Australian speedway stars Brady Kurtz and Jack Holder delivered a stirring performance to reclaim the FIM Speedway of Nations (FIM SON) crown in Torun, Poland, with a dramatic Grand Final victory over the host nation.
The result secured Australia’s second world team title in three years, following their 2022 triumph in Vojens, Denmark, while Denmark claimed the bronze medals.
After narrowly missing the Speedway GP World Championship gold earlier in the year by just a single point to Bartosz Zmarzlik, Kurtz was elated to finally take world championship gold — though he admitted he thought his chances were gone when the tapes lifted in the Grand Final. “I actually thought it was all over when the tapes went up,” Kurtz said. “I didn’t make the best start at all. But I squeezed in there somehow and got to the outside. I knew I had to get to the fence. Jack was so solid all night. He made every start, looked for me and gave me the run through. Sure enough, when the straight came in the Grand Final, Jack was in front, looking over his shoulder and waiting for me to come past. Once we hit the front, I was checking the big screen every lap and we were solid all race. We were so good together. Once we hit the front, I was pretty confident that we could get it done, and I am really happy with this one. I am relieved. I was a little bit nervous. It’s a big deal to represent your country. I tried not to let the boys down and I am glad we didn’t. It’s a real honour to put this suit on.”
Kurtz joined Holder at the front to produce a decisive 7-2 result in the Grand Final against Poland, rounding world champion Zmarzlik with one of the standout laps of the season. It marked a full-circle moment for the two Aussies, who have been racing together since childhood. “It’s definitely a full-circle moment,” Holder said. “Jack and I have done more races together than anyone in the history of speedway probably. We have done team events together since we were nine, 10 or 11. Finally, we got it done on the big stage.”
Team manager Mark Lemon praised his riders for their teamwork and commitment, admitting his biggest challenge was selecting from a talented Aussie lineup. “By comparison, my part in it has been easy,” Lemon said. “These guys have been amazing. The hardest job in Team Australia at the moment is selecting the riders because we have so many of them performing very well. We have four riders in the GP, and I had some tough decisions to make. We worked together as a team, and I am super proud of them all. Jack has done it before, and Brady has been in such good form in the GPs. He is probably the best rider in the world currently.
“To win gold here in Poland … we could have only dreamed of that some years ago. We got a taste for success in Vojens and that has rolled on into 2025. We were a little unlucky not to manage this last year. Team GB was just too good on the night in the Grand Final. I just love working with these guys and I am so happy and proud of them. We work really well as a team and all of our mechanics behind the scenes and engine builders helped us get to this point. It’s a feather in the cap for Motorcycling Australia, our federation, and all the sponsors who backed us. For me, it is great that a lot of Aussies get up in the middle of the night to support these guys in the GPs, SON and SWC. I’m sure there will be some sore heads Down Under, but they got to see a nice victory.”
The win also guarantees Australia a place in the 2026 FIM Speedway World Cup Final, to be held in Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy Stadium. Lemon said it was a massive bonus for the team. “We discussed that on the podium. It’s fantastic that we get a chance to go straight through to the Final. Australia never gets seeded through to a Final – this is the first time for the seniors. We have really good riders to choose from and it will be another tough decision to pick five. We are in a very fortunate position – we have plenty of riders at the moment. Next year is another time, but for now, we are going to celebrate this one.”
Holder, who led from the start in the Grand Final, credited teamwork and determination for the win. “It was all happening! I knew I needed to watch my back, and that first corner was pretty tight,” he said. “I just held on, pushed and shoved, showed some Aussie grit, looked for BK and there he was – rocket man! I just kept looking up at the big screen to see where the Poles were and rode it home.”
While Jason Doyle didn’t take to the track, the 2017 world champion was full of praise for his teammates’ flawless performance. “I’m not disappointed at all, to be honest, that I didn’t get a ride,” he said. “In Vojens, I was. I felt like I should have got into the Final with the boys and had a couple of rides. But tonight showed how strong our No.1 and No.2 boys are for Australia. I cannot say just how amazingly they rode together. That’s what team racing is about, and they proved a point that they are two of the best riders in the world.”
Polish team manager Rafal Dobrucki was gracious in defeat as his team collected their fourth silver medal in the competition. “First of all, congratulations to the Aussie guys. They did a really good job,” he said. “In history, there was never a better silver medal. We wanted gold but that was tough because the Aussie guys were too fast – in the end especially. We did what we could and that was enough for the silver. We are a little bit disappointed, but we still have a silver medal, so it’s not so bad.”
Denmark rounded out the podium after Leon Madsen was disqualified from the Grand Final Qualifier following a collision with Patryk Dudek. Danish team manager Nicki Pedersen accepted the outcome, praising his riders’ efforts. “We knew we had to fight against Australia and Poland. They are two very good teams and congratulations to them,” he said. “It’s always tough. This system works very well for the teams that go directly to the Final, which I think is good and fair. We knew anything could happen in the Grand Final Qualifier. Of course we are disappointed to miss out. We wanted to get into the Grand Final and have a shot at the Australians. They were fast. But once you come to the Final, anything can happen. We had an exclusion in the Grand Final Qualifier, and we had third place. We were in the picture, though, and I am glad to see Michael and Leon do well. I am quite happy compared to last year.”
2025 FIM Speedway of Nations Final Scores:
1st Australia 37: Brady Kurtz 20, Jack Holder 17, Jason Doyle DNR.
2nd Poland 35: Patryk Dudek 17, Bartosz Zmarzlik 18, Piotr Pawlicki DNR.
3rd Denmark 34: Leon Madsen 18, Michael Jepsen Jensen 16, Mikkel Michelsen DNR.
4th Sweden 27: Jacob Thorssell 6, Fredrik Lindgren 21, Timo Lahti DNR.
5th Great Britain 24: Robert Lambert 16, Dan Bewley 6, Tom Brennan 2.
6th Latvia 18: Andzejs Lebedevs 14, Jevgenijs Kostigovs 0, Daniils Kolodinskis 4.
7th Czech Republic 14: Vaclav Milik 2, Jan Jenicek 12, Jaroslav Vanicek 0.
