Saturday 22 May 2010

'Team Bjerre’ aiming for more glory tonight

By Leandra Graves

As published in the Peterborough Evening Telegraph 22/5/10
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/speedway/team_bjerre_aiming_for_more_glory_tonight_1_637458

PANTHERS rider Kenneth Bjerre will be looking to repeat his Swedish GP success when he lines up for the third event of the season tonight.

Prague is the next meeting in the calendar and Bjerre and his team will be looking to increase their lead in the series.

A lot of effort goes into achieving a Grand Prix win as well as fighting for a World Championship and it’s the support of a strong team of people behind you that helps maximise your chances.

Neil and Barry Howlett, brothers from Crowland, have been working for ‘Team Bjerre’. Well known in speedway circles, there was as much joy for the two mechanics as there was for the rider.

Barry was working at his first GP for the Dane and was part of the team’s first victory. Bjerre said: “Barry had never worked at a GP before so he must have been a lucky charm for me! All riders need to have a good unit around them. You need people who can do the job and be trusted.”

Barry, who also works as a machinist at Perkins, was a happy man after being part of the pit-crew of the Huntingdon resident’s first victory.

He said: “My very first GP and we win! I was ecstatic. Once Kenneth reached the semis, I knew it was a meeting he could win. Once he picked gate one, nobody was going to beat him in the form he was in.”

The Panthers star clearly believes Barry can bring him some luck as he has asked him to be part of the team for this weekend in the Czech Republic!

Barry said: “I found working at a GP much more pressurised than a league match. I thrive under pressure so I enjoyed it. It’s hard work but it’s the same job as a league match, just with less sleep and more travelling.”

Older brother Neil has been working for 25 year-old Bjerre in the GPs since the start and has made the massive sacrifice of leaving his home in England to base himself in Denmark. Living in Esbjerg (Bjerre’s hometown) he works from April to October at Polish and Danish league matches, as well as the GPs.

It’s a busy schedule for him as he also mechanics for Lasse, Kenneth’s younger brother.

Neil said: “I first became a mechanic when one of my friends was riding for Peterborough Pumas in the Conference League and I offered to help him in the pits. That was around eight years ago.

“I then helped other riders in the Elite and Premier League. Soon after I began a partnership with ex-Panther Danny King and he asked me to work full-time for him in Poland for a season.

“Barry was then working for Kenneth as he was also letting him reside at his house in Crowland. The following season, Kenneth asked me if I would work full-time for him in Denmark.

“This is my life now. It’s something I am really happy to do. I get to see the world, it’s something I enjoy and know I’m good at. My aim is to help Kenneth become world champion and Lasse to become Under 19 champion.”

Working with a Danish rider, based in a Nordic country, you would think learning some basics in the language must be essential for the job.

Neil added: “I can certainly get by in Danish. I know some basics. It’s good to learn as it helps with the language barrier and of course helps within the team. It’s one of the hardest languages to learn though!

“It’s very easy to work for a rider like Kenneth and within the team. We all get on really well and pull together to work to our best. It’s perfect.”

After Bjerre finished eighth in his debut GP season, ambitions were high within the camp for more success this year. “I think he’s just riding with so much more confidence this season,” added Neil.

“He’s making excellent starts, the engine is working well and the whole package is just a great combination.

“A typical week for me in Denmark involves cleaning the bikes from Poland as well as building the bikes ready for the GPs. I mechanic for Lasse during the week. In the lead-up to Gothenburg, I spent Thursday washing the bikes and left home at 3am to make the trip to Sweden in the van with Kenneth’s dad Ivan. That was a six-hour drive from Esbjerg.

“GP practice is on Friday. On Saturday it’s team breakfast at 8am and then I am at the track by 9am. Myself, Barry and Ivan then clean the bikes and prepare for the GP. From 3.30pm, it’s machine examinations, tyre checks and warming up the bikes from 6.30pm.

