 2024, reaching two successive semi-finals. He would love to go one step further in Landshut.

Asked about his hopes for Saturday night, he said: “A GP win would be awesome, but even reaching the final would be great. That’s for sure my goal. I have been in the semis twice and now I want to be in the final. I will give everything for that.”

2024 TRANS MF FIM SPEEDWAY GP OF GERMANY – LANDSHUT LINE-UP (in FIM ranking order with rider numbers):
95. Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland)
66. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden)
54. Martin Vaculik (Slovakia)
25. Jack Holder (Australia)
30. Leon Madsen (Denmark)
505. Robert Lambert (Great Britain)
99. Dan Bewley (Great Britain)
69. Jason Doyle (Australia)
108. Tai Woffinden (Great Britain)
155. Mikkel Michelsen (Denmark)
29. Andzejs Lebedevs (Latvia)
744. Kai Huckenbeck (Germany)
415. Dominik Kubera (Poland)
48. Szymon Wozniak (Poland)
201. Jan Kvech (Czech Republic)
16. Norick Blodorn (Germany – wild card)
17. Martin Smolinski (Germany – first track reserve)
18. Erik Riss (Germany – second track reserve)