Max Completes the Team

NEWS Friday 23rd February 2018, 8:45pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The final rider in the 2018 Edinburgh Monarchs lineup will be the 20 year old American Max Ruml who will be making his debut in British Speedway.

Max has ridden in the USA World Cup squad and was runner-up in the 2017 USA National Championship behind Billy Janniro. He is the elder of two racing brothers and is in no doubt that now is the right time for him to come to this country. His addition to the team is subject to BSPA approval.

Max said “I’m super-excited and super-stoked that this is happening. It’s a big achievement for me, it’s been a goal since I was a little kid. I can’t wait to get over there and go riding.

“A lot of us younger kids in the States have really progressed on the bikes and since we first got on the 500’s, we weren’t eligible till we were 16 and then we could go racing with the Big Dogs!

“I believe a lot of us here are kind of at a standstill so now it’s about changing the environment and getting the experience to get to the next level.

“This year I was really focussed on the USA Championships in which I finished second, but I won’t be returning for the series this summer. In my first year on the big bikes I got fourth and I’ve never got anything less, and for the last three years I’ve been second behind Billy Janniro, who is an absolute animal on the bike and very hard to beat, especially on the smaller tracks. I believe I’m ready to take that next step.”

American tracks are a variety of big and small circuits so we asked Max how he thinks he performs on the bigger circuits.

“Last year we had two bigger tracks, one was Ventura which is pretty much a quarter mile sprintcar track. I scored very well there. Myself, Billy and Luke Becker were the only ones to beat each other there and I believe I can handle the bigger tracks. Santa Maria, where Luke Becker injured his foot, is bigger also. I scored well there and on all the big tracks in recent years I don’t think I have missed a final. I’m better with the higher speeds that the younger kids.

“Last year at Ventura if I remember correctly, I missed the start and in a single lap between coming out of turn two and going in to turn three, I passed both Broc Nicol and Austin Novratil on the same straightaway. I’ve had a little bit more experience on the bigger tracks including riding in the World Cup.”

“I’ve been talking to Ricky Wells a bit, really picking his brain to see what to expect over there. It’s a different story over here, we all race on one night and then go back to our 9-5 jobs. It’s a different life over there, you are more into it, you don’t focus on other things other than going fast. It’ll be a little bit of a game-change but like I said I believe I’m ready.

“I think highly of Ricky, I’ve looked up to him since I was a little kid and it makes it a bit easier to adjust to have a friend on the team who will understand what it is like for me. He came over to UK at a very young age I believe. I’m super-excited to be able to race alongside him.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met any of the other riders on the team but I’m looking forward to talking with them. If they welcome me as much as everyone else has I will be happy.”

Max has his plans well advanced for machinery and for getting over to the UK in good time.

“I’ve got two complete rollers over there and I’ve got some motors that are coming over as well. Bikes shouldn’t be a problem I should have some really nice equipment.

“I am hoping to race in an event called the Gumball Rally before I leave. It’s a race for the kids and all the pro’s like to go to that event, we race the adult event and then come back and support the kids the next night. I won the adult event last year, and I also won it as a kid which I think is a bigger achievement than winning as an adult! The only other person to do that to win it as a kid, then graduate to win it as an adult is Greg Hancock.

“That event is on 9th and 10th March so I am looking at getting a flight just after that and being across a week or so before Press and Practice. I want to be ready, I don’t want to be putting a motor in at Press and Practice.”