“After the meeting in Sweden, there was no time to celebrate as we had a 12-hour drive to Poland for a Polish league match. The work never stops!”

Barry explained: “I don’t think people realise how tough the job of a mechanic really is. It takes four to five hours to clean one bike so I will spend a whole working day cleaning two bikes. With the fixtures in full flow, it’s extremely busy.”

The life of a mechanic is not always easy. However, this weekend ‘Team Bjerre’ will be looking to see if they can be top of the world, yet again!

Friday 21 May 2010

BJERRE IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE

By Leandra Graves

Championship leader, Kenneth Bjerre, goes into this weekend’s GP in Prague, riding in the form of his life. After winning his debut GP in Sweden just two weeks ago, he has continued to set the world on fire (literally in one case!) with some outstanding performances on the continent and at his home track Peterborough.

He broke the track record at the Showground last week against Wolverhampton and equalled his best time of 58.9 against Belle Vue on Thursday evening.

With time to reflect after his maiden win, what were the Peterborough rider’s thoughts about his race in the final at the Ullevi stadium, with Tomasz Gollob to clinch the winning trophy?

“When I made the start, I was in the lead but then I went so wide. Gollob was pushing me, it was a bit hard, but he could have been harder on me. That’s speedway racing though, it was fair, so it was good racing.”

“I don’t think I was on a high after the GP win, I had to go straight to Poland for another meeting and slept in the van. It was just another day at work on Sunday. I just enjoyed it that night. I just hope to keep getting big points in my league meetings and the GPs.”

There was also the surprise of his bike catching fire at Kirkmanshulme Lane two days after his historic victory in Gothenburg. It certainly has been an eventful time for the Huntingdon resident.

“I don’t know what caused the problem but my bike caught fire when I came out of the start. I actually made the start, then the bike stopped and then it all just caught fire. It came from the engine.”

Looking untouchable, can anybody stop the man from Esbjerg from winning again and increasing his lead in the championship?

The diminutive Dane was keen to play down any championship talk, “Everything is working at the moment for me, I just have to keep enjoying it. I just keep tying to make good starts, my bike is quick. I always believe I can win and even if I don’t make the start, I know I can still achieve victory in the race.”

There was certainly evidence of this on a warm, sunny evening at Peterborough. There may have been doubts from some supporters in the past of him not giving his full commitment to the Panthers, but this season, Bjerre has rode with passion and determination and has been mesmerising to watch.

With regards to Prague, the 25 year old is keen to treat it as another GP and reluctant to admit he is the rider that everyone should be watching and chasing for the crown.
“I am doing everything the same, I just want to win every race I’m in. Hopefully I will score enough points at the end of it, to be world champion.”

However, 1980 World Champion Michael Lee, a regular at Peterborough and GPs, is full of praise for the Wroclaw rider.

“I believe Kenneth can go all the way and win it. He’s flying right now, everyone can see that. He’s got great equipment and he’s fit for the first time in two seasons. I know from experience of riding like that, when you are in that form, you feel unbeatable and he’s in the form of his life right now.”

Can the Peterborough rider deliver the goods and go all the way? He is due to celebrate his 26th birthday on Monday, perhaps an extended lead in the standings will be the perfect present.

HANS RIDING THROUGH THE PAIN BARRIER

By Leandra Graves

Belle Vue star Hans Andersen will ride through the pain barrier with his damaged hip, to face his rivals in the third round of the Speedway Grand Prix in Prague this weekend.

After an awkward fall in the home match against the Poole Pirates on Monday, Andersen withdrew from the meeting and looked unlikely to race again before the GP in the Czech Republic.

However, the Danish ace lined up against his previous club at the Showground on Thursday evening. Despite the agonising pain, he didn’t let the fans down, providing a good night’s entertainment.

Speaking to the fans during the meeting he said “I feel like a passenger at the moment. I didn’t want to let my team down, that’s why I am riding tonight. I can’t ride the outside, so I will be hugging the kerb a lot. It’s not ideal to ride in this much pain after Monday’s accident. My hip is swollen and it’s feels like it’s electrocuting me when I go into the corners. Hopefully it will get better!”

