Jason Doyle will step away from the FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) series in 2027, ending a run of 12 consecutive seasons at the sport’s elite level.
The 2017 world champion says he is not retiring, though, and has left open the possibility of a return or wildcard appearances.
The Newcastle-born rider, 40, confirmed his decision during interviews at Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium on September 14. He currently sits ninth in the SGP standings on 66 points ahead of Saturday’s final round in Poland, where he will match Australian legend Leigh Adams on 115 SGP appearances, joint 10th on the series’ all-time list.
“There is still a lot left in me, as you saw at Ipswich. I’m racing hard and still feeling good on a bike. It’s not that I am retiring at all. I still have plenty of years left in me,” Doyle said.
“I just need to be happy again, and that comes from winning races. I want to be riding as much as I can in Britain, Sweden, Poland and Denmark when I can. I’ll still be racing the top boys. I can still beat them, so it’s not like I am getting smoked all the time.”
Doyle acknowledged the young talent coming through but said he would consider returning to the series if he can get back to fighting for finals.
“You have Brady (Kurtz) and the other young boys who are flying at the moment, and if I can bring myself back to making finals, then I will want to be back in the GP. But when I am battling for the LCQs in every GP, it’s not really enjoyable for me, so I need to take a step back.
“If I had the opportunity to have any wild cards, I would take them with both hands. I am not retiring, and I just want people to be aware that I have had a really great time in the GPs. I have given it 100 per cent.”
Doyle’s rise to the top of world speedway is one of the sport’s great stories. He made his SGP debut at 29 in 2015, went on to win seven rounds and cemented his place in the sport’s history with the 2017 world title.
Despite racing with a broken foot, Doyle claimed the 2017 SGP crown with an unforgettable victory in Melbourne. His career honours also include the 2022 and 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations titles with Australia, and the 2026 FIM Speedway World Cup. His victory in Warsaw on August 29 made him the sport’s first and only modern-day grand slam world champion.
Injuries have also dealt Doyle difficult setbacks. In 2016, he crashed out of the penultimate round in Torun while on course for gold, but resilience and determination have remained defining features of his career.
While stepping away from the full SGP schedule, Doyle is planning another busy league season in 2027 and may explore the Speedway European Championship (SEC), where the European champion earns a place in the following season’s Speedway GP.
“I think I might try the SEC next year. I have a British passport, so I might do the British Final and see how we go. It’s possible – I can still do that,” he said.
“I would love to ride the SEC and give that a go.”
For now, Doyle’s focus is on finishing his 12th straight SGP season in style at Saturday’s round in Torun.
“I want to go out with a bang in Torun, make the final, get on to the rostrum and show that I am still capable of winning GPs,” he said.
Australian speedway fans will be watching closely as Doyle takes on his final round of the season, with his place among the sport’s greats already secure.
