MARK PLUMMER catches up with one of best riders in the business for his latest ‘Friday Feature’ . . .
It’s good to be NIELS KRISTIAN IVERSEN right now - the current World number three is the best rider in the best team in British speedway.
The Danish ace sits proudly at the top of the Elite League averages while his King’s Lynn Stars team have stormed clear at the summit of the standings following a record-breaking run of results.
Lynn have reeled off 14 successive victories, suffered only one defeat and taken points from all 17 Elite League fixtures ahead of a top-of-the-table showdown at second-placed Lakeside tonight (Friday).
The Stars team is a fine blend of international class (Iversen, fellow GP rider Kenneth Bjerre, their fellow Dane Nicklas Porsing and Aussie skipper Rory Schlein) and relatively local talent (Rob Lambert and the terrific Fast Track reserve duo of Lewis Kerr and Lewis Rose are all virtually on the doorstep).
It all adds up to a septet which has become nigh-on unstoppable at their Norfolk Arena home while also picking up points for fun on the road.
But you won’t catch Iversen getting excited. His focus on the long game . . .
“I’ve been asked a few times about what is the secret to our success,” said Iversen, an Elite League winner in the most memorable fashion with Peterborough back in 2006. “The simple answer is that there isn’t one.
“We just have a good team full of riders who have been going well and that’s all there is to it.
“We’ve managed to keep on winning despite having injuries and the odd off-night. When one rider is out or another struggles, the other guys just step up.
“Rory has been a really good captain and takes the job very seriously. He spends a lot of time talking to the other guys and making sure that the spirit in the team is good.
“Records are great and being top of the league is brilliant, but it is what happens at the end of the season that matters.
“The play-offs are still a long way away and we saw what happened to Birmingham last season. They were the top team in the standings, but then got steam-rollered in the Grand Final.
“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and make sure we are in the best possible form when September and October come around.
“The support we get has always been great. There isn’t a lot of top sport in King’s Lynn so it would mean a lot to the whole town if we could win the title.”
Iversen surely has one of the most settled routines of any speedway rider. He is in his fourth year at Lynn and Polish club Gorzow, and is racing at Indianerna in the Swedish Elitserien for a fifth successive season.
And that continuity is just the way he likes it as he plots his route around Europe from his British base. Iversen lives on the outskirts of Peterborough with partner Laura and their baby daughter Nicole.
“It is important to be at good clubs and I’m very lucky in that respect,” added Iversen. “When you are happy somewhere, there is no reason to change.
“I’ve been able to get into a good routine over the last few years and everything just fits into place.
“Living near Peterborough is perfect. It is great for travelling - Lynn is close and the airports are close.
“We will probably move back to Denmark when my racing career is over, but we’re very happy where we are now.”
It has not all been plain sailing for Iversen this season though.
He has suffered six engine failures – a situation which has cost him plenty of points and plenty of pounds.
“It’s been a nightmare to be honest,” continued Iversen. “Six broken engines is a lot and it is hard to get comfortable with machinery when that is happening.
“I had two of the engines blow in two races during a meeting in Poland. The first one went on the way back to the pits after my opening ride and the second packed up while leading my next race.
“My team-mate Matej Zagar lent me one of his bikes for my next ride, but I didn’t really get on with it so that was my meeting over. All the way to Poland for two points and two broken engines.
“Days like that are hard to take. It really drags you down because you know you’ve let your team and the supporters down.”
But days like that are also rare for a rider who has become one of the sport’s classiest acts in recent years.
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UPCOMING FIXTURES...
2020 BRITISH SPEEDWAY UPDATE
Friday July 10, 2020
THE board of directors at the British Speedway Promoters Ltd were encouraged by the significant easing of restrictions announced on Thursday.
Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, revealed how grassroots team sports can resume from this weekend. Sports will need to publish specific guidance approved by government officials.
Members of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have, in the last two weeks, been working on how our sport can work
safely for competitors, officials and spectators alike. We believe the biggest risk to riders is the natural danger element of racing motorbikes with no brakes.
Clubs have already been planning how social distance measures can be taken for spectators and again we must emphasise speedway venues rarely host capacity attendances.
Grassroots team sports inevitably include a small spectator element and we believe we are within touching distance of our sport being able to start a reduced season.
However, we acknowledge the clock is ticking and if we cannot begin league racing in August there is every chance the season will run out of time.
We thank all British Speedway supporters for their patience and understanding and wish to assure everyone we are doing everything within our power to start the season next month in a safe and enjoyable manner.
We will update more as soon as further information becomes available.
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEASON UPDATE Thursday May 21, 2020 BRITISH Speedway remains united in ‘cautious optimism’ about some league racing this season.
All three leagues have been keeping in touch to measure the impact of no racing so far this season and how it affects business going forward.
And the message is clear – all three leagues are refusing to give up on the 2020 season and are continuing to urge fans to 'do the right thing'.
Rob Godfrey, chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd, said: “Things are changing on a rapid basis and we are all encouraged to see it appears people are continuing to do the right thing to give us a chance of racing this year.
“The Premiership clubs had a catch up on Tuesday via video conference call, the Championship clubs are in regular dialogue and Jason Pipe, back as National Development League co-ordinator, is in touch with his clubs.
“There is little doubt in my own mind that some league racing will be possible this year. We can implement social distancing measures in stadia, both inside and outside the venue.