The Dackarna and Torun rider went on to finish with 9 plus one points, with some tough battles with Aussie Troy Batchelor. It certainly appeared the 30 year old wanted to remind him who used to be boss around the Peterborough track!

Andersen will be looking for a much improved performance on Saturday in the GP. Currently lying in 11th place in the standings and missing out on the semi finals in both GPs, he will want to bounce back to mount a serious charge on the title. There is also the small matter of the first leg of the Danish Final next Friday at Vojens…

MAGNIFICENT MAGNUS MAKES SEMI-FINAL IN SWEDEN

By Leandra Graves.

Veteran Magnus Zetterstrom produced a stunning display on a very wet night in Gothenburg to reach the semi-finals of the Speedway Grand Prix! Whilst others around him failed to handle the difficult track conditions, Zorro shone and had without doubt one of the best moments of his career. After the meeting he revealed how pleased he was with his performance.

“I am satisfied with my night. I feel like a winner!”

To many, he was considered not worthy of his SGP place for 2010 even though he had earned it by winning the GP Challenge last September. The bookies were making Zorro a rank outsider with odds of 200/1 to win GP’s. After his first GP in Leszno, where he had scored four points, including a heat win, he had already silenced some critics.

“I’m not racing to prove the doubters wrong, but it’s certainly nice to ride like this and show everyone that I do belong to be here, riding with the best in the GP’s.”

At the Ullevi Stadium, the Eskilstuna star rode like a man possessed. He was lightning quick away from the gates and after three rides from everyone, his name was at the top of the scoreboard!

The crowd was electric, knowing their home rider had roared through to the semi-finals. The Swedish flags were flying high despite the atrocious weather and the fans were happy with some may say the surprise performance of the likeable Swede. He was watched on by his two children Kevin and Sandra, both who surely would have been very proud of their father on the big stage of the SGP series.

The dream didn’t continue however for the 38 year old. As the rain stopped, Zorro was off the unfavoured gate two in his last two heats, which had only secured one victory all night. He failed to score points from either race, meaning he had one of the last gate picks in his semi.

“There was so much material on the track at the start, gate two was just impossible to do anything with.”

The night ended with third place in the semi-final after Tomasz Gollob had found a way past the Swede. “I was pretty good in the beginning of the race but I couldn’t keep Gollob behind me.”

Finishing with nine points in front of a patriotic crowd was an amazing achievement, one he was not at all disappointed with. He took the applause from the ecstatic supporters after his final race and enjoyed every moment.

The Gdansk and Indianerna racer now has 13 points in the World Championship and lies 13th in the standings. He’s also ahead of his fellow countryman, Freddie Lindgren.

Sunday 2 May 2010

PAIN IN SPAIN FOR PEDROSA

PAIN IN SPAIN FOR PEDROSA
By Leandra Graves

Dani Pedrosa led the race from the start in Jerez, only to be beaten on the last lap in a fierce dice with his fellow countryman, Jorge Lorenzo.

The 24 year old started the race in pole position and took a commanding lead over the Current World Champion, Valentino Rossi. He maintained a comfortable gap over the Yamaha and it appeared Pedrosa would be on his way to a magnificent win in his homeland.

However, the number 99 of Jorge Lorenzo had other plans to ruin Pedrosa’s day in the sun. Lorenzo had been the initial pace setter early on in the weekend, but after qualifying, it appeared Pedrosa had found that something extra that could take him to a vital 25 points.

The number 26 rider wasn’t exactly the happiest man after qualifying, admitting that “pole position doesn’t really mean anything to me.” Clearly the Spaniard was expecting a tougher race and wasn’t expecting his Honda to be able to control the race for a lengthy period.

