Post by speedway_history on Dec 8, 2008 8:47:36 GMT 1
1..You've had what must have been your best season ever, yet you didn't enter the GP qualifiers. Do you think you'll have a go next year, and if not why?
I didn't enter the GPQ because in order for me to do them i must first qualify through the Australian Championships. Last year i decided to have a break from racing in the winter in Australia so i didn't compete in the championships and therefore didn't qualify. This year i have decided to brave the English winter (Not sure if that was such a great idea !!) so i wont be doing them again. Maybe next year i will ride in Australia.
2..What do you attribute to being the reason for last year's excellent results?
I was happy at all 3 clubs and had some great mechanics and people arond me so i was finally able to just concentrate on my racing instead of all the other things to do.
3..You had a couple of nasty crashes last season, and one late on in Poland. How are you feeling now?
Alot better than i felt when it happened ! I have been getting work done on my back and neck every week since then which was about 2 months ago. I feel pretty good now but still wake up sore and by the end of the day i'm starting to ache. All in all, i have come along way so i'm happy with the progress. I have started riding motocross for fitness and a bit of fun and it hurts but well worth it !
4..You chose to seek pastures new with Eastbourne after a fairly successful season at Oxford in 2006, despite alledgedly being offered a place with the Cheetahs in 2007. With the benefit of hindsight this proved to be a good decision, but can you enlighten us why you made that decision at the time?
I got an offer i couldn't refuse ! Even though you may think it was successful for me at Oxford, I felt that my season was too inconsistent and i wasn't progressing as much as i was struggling to remain the same as the season before. I was super fast in one race and last in the next and i didn't know why. I was looking for a vast improvement after that season and didn't feel as though it was going to happen for me at Oxford. I enjoyed myself at Eastbourne in 05 and although i had a few offers, i saw an oppertunity at Eastbourne that interested me alot.
5..You've just re-signed for Rzeszow, but it's looking unlikely that Nicki Pedersen will partner you here, and he's signed for Czestochowa in Poland. Was he a help, and do you think not riding with him next year will make a difference to you?
Nicki and i are very good friends and talk alot. He was without question one of my biggest influences this year but he has got me onto the right path so hopefully i can keep it going without him beside me in the pits.
6..News from the BSPA conference has seen a reduction in the points limit. Do you think this will force out the GP riders, and do you think that's a good or bad thing?
I believe it is not a good thing as the fans want to see the best riders compete. It is called the ELITE league after all ! I certainly hope that there is a way we can keep them all here. I do also believe that the product of speedway is great and hope that the promotors achieve whatever it is that they are trying to achieve by doing this and we can make the british league better as time goes on. Lets hope that fans of speedway continue to support their teams no matter who is in their team and not just support one rider.
7..And following on from that, it's looking like you could be riding at number one next year. Do you think that adds to the pressure, or do you take it all in your stride?
Riding at number 1 does add a bit of pressure but that isn't a real problem. I did it half of the year this year when my mate Nicki was away winning the world championship !
8..And will that be at Eastbourne?!
I can't say where i'll be next year ! YET !!
9..What's your view on having regular race nights in Britain? It seems that the GP riders are all for it, but those who rely on riding here would like to see more meetings. Which side are you on?
I can see the advantages of a regular race night. I might get to spend more than 1 night in a row at home ! I also see that not all riders are riding in 3 different countries and need to ride a bit more. I don't know a good answer to that one ! Maybe the riders that are only riding in the U.K could double up in a league that is run on GP nights. I don't know. I'm just a rider, not a promotor !!
10..What are your views on long term contracts versus the asset system?
I don't get the asset system.For example, If you are offered a deal by the club that owns your contract and it is not a good offer or you have some reason for wanting to ride elsewere but they dont want to loan you, it may make it difficult for the club that you do want to be at if they have to buy your contract. Also, it looks like you are turning your back on the fans if you ask for a transfer and that is not the case at all. I would much prefer to see that whole idea scrapped. I don't see what it achieves.
11..In terms of finances, how much support do you think should come from team, and how much should riders need to look for their own sponsors?
I would love it if it were like Moto GP or motocross where the team covers everything and just pay a wage with bonuses for wins . Then riders just look for personal sponsors but the fact is, there is not enough money in our sport to do this and the system we have works fine. I'm sure the promotors would be happier if riders all had bigger sponsors and we relied on sponsorship more than point money but it is hard enough to get the support we do. It's a tough situation for all involved.
12..If you could make any one change to the rules in Britain, what would that be and why?
I would love it if they decided not to have an AGM for another 2 or 3 years and teams were able to maintain most of their riders and kept the same rules going so we had some consistancy year after year !
