Lasse Fredriksen back with Monarchs

NEWS Saturday 17th December 2022, 7:00am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Norwegian Lasse Fredriksen finally made it to Armadale to ride for Edinburgh in 2022, having been prevented in previous seasons by bad luck. So having bedded himself in with a full year in the no. 2 position, Lasse will be returning to build on that in 2023.

The 25 year old is looking forward to returning. "I'm really pleased," he said, "it was my dream and my first choice for what I should do next summer.

"Last year I sometimes achieved what I wanted, and sometimes not, and overall I would like to have done a little better. I was struggling to find consistency, so that is what I am looking for in 2023.

"I have decided to pull out of international competitions for the time being and focus more on league racing with Monarchs and also Valsarna my Swedish team. I found it hard last year when maybe I had matches over the weekend and had to travel overseas in between, and I finished up not doing well in any of them. This year I won't do that though I hope to return to international meetings in the future."

(During 2022 Lasse rode in the Speedway of Nations, the Grand Prix qualifier and also in SEC events).

Lasse wasn't helped by suffering some unlucky crashes, notably one against Birmingham when he was wiped out on the third turn, allegedly because the following rider was affected by the low sun.

"Missing matches was disappointing, especially because I wanted to ride all the tracks during the season. I missed Plymouth, Poole and Birmingham in the middle of the season."

He was also on the wrong end of some first bend incidents. "The first corner is quite narrow," he admitted, "but I did enjoy Armadale, it was a fun track to ride. Again I would like to have been more consistent and I thought I would come to terms with it more quickly, but I am sure I can do better next season."

Riding with Sam Masters meant that he was probably going to see a lot of the league no. 1's back wheel! But he said "I loved riding with Sam. I was able to learn from him and watch where he was riding. I never got to ride at reserve but anyway the main body of the team is where I want to be.

"The whole team was awesome, I really got to know them all and because we lived near each other, I was able to hang out with Kye, Jacob and Paco a lot."

Regarding his equipment for next year Lasse said "I will be using much the same machinery, but I have a man I really trust working on them in Scotland, David McAllan. He will go over the bike in the winter. In Sweden I have to do my own bikes at home!"

Lasse will be a dad by the time he returns to Armadale. "We are expecting a baby in late January or early February and we are really looking forward to that!" So 2023 will be a memorable year for Monarchs' young Norwegian on and off track.

2023 Monarchs: Josh Pickering, Kyle Bickley, Jacob Hook, Kye Thomson, Lasse Fredriksen.