Speedway Grand Prix

BROAD SHOULDERS

Danish international Niels Kristian Iversen is confident his side can carry the weight of expectation on their shoulders in the Speedway World Cup Race-Off at Vojens tonight.

The home nation battle Australia, Sweden and Russia for the remaining two places in the SWC Final on Saturday night. Poland and Team Great Britain have already sealed their spots by winning Events One and Two respectively earlier this week.

Despite lifting the trophy at Vojens in 2008, the Danes did not even appear in last year’s Final, after struggling with injuries and poor form throughout the competition.

Iversen knows failure is not an option in front of a partisan Danish crowd this evening, but he is confident a team also featuring Kenneth Bjerre, Hans Andersen, Bjarne Pedersen and Nicolai Klindt has the experience needed to carry them through.

The former SGP star told the Peterborough Evening Telegraph: “The Race-Off is always a very difficult meeting because there is so much at stake and this year is no different.

“Four teams are fighting over two places and no-one gives an inch because they all want to be in the World Cup Final.

“You always have pressure when you are riding in a competition as big as the World Cup. The fact we are the home team with the majority of the support will mean there is a bit more pressure than normal on the shoulders of our team.

“But we are all experienced riders and are used to being involved in important meetings. Seeing and hearing a lot of support just fires you up more and makes you more determined to do well.

“We had a get-together on Tuesday night and practised yesterday. We know the job we have to do and we are focused on doing it to reach the final. Going out in the race-off was a horrible feeling last year. We don’t want that to happen again, especially in Denmark.”

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