Post by speedway_history on Jan 23, 2009 20:27:31 GMT 1
1..First off, how's the recovery going?
Pretty good. I’m 80% of the way through the recovery process. I am seeing a physio and he is giving me some exercises to do to get some flexibility into my back so that in a few more weeks I will be able to start some light gym work. I am pushing it as hard as I can so I can reach the highest level of fitness before next season starts.
2..By all accounts, it was a very nasty looking crash. Do you remember what happened, and what went through your mind at the time?
Yes, I remember the whole thing. I passed Kenneth Bjerre down the back straight quite quickly and he went for the inside and I ended up mid-track, I then decided to head for the outside which is not a good idea to do mid-corner. You need to set up for the corner on the entry. I hit the deep berm of dirt and it pulled me to the fence just after where the air fence finished. It was my fault, just a mistake that proved costly.
3..It’s well known that your friends and family keep an eye on the live updates, and were aware of the accident soon after it happened. I know the updates team ask that no announcements about injuries are posted until it’s confirmed, so it must have been an anxious wait for them to find out if you were okay. How do the family cope with that side of things?
My wife, Karen, was online the night my crash happened and normally the updates team private message her and my mum before anything is announced. But on that night they put it on the website before telling them which is not the normal thing. It is extremely worrying for them as people try to put their thoughts and comments on before anything is really known, which sometimes helps and sometimes doesn't. My family just wants to know exactly what has happened and as quickly as possible, they just hate the waiting around for information.
4..Team spirit around the Lakeside pits always seems to be high. What do you think are the main reasons for that, and what is it that makes the team work so well together?
Team spirit can be attributed to the fact that we had a good team and from that you get good results which makes the spirit reasonably good.
5..All three of your teams (Lakeside, Leszno and Rospiggarna) made the play-offs in their respective countries. Was it frustrating for you having to watch from the sidelines, and do you think you could have made a difference to the outcome for any of the teams had you been fit enough to ride?
Obviously it was frustrating but whether I could have made a difference to any of the sides, no-one will ever know what would have happened had I been fit. What happened, happened and I am trying to think about what I can do in the future, not what could have happened in the past.
6..Mikael Messing has said he will come over to England to have talks with you, with a view to retaining you next year. Are you happy with Rospiggarna, and can you see yourself back there in 2009?
I enjoyed my season with Rospiggarna and they are a very good club and seem to be one of the more sensible ones in Sweden as far as money goes. I haven't ruled out the possibility of going back there next year and I am sure if I go back, we could have another good season.
7..What do you think of Swedish proposals to have a closed league? Does the fight against relegation spur you on, or will it not make a difference?
I don't agree with teams being relegated especially if they are a club that is strong enough financially to remain in the top division.
8..Mikael is also quoted in the papers as saying he's looking into helping you out with "mechanical back-up" in the pits. Is that in terms of pit crew or machinery? And do you really need it? Your scores seem to suggest otherwise.
Pit crew was a major problem this year whilst at Rospiggarna. I had 3 different mechanics but never at the same time. The guys who helped did a great job but it was very difficult using 3 different people because it was hard to get a routine. I really just needed one person who could have helped me at the meetings and in the workshop.
9..Last year in Poland you rode for Leszno, who were just pipped to the Ekstraliga title by Torun. Despite that achievement, media reports are that you’ve signed this year for Wroclaw?
I was speaking with Wroclaw but that is all it was. I have re-done my contract for another season with Leszno.
10..Will you be entering the Australian Championships this time around?
No, I will concentrate on getting fit and practising but I will not do any racing.
11..The AGM is almost upon us once again. If you were in charge, what points limit would you bring in, and what other changes to the league/rules would you implement?
I don't know. Speedway is going through a tough time in England at the moment which I put down to grand prix racing which distracts the top riders from British league racing, which is the most time consuming league. I have thought for a few years that there needs to be set up that all of the top riders can do British speedway but they only do half of the meeting (i.e "a" fixtures) and that team can be built up to 45 points. Then the "b" fixtures teams will be built to a 38 or something point limit. That way the top riders can still be involved in British league but wouldn't have to commit to so much time, but what do I know.
12..You’ve improved your average this season and put in some good performances for your teams along the way. Injuries aside, can you sum up how you think the season has gone for you?
It had been going quite well. The best thing for me this year was that i started to do the polish league. I didn't really see myself getting involved with that until the Leszno club contacted me and got me involved.
13..Will you be working on anything over the winter, or are you just going to enjoy spending time with the family?
Building bikes and getting into shape after an injury is going to be a full time job. If I am fit with competitive bikes by the start of 2009, i will have had a good winter. I am going to Australia at the end of January to see my family back home, and will stay there for just under a month. Karen will be staying at home here so I will have a cold Christmas before I leave.
14..And finally, will we be seeing you riding in Britain next year?
