MAX Fricke moved up to sixth in the World Championship standings after winning the third Grand Prix of his career in Manchester on Friday night.
The Australian powered to victory in the final ahead of fellow countrymen Brady Kurtz and Jack Holder after defending World Champion Bartosz Zmarzlik had gone down in the first corner during the first attempt to run the race. Track conditions deteriorated significantly when rain began to fall after the completion of the 20 qualifying heats, Zmarzlik (13) and Fricke (12) having topped the scorechart to secure direct passage into the final. Britain's Robert Lambert mustered 10 points in the qualifying races but finished behind Kurtz in the second Last Chance Qualifier. Fricke said: “I’m happy to be up here. I just kind of kept my head down all night and didn’t get too ahead of myself, and my team have done a great job of giving me a bike that was fast tonight. “In my last heat it was dry and then by the time we went out for the Final it was wet, and I didn’t ride in the semi (LCQ) so there was a bit of a gap, but I think we stuck with what we knew and it paid off. “I’ve definitely been pushing uphill in the first couple of rounds, and the fall in Prague didn’t help, but it’s nice to bounce back.” Zmarzlik holds a one-point lead over Kurtz in the standings ahead of the second round of the Manchester double header tonight (Saturday). PICTURE: JAREK PABIJAN
