MANSFIELD'S international speedway rider, Max Fricke has successfully defended his 2019 and 2020 Australian Titles at Adelaide on the weekend making it three in a row.

Following the cancellation of the 2021 and 2022 Australian Championship series (usually contested over 4–5 rounds in January) due to COVID, Motorcycling Australia made the decision to hold a one–off event to determine the 2022 Champion before the staging of the 2023 series in January.

Fricke said he was really happy to have won the title for the third time, back–to–back.

"I've had a good year but my season ended early due to injury so this was my first time back on the bike since September," he said.

"Doing well in this event and making it three in a row was pretty important to me and was good gauge of my form ahead of the 2023 Aussie Title Series in January.

"All the top international riders will be home for that event and the competition will be extremely tough," said Fricke.

"Not only will I want to defend my title again but all riders will be fighting for a top five finish to secure entry into the 2024 Grand Prix qualifier events to be held in Europe later in the year."

26 year old Fricke has had a successful year internationally competing in the FIM Speedway Grand Prix series where he finished in 13th position.

He has secured a spot in the 2023 GP lineup making it his 4th year contesting the Senior Solo Speedway World Title and will aim to improve on this year's result.

Together with Australian team mates, Jason Doyle and Jack Holder, Max this year won Gold for Australian in the FIM Speedway of Nations (first time in 20 years) adding another World Title to his U21 World Champion Title from 2016.