IVERSEN EYES DANISH SON MEDAL
Niels-Kristian Iversen declared “it’s time for Denmark to get back on the box” when the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations returns.
27 / 03 / 2020, 11:01
Danish star Niels-Kristian Iversen declared “it’s time for Denmark to get back on the box” when the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations returns.
This year’s competition has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, but when it is rescheduled, NKI will be a man on a mission.
The Danes have not won a world team championship medal since finishing second in the 2015 FIM Speedway World Cup Final at Vojens, but they were fourth in last year’s Monster Energy SON Final in Togliatti.
It’s time for Denmark to get back on the box. We haven’t had any medals since 2015 and there’s some hunger there. We need to step it up really.
Niels-Kristian Iversen
Iversen endured a nightmare weekend in Russia, scoring two points on each day of the Final. So he has added determination to ensure the four-time SWC winners are back on the rostrum.
He said: “It’s time for Denmark to get back on the box. We haven’t had any medals since 2015 and there’s some hunger there. We need to step it up really.
“Whether I’m in the team or someone else is, there is some pressure from federation and from everybody there to achieve that. We need to make it happen.
“For me, last year was a disaster pretty much. Nothing seemed to be going my way throughout that whole tournament. It was a knock to the confidence and a knock to everything really. But it was last year and I just have to look forward.
“It was probably my worst performance in Danish team colours ever. That’s quite a big statement because I have been riding for Denmark since 2003. It wasn’t a great experience but what can you do? If I am picked for the team this year, I will try and take my revenge and show I can definitely do it.
“I have proved that in the past, but I have a bit of a sour taste in my mouth from last year. That’s not because I’m unhappy with how we performed as team, but purely with regards to my own performance and form at that time. It wasn’t really a great memory.”
Iversen teamed up with world No.2 Leon Madsen and Frederik Jakobsen last season, but knows no rider is guaranteed a starting spot in one of the sport’s most competitive speedway nations.
Despite that, he hopes his vast British experience will help his cause with the Final set for Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium.
He said: “Obviously I don’t have a guaranteed place in the team by any stretch. No-one has been picked yet.
“But I do hope to be selected again. I have always done fairly well at the new Belle Vue track. It’s a good track and always creates really good racing.
“We had our first event there last year with me, Leon and Frederik. We did pretty well. I hope I can be in the team when we get to Manchester.
“We should say ‘when’ we get to Manchester. A lot of things can happen, but it’s not something I am too worried about.”