Aussie racer Ryan Douglas insists his side can defy the absence of Speedway GP star Jack Holder as they go for gold in the BOLL FIM Speedway World Cup Final – Warsaw at PGE Narodowy on Saturday.

The Roos qualified for track racing’s biggest event of 2026 by winning the 2025 FIM Speedway of Nations world title in Torun last October.

Douglas is joined at PGE Narodowy by world No.2 Brady Kurtz, plus former FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Warsaw winners Jason Doyle and Max Fricke and 2027 Speedway GP qualifier Rohan Tungate.

Australia’s chances of winning their first SWC since 2002 have not been helped by the absence of 2025 FIM Warsaw Speedway GP winner Holder, who crashed out of the DEWALT FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw on June 20.

But Douglas sees no reason why his side can’t see off Poland, Denmark and Great Britain in the fight for gold. He said: “Jack is a big loss. He is great around there, and he’s one of the best riders in the world. But with the team we have, I think there is no reason why we can’t win. We had a test match a few weeks ago and beat Poland in that. It goes to show we are definitely on that level.

“It’s going to come down to what happens on the day. There are four good teams, so whoever can put it together on the day is going to be champions. I wouldn’t say we are going into it, looking at silver or bronze. We are definitely going for gold.

“I am super excited. There is going to be some cracking racing and fingers crossed I can mix it and do well for my country.”

Douglas makes his first appearance for Australia in an FIM Speedway World Championships event and can’t wait to appear on the biggest stage in the sport.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I can’t wait. It will be a good experience. As an Australian, it’s massive. I have always thought that I wanted to race in a World Cup. To be able to tick that off means the world, and I am just super excited.”

Douglas’ career has been on an upward trajectory since he left Britain’s Cab Direct Championship behind and joined Poznan in Poland’s Metalkas 2. Ekstraliga for the 2024 season. He is currently top of the league’s average charts on 2.407 points per race and hopes to build on his progress.

He said: “I got the opportunity with Poznan three years ago now. I started off with fourth place in the averages in 2024, which probably surprised a lot of people. Maybe people thought, ‘He won’t be able to do that again!’

“But I managed to back it up last year and get into third place. Then being top of the averages this year goes to show that I am still going in an upward direction and getting better.

“Now I have got to the top of that league, and I am starting to look at the next step. It’s super exciting. To be racing in the SWC this weekend with some of the best riders in the world is great. Hopefully I can go and show that I can mix it with those boys.

“It’s a great experience and I will just try and take it with both hands. I’ll give 100 percent. If it’s meant to be a good meeting or it’s meant to be a lesson, it is what it is.

“I know I have prepared well. I am riding well at the moment, so I am just going to give it my best. Whatever that brings me, it is what it is.”