SO CLOSE

NEWS Sunday 11th May 2014, 8:58pm

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Whilst the Scotwaste Monarchs were breaking records at Plymouth Max Fricke was starting his assault on the World Under 21 Championship at Leicester.

The already tough qualifying procedure was made all the tougher as, unlike the other two semi finals which had five qualifiers, only fourth qualifiers went to the final from this meeting. That immediately signalled that a double figure score would be required to have any chance of qualification.

Max started quite well finishing second in his first race to track expert Lass Bjerre. A good win in his second race was followed by a third place in his third race. As it turned out this result proved crucial in the final outcome. He had made a good start but was pushed into third place by eventual maximum man and winner Mikkel Bech and Stefan Nielsen. Although Max battled hard to get into second place Nielsen just held on.

Another third place in his next one behind Gino Manzares and Jacon Thorssell left him requiring a race win to secure a place in the run off for the last qualifying place. That he duly did but finished third behind Manzares and Victor Palovaara to be eliminated.

Max was philosophical after the event saying, "I'm very disappointed but I've got next year, the year after that and the year after that."

Max had flown into Leicester from Denmark where he was due to race on Friday evening. After heavy rain on Thursday it had been dry on Friday until a couple of hours before the meeting when the stadium was hit by a heavy shower. Where have we heard that story before? Despite extensive work it proved impossible to bring the track back to racing condition.

Max expects to be called up a few times to ride in Denmark this year. He explained, "They grade the riders in Denmark and pick their teams on that basis. I'm a grade C rider and I'm told I'm one of the better ones in that grade. I hope I can prove to those that are telling me that, that they are correct."