TIME TO TAKE CHARGE?

TIME TO TAKE CHARGE?

Saturday 23rd June 2012, 15:00

World champion Greg Hancock admitted “I want to make a point to myself” as he bids for a return to winning ways in the FIM Gorzow SGP of Poland tonight.

The Californian goes into the meeting leading the World Championship on 75 points, with Jason Crump breathing down his neck on 73.

A victory for one of the two SGP legends would give them a serious edge going into the second half of the season.

Hancock admits he is still striving to get back to the heights he reached at the season-opening FIM Buckley Systems New Zealand SGP, which he won in style on 22 points.

The 42-year-old feels he is getting there and says he won’t let up as his rivals try to hunt him down.

"We had good stuff last year, but when you sit on that and rely on it, it’s pretty amazing how quickly everybody catches up to you."

- Greg Hancock

He said: “There is still a long way to go. There is a lot that needs to be done and consistency is the name of the game. I haven’t felt I’ve hit prime form, but Copenhagen was much better.

“We’re on a good track and I really want to make it happen this time. I want to make a point to myself more than anything.”

Hancock says he is still working hard to find more speed. “You can’t get complacent in any sport,” he said. “We’re trying new things all the time and we tried new stuff in practice yesterday too.

“We wanted to pick up where we left off. We had good stuff last year, but when you sit on that and rely on it, it’s pretty amazing how quickly everybody catches up to you.

“The results are much more all over the place this year. Everybody is quick and has good equipment now and the stuff I’m using isn’t the same as last year. Everyone is using similar or even better.”

Hancock is used to getting a warm reception wherever he goes, but he wasn’t always loved at the Edward Jancarz Stadium after spending two seasons with Gorzow’s biggest rivals Zielona Gora in 2010 and 2011.

The Tarnow and Piraterna isn’t expecting a negative reaction when he returns to the venue tonight.

He said: “When it comes to a Grand Prix, it’s level-pegging for everybody and you get some good support.  They’ve never really been bad to me here, except maybe in the Zielona Gora meetings, but that was always different with the rivalry.

“The Poles are always good and the people are passionate about the sport and support their home riders as well as their locals or the international riders who race for their team.

“They’re going to make noise here and the stadium is just the right capacity for it to be packed.

“The people will have a good time and I tell all my friends and family that if they’re going to go to a Grand Prix, they should go to Poland or Cardiff.”

Speedway Grand Prix Speedway Grand Prix