“We realise various club have different circumstances regarding their business, but I really do believe there will be some speedway this year.”
Damien Bates, vice chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd and promoter of Sheffield, said: "We had a very productive catch-up online with all Premiership clubs and it was good for us all to get together to discuss the situation.
"We are a long way from abandoning the season. We still believe there are possibilities, strong possibilities, that our sport can take place this season with the appropriate safety measures in place for everyone in a stadium.
"Naturally we are keeping a close eye on the travel situation because there are several riders who are in Poland right now and we need to see movement allowed without quarantine. It's a fluid situation.
"We are continuing to look at a full quota of fixtures, or perhaps half a season with 12 meetings per club in the Premiership plus play-offs. We are keeping our options open right now, all three leagues are, but in any situation we remain in the hands of the government.
"We believe we need to make another assessment when the government update us on the next phase of recovery from this crisis which will be early in July.
"In the meantime we urge all supporters of every club throughout the country to stay patient and be assured we are doing everything we can to bring some racing to them this year."
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SPEEDWAY PUT FORWARD FOR RESTART TALKS
Thursday April 30, 2020 BRITISH Speedway officials have put the sport forward for discussion at government level regarding how the season can start.
Weekly talks with various sports are set to take place and the government will assess each case individually in terms of how to restart when restrictions are reduced.
Rob Godfrey, chairman of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd, made contact with his local MP in Scunthorpe, Helen Mumby-Croft, over the weekend and all clubs have been asked to do the same.
Godfrey has now been told speedway will be considered by government officials taking into account the venues throughout the country and the size of crowds.
“My understanding was that discussions have already taken place with major sports and I felt it appropriate to put speedway up there,” said Godfrey. “I just wanted to get the sport on the table, that’s all, nothing more, nothing less.
“If ever there was a good time not to be a major sport, it is now. It’s one aspect we are working on, of course, with sponsorship, TV and increased digital output but we are where we are.
“We are presenting the facts. Many of us can work with social distancing in our stadia, restricted numbers in parts of a venue won’t be a problem and certainly the pits area can be tightened up in terms of numbers and space between personnel, but again this is very broadly speaking.
“Above and beyond this, we are an outside sport without any confined space.
“We remain absolutely determined and committed to staging a British Speedway season in some format, but of course this won’t be next week or the week after. Yes, I know there are issues with international travel but for every problem we can find a solution.
“If there is time it would be nice to see a gradual reopening with practice sessions, but that all depends if and when we are allowed to do so.
“Whatever happens we are in the hands of the government and we can only start once we are told we can. We have various permutations available to us in terms of the fixture list, even if it means a three month or a two month season.
“In addition we acknowledge many clubs don’t own their stadium and would need full co-operation from their landlords.”
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY SEASON UPDATE
Tuesday April 21, 2020 BRITISH Speedway bosses remain ‘100% committed’ to staging racing this year.
The board of directors at the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have held a conference call today to discuss the way forward.
And Vice Chairman Damien Bates said: “We had a productive conversation and we all agreed we remain 100% committed to putting on a season this year at the first available opportunity.
“There are absolutely no thoughts of cancelling the season. We all want to stage the season in whatever format that can take.
“We have people working on fixtures covering all eventualities in terms of dates and potential rider availability.
“Naturally nothing can happen until the government allow it to, indeed when the next decision is made on the current lockdown situation we will talk again between us.
“We want to give fans, broadcasters and sponsors what everyone wants and that is live speedway to enjoy.
“If it’s July, August or whenever it may be we are determined to stage racing should the government rules allow us to do so.
“In the meantime, on behalf of every club promoter we extend our very best wishes to British Speedway supporters throughout the country and we urge you all to please follow the government rules. They are not guidelines or advice, they are rules.
“We want you all fit and well and ready to come and enjoy this wonderful sport as soon as it is safe and legal to do so.”
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BRITISH SPEEDWAY STATEMENT
Wednesday March 25, 2020 THE board members of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd are continuing to monitor the situation regarding the Coronavirus crisis on a regular basis.
With the latest information from the government stating high risk groups of people should stay at home for 12 weeks, it is unlikely that that there will be any British Speedway events taking place before June 15, at least.
The Board have to consider the public, their members, riders and officials, some of which will be included in the high risk group.
It is the wish of the Board that every effort is made to start the new season at the first available opportunity and we have members of the association continuing to provide alternative fixture dates as the situation evolves.
The British Speedway Promoters Ltd sends their best wishes to everyone at this incredibly difficult time.
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JOINT BSPA/SCB STATEMENT: CORONAVIRUS
Tuesday March 17, 2020 BRITISH Speedway’s new season has been suspended with immediate effect.
The decision has been taken in line with other sports following the latest update from the government on the Coronavirus crisis.
This suspension will be reviewed on April 15 and the situation will be monitored by the British Speedway Promoters’ Association and Speedway Control Bureau on a daily basis between now and then.
LATEST RESULTS...
SUNDAY MARCH 15:
50TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING, Peterborough - OFF
SATURDAY MARCH 14:
BEN FUND BONANZA, Scunthorpe 1 Danny King (Ipswich/Poole) 2 Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/Poole) 3 Josh Auty (Scunthorpe) 4 Lewis Kerr (King’s Lynn/Eastbourne)
