WARD SET FOR PROMOTING DEBUT IN BRISBANE

Aussie icon Darcy Ward is determined to “put something back into the sport” as he takes his first steps into speedway promoting this Saturday.

The double World Under-21 champion is staging the North Brisbane Solo Masters at the Queensland circuit, with racing getting underway from 12pm local time (2am UK and 03:00 CET).

The action will also be streamed live around the world. Ward and former Poole team mate Dave Watt will provide live commentary and fans in Europe can tune in or watch a full replay throughout the following days for $17 AUD. Click here to watch: http://bit.ly/2NizIeY.

Ward has attracted the likes of triple world champion Jason Crump, Rohan Tungate, Nick Morris, Ryan Douglas and Justin Sedgmen to North Brisbane for the 24, rider, 24-heat event.

While the former Danish SGP winner has previously staged the Darcy Ward Invitational at North Brisbane, this will be his first meeting since he became the speedway promoter at his local club.

Ward is delighted to have found a new role since being forced to retire from the sport in 2015 and he’s excited to start out on his new journey on Saturday.

He said: “It gives me a job, but I also have a lot of good ideas to help juniors and I want to put something back into the sport. I want to keep my legacy going in a positive way.

“Since I was first injured and trying to figure out my new life, it has taken me time to find my new inner self. It’s not a change in who I am. I am still the same person. But maybe it’s a change in what I was. I’m not a speedway rider and superstar anymore, but I still love the sport. It took me many years to get back involved and do something.

“I used to go to Brisbane when I was first injured. I just sat up on the hill and watched and never really had the inspiration to go to the pits and do much. But then something clicked for me. I think it was when Ryan Douglas stayed here. He and Nick Morris came home and because they were in the pits, it encouraged me to go down there and hang out a bit more.

“I guess it encouraged me to help the kids and do a bit more, and then the opportunity arose for me to take over the speedway side of things at North Brisbane. It was the right move for the club I feel.

“Obviously it’s something I am pretty passionate about and I think I can do a good job of building speedway up here, supporting the kids and trying to get people to travel and ride their bikes so they can make it to Europe. I also want to put on big shows with the top riders.”

Ward can’t wait for Saturday’s action. He said: “The North Brisbane Masters is my first event as promoter there, so it’s very exciting for me and hopefully for the fans here too.

“We have something a little bit different. We have a 24-rider format with 24 heats and eight finals. One rider advances from each final. Watty made that up. He calls it the Watt-a-24 format, so he’s claiming the rights to it.

“Pretty much everybody is here. We have Crumpy, Rohan and Dougie – he’s in good form at the moment. Jake Allen, who won the Darcy Ward Invitational in November, is here. We have Nick Morris too. Then we have some of the riders who ride in Britain and some local riders too.”

After organising the meeting, Ward is looking forward to enjoying the racing from trackside alongside Watt as they deliver their own unique style of speedway commentary online.

“That will be pretty fun,” Ward said. “We’ll be sitting up on the hill, commentating and hopefully we can break down the way the guys are riding the track and give the fans a bit of detail.

“Phil Crump is going to come up and have a word and we’ll get the riders up to do a couple of interviews afterwards too.

“I am pretty excited to have the live stream and show everyone around the world what’s going on for me here in Brisbane. It’s going to be a bit of fun and you’ll see some good racing.”

Tune in live or watch replays of the North Brisbane Solo Masters here: http://bit.ly/2NizIeY.