Merry Christmas and happy new year to all
Support your local speedway !
I didn't enter the GPQ because in order for me to do them i must first qualify through the Australian Championships. Last year i decided to have a break from racing in the winter in Australia so i didn't compete in the championships and therefore didn't qualify. This year i have decided to brave the English winter (Not sure if that was such a great idea !!) so i wont be doing them again. Maybe next year i will ride in Australia.
2..What do you attribute to being the reason for last year's excellent results?
I was happy at all 3 clubs and had some great mechanics and people arond me so i was finally able to just concentrate on my racing instead of all the other things to do.
3..You had a couple of nasty crashes last season, and one late on in Poland. How are you feeling now?
Alot better than i felt when it happened ! I have been getting work done on my back and neck every week since then which was about 2 months ago. I feel pretty good now but still wake up sore and by the end of the day i'm starting to ache. All in all, i have come along way so i'm happy with the progress. I have started riding motocross for fitness and a bit of fun and it hurts but well worth it !
4..You chose to seek pastures new with Eastbourne after a fairly successful season at Oxford in 2006, despite alledgedly being offered a place with the Cheetahs in 2007. With the benefit of hindsight this proved to be a good decision, but can you enlighten us why you made that decision at the time?
I got an offer i couldn't refuse ! Even though you may think it was successful for me at Oxford, I felt that my season was too inconsistent and i wasn't progressing as much as i was struggling to remain the same as the season before. I was super fast in one race and last in the next and i didn't know why. I was looking for a vast improvement after that season and didn't feel as though it was going to happen for me at Oxford. I enjoyed myself at Eastbourne in 05 and although i had a few offers, i saw an oppertunity at Eastbourne that interested me alot.
5..You've just re-signed for Rzeszow, but it's looking unlikely that Nicki Pedersen will partner you here, and he's signed for Czestochowa in Poland. Was he a help, and do you think not riding with him next year will make a difference to you?
Nicki and i are very good friends and talk alot. He was without question one of my biggest influences this year but he has got me onto the right path so hopefully i can keep it going without him beside me in the pits.
6..News from the BSPA conference has seen a reduction in the points limit. Do you think this will force out the GP riders, and do you think that's a good or bad thing?
I believe it is not a good thing as the fans want to see the best riders compete. It is called the ELITE league after all ! I certainly hope that there is a way we can keep them all here. I do also believe that the product of speedway is great and hope that the promotors achieve whatever it is that they are trying to achieve by doing this and we can make the british league better as time goes on. Lets hope that fans of speedway continue to support their teams no matter who is in their team and not just support one rider.
7..And following on from that, it's looking like you could be riding at number one next year. Do you think that adds to the pressure, or do you take it all in your stride?
Riding at number 1 does add a bit of pressure but that isn't a real problem. I did it half of the year this year when my mate Nicki was away winning the world championship !
8..And will that be at Eastbourne?!
I can't say where i'll be next year ! YET !!
9..What's your view on having regular race nights in Britain? It seems that the GP riders are all for it, but those who rely on riding here would like to see more meetings. Which side are you on?
I can see the advantages of a regular race night. I might get to spend more than 1 night in a row at home ! I also see that not all riders are riding in 3 different countries and need to ride a bit more. I don't know a good answer to that one ! Maybe the riders that are only riding in the U.K could double up in a league that is run on GP nights. I don't know. I'm just a rider, not a promotor !!
10..What are your views on long term contracts versus the asset system?
I don't get the asset system.For example, If you are offered a deal by the club that owns your contract and it is not a good offer or you have some reason for wanting to ride elsewere but they dont want to loan you, it may make it difficult for the club that you do want to be at if they have to buy your contract. Also, it looks like you are turning your back on the fans if you ask for a transfer and that is not the case at all. I would much prefer to see that whole idea scrapped. I don't see what it achieves.
11..In terms of finances, how much support do you think should come from team, and how much should riders need to look for their own sponsors?
I would love it if it were like Moto GP or motocross where the team covers everything and just pay a wage with bonuses for wins . Then riders just look for personal sponsors but the fact is, there is not enough money in our sport to do this and the system we have works fine. I'm sure the promotors would be happier if riders all had bigger sponsors and we relied on sponsorship more than point money but it is hard enough to get the support we do. It's a tough situation for all involved.
12..If you could make any one change to the rules in Britain, what would that be and why?
I would love it if they decided not to have an AGM for another 2 or 3 years and teams were able to maintain most of their riders and kept the same rules going so we had some consistancy year after year !
Merry Christmas and happy new year to all
Support your local speedway !