KING’S Lynn No.1 Max Fricke is a World Champion having struck gold with Australia in Warsaw on Saturday.

Fricke joined forces with Brady Kurtz, Jason Doyle and Ryan Douglas, along with non-riding reserve Rohan Tungate, to win the Speedway World Cup Final – the first such success for the nation since 2002.

The World Cup is now run on a three-yearly basis and it means Australia now hold both major team titles as they also won the Speedway of Nations in 2025.

All four Australian riders won their opening outings as they opened a big lead, and whilst some pressure came from Denmark later in the meeting, Fricke’s team ultimately won by eight points.

Kurtz scored 11 points, Douglas and Doyle both scored ten and Fricke scored seven, whilst Denmark and Poland completed the podium.

Injury-hit Great Britain were fourth, although only six points behind Poland, with Lynn favourite Robert Lambert scoring 14 of their 23 points.

Fricke’s Heat 18 victory over Bartosz Zmarzlik took Australia to the brink of the title after Denmark’s Mikkel Michelsen had crashed out, and they sealed it in the next race.

Fricke said: “Obviously things started okay with a win, but after that, I was struggling a little bit. I was able to lean on the boys a little bit to try and change a few things with my bikes and make it work for this last one.

“My last race was an important heat and Lemo put a lot of faith in me to try and pull out a fast ride. I knew the pressure was on, and I am just grateful that I was able to deliver.

“Racing in Australian team colours gives me a lot of pride and to bring home gold for Australia this year is unbelievable. It’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“The SWC is definitely a favourite event of mine. It doesn’t come around very often. It is always an honour to be able to represent Australia and give it my very best.”

Fricke will be back for the PSH Environmental Stars when they face a crucial away trip to his former club Leicester on Thursday.