Wednesday 6th June 2012, 15:40

Danish racer Kenneth Bjerre is determined to maintain his proud record of never needing a wild card to keep his World Championship spot, as he prepares for the FIM Dansk Metal Danish SGP on Saturday night.

The Peterborough star earned his way into the competition by winning the 2008 Grand Prix Challenge at Zielona Gora.

He has been a regular fixture ever since making his full-time debut in 2009. Bjerre finished eighth in that maiden season and has been seventh in the standings for the last two years.

By finishing in the top eight, the Esbjerg-born man has never needed to rely on a wild card from series organisers BSI Speedway and the FIM to keep his place at the sport’s top table.

But with Bjerre a lowly 12^th in the standings on 20 points, and 17 adrift of Freddie Lindgren in eighth, the Grindsted rider knows he has work to do this season.

Bjerre is desperate to stay among the speedway’s elite and he is disappointed to be playing catch-up.

He said: “Everything is possible and there are still eight Grand Prix rounds left.

“There are plenty of points to grab and it’s all about getting into the finals. I just need to score the points and hopefully it will be enough to make the top eight.

“I’m really disappointed with where I am at the minute. I’m not really used to this. I want to qualify on my own and I want to be world champion.

“I don’t just want to be in the Grand Prix to be around the top eight. I want to win the series. I’m not happy with where I am at the minute, but that’s the way it is. The Grand Prix is tough.”

Bjerre knows reaching the Copenhagen medal race would put him right back in the running for the top-eight. He has tasted success on home shale in the SGP series, having claimed the silver medal at Vojens in 2010 and bronze in 2009.

But the 28-year-old would love to taste the champagne in Denmark’s national stadium.

He said: “I’m up for it, it’s in Denmark and I want to get a final in Copenhagen. I’ve never done that, so I’ll be working on it. I like the track at PARKEN, but I’ve never got it together there and reached the final.

"There are some good fans in Denmark and I’ve got good sponsors there. It’s nice to be racing there and I just want to have a good meeting and get the points in.”

Bjerre has been in much-improved form this week. He bagged a 15-point maximum in Czestochowa on Sunday and scored eight paid nine for Indianerna against a power-packed Dackarna side on Tuesday.

After months plagued by inconsistent scoring and bike problems, Bjerre believes the tide is turning for him.

He said: “I think things are getting better and working better. It’s definitely good before the Grand Prix.

“I had a good meeting in Poland. I’ve been having good races; I just haven’t been scoring the points I should. Things are going my way at the minute, so hopefully this will be the turning point.

“There have been a few changes with the bikes. I feel quite confident in them now and they’re working the way I want them to work. We’re going forward.”

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