I would be very disappointed if I am not. It's not the main league for many of the riders now, but it is for me.
Pretty good. I’m 80% of the way through the recovery process. I am seeing a physio and he is giving me some exercises to do to get some flexibility into my back so that in a few more weeks I will be able to start some light gym work. I am pushing it as hard as I can so I can reach the highest level of fitness before next season starts.
2..By all accounts, it was a very nasty looking crash. Do you remember what happened, and what went through your mind at the time?
Yes, I remember the whole thing. I passed Kenneth Bjerre down the back straight quite quickly and he went for the inside and I ended up mid-track, I then decided to head for the outside which is not a good idea to do mid-corner. You need to set up for the corner on the entry. I hit the deep berm of dirt and it pulled me to the fence just after where the air fence finished. It was my fault, just a mistake that proved costly.
3..It’s well known that your friends and family keep an eye on the live updates, and were aware of the accident soon after it happened. I know the updates team ask that no announcements about injuries are posted until it’s confirmed, so it must have been an anxious wait for them to find out if you were okay. How do the family cope with that side of things?
My wife, Karen, was online the night my crash happened and normally the updates team private message her and my mum before anything is announced. But on that night they put it on the website before telling them which is not the normal thing. It is extremely worrying for them as people try to put their thoughts and comments on before anything is really known, which sometimes helps and sometimes doesn't. My family just wants to know exactly what has happened and as quickly as possible, they just hate the waiting around for information.
4..Team spirit around the Lakeside pits always seems to be high. What do you think are the main reasons for that, and what is it that makes the team work so well together?
Team spirit can be attributed to the fact that we had a good team and from that you get good results which makes the spirit reasonably good.
5..All three of your teams (Lakeside, Leszno and Rospiggarna) made the play-offs in their respective countries. Was it frustrating for you having to watch from the sidelines, and do you think you could have made a difference to the outcome for any of the teams had you been fit enough to ride?
Obviously it was frustrating but whether I could have made a difference to any of the sides, no-one will ever know what would have happened had I been fit. What happened, happened and I am trying to think about what I can do in the future, not what could have happened in the past.
6..Mikael Messing has said he will come over to England to have talks with you, with a view to retaining you next year. Are you happy with Rospiggarna, and can you see yourself back there in 2009?
I enjoyed my season with Rospiggarna and they are a very good club and seem to be one of the more sensible ones in Sweden as far as money goes. I haven't ruled out the possibility of going back there next year and I am sure if I go back, we could have another good season.
7..What do you think of Swedish proposals to have a closed league? Does the fight against relegation spur you on, or will it not make a difference?
I don't agree with teams being relegated especially if they are a club that is strong enough financially to remain in the top division.
8..Mikael is also quoted in the papers as saying he's looking into helping you out with "mechanical back-up" in the pits. Is that in terms of pit crew or machinery? And do you really need it? Your scores seem to suggest otherwise.
Pit crew was a major problem this year whilst at Rospiggarna. I had 3 different mechanics but never at the same time. The guys who helped did a great job but it was very difficult using 3 different people because it was hard to get a routine. I really just needed one person who could have helped me at the meetings and in the workshop.
9..Last year in Poland you rode for Leszno, who were just pipped to the Ekstraliga title by Torun. Despite that achievement, media reports are that you’ve signed this year for Wroclaw?
I was speaking with Wroclaw but that is all it was. I have re-done my contract for another season with Leszno.
10..Will you be entering the Australian Championships this time around?
No, I will concentrate on getting fit and practising but I will not do any racing.
11..The AGM is almost upon us once again. If you were in charge, what points limit would you bring in, and what other changes to the league/rules would you implement?
I don't know. Speedway is going through a tough time in England at the moment which I put down to grand prix racing which distracts the top riders from British league racing, which is the most time consuming league. I have thought for a few years that there needs to be set up that all of the top riders can do British speedway but they only do half of the meeting (i.e "a" fixtures) and that team can be built up to 45 points. Then the "b" fixtures teams will be built to a 38 or something point limit. That way the top riders can still be involved in British league but wouldn't have to commit to so much time, but what do I know.
12..You’ve improved your average this season and put in some good performances for your teams along the way. Injuries aside, can you sum up how you think the season has gone for you?
It had been going quite well. The best thing for me this year was that i started to do the polish league. I didn't really see myself getting involved with that until the Leszno club contacted me and got me involved.
13..Will you be working on anything over the winter, or are you just going to enjoy spending time with the family?
Building bikes and getting into shape after an injury is going to be a full time job. If I am fit with competitive bikes by the start of 2009, i will have had a good winter. I am going to Australia at the end of January to see my family back home, and will stay there for just under a month. Karen will be staying at home here so I will have a cold Christmas before I leave.
14..And finally, will we be seeing you riding in Britain next year?
I would be very disappointed if I am not. It's not the main league for many of the riders now, but it is for me.