He was however to be proved wrong and was looking like he had put all his troubles and disappointment behind him after a difficult start in Qatar. Lorenzo had made a poor start and was in a lowly fifth at the start of the race. Once he had passed the two Ducati’s and his Yamaha team-mate, he only had six laps to charge after the race leader. It looked as if the young Majorcan had left it too late to be considered a serious threat for the win and claw back two seconds but suddenly he was right on Pedrosa’s tail. He had slaughtered Pedrosa’s advantage.

What came next was a brutal battle. Pedrosa defended well and sent Lorenzo around the outside of him on several occasions, showing that he had no intention of making this easy for his compatriot. It was a tough battle, hard but fair, with neither rider wanting to give the other an inch. It was a classic final few laps, with it appearing that Pedrosa still had the better of Lorenzo, but "X-Fuera" produced some magic and snuck up the inside of the Honda, sending him out wide and stormed on to take the chequered flag.

It was heartbreak for Pedrosa in front of an adoring 120,000 patriotic fans, that were deliriously happy to see a Spanish one-two, but to lead the race from the start, only to have it snatched at the bitter end, from one of his arch rivals, must have been a cruel end to a dominant race.

Pedrosa managed to put a smile on his frustrations at the end of the race and even congratulated the race winner with a hug, having no bad words to say about an epic fight with Lorenzo.

“I’m exhausted, with ten laps to go, the gap over Rossi was pretty good. I said fuck when I could see Lorenzo was coming. We had a bit of a fight, I went wide and lost momentum and then I couldn’t catch him. I’m very happy though for me and my team with my result, especially after Qatar.”

Pedrosa’s second place put him third overall in the standings and must make him thirsty for his first victory this season, especially put one over his old adversary Lorenzo after today’s surprise ending.

LORENZO MAKES A BIG SPLASH IN SPAIN!


Jorge Lorenzo produced one of the races of his life beating Dani Pedrosa on a last lap thriller, to a scorching victory in Jerez. Lorenzo’s Yamaha team-mate, Valentino Rossi was 3rd.

The number 99 rider had been the pace setter early on in the weekend and few would have bet against him to romp home to victory in front of his adoring fans. However, after qualifying, his fierce rival and compatriot, Dani Pedrosa, took pole position and suddenly it looked like it might not be so easy for the young Majorcan.

Lorenzo starting second on the grid didn’t make the best get-away and was fifth after the last lap. He soon passed the Ducati of Casey Stoner and then took the charge to the American, Nicky Hayden. With 18 laps left of the race, the 22 year old passed Hayden and set his sights on the current World Champion Valentino Rossi, who was a few seconds down the road. Pedrosa and Rossi had pulled a significant gap of around three seconds advantage early on in the race, but after a motocross accident a few weeks ago, it appeared Rossi wasn’t able to put up as strong a fight, as he would have wanted. The gap became closer and Lorenzo produced a great manoeuvre past his team-mate to take second in the race.

From then, the gap towards Pedrosa looked unobtainable. A gap of around three seconds with six laps to go made the chance of a win look untouchable. This wasn’t to be the case. Lorenzo had said it was "his
dream” to win a Moto GP race in Jerez and a little rider such as Pedrosa, a fellow Spaniard, was not going to spoil the party Lorezno had planned for 120,000 crazy, patriotic fans.

In the last two laps, Lorenzo managed the unthinkable. He was up close and personal with one may say an arch rival of his (remember those two have history from their 250cc days!) and the battle commenced! With neither rider wanting to give an inch in front of their devoted, fanatical support, it was a hard fight with Pedrosa shutting the door and making Lorezno fight around the outside. It looked impossible for the Yamaha to get in front of the Honda with only a lap remaining but he pulled out a breathtaking pass up the inside of Pedrosa, giving him a little nudge and sending the 24 year old out wide and claiming a stunning victory on the very last lap!

The fans went wild, as did Lorenzo himself. The ride of his life and surely that of someone who can mount a serious challenge for honours this season. What did the winner do to celebrate after? Jump into a lake of course, fully clothed in his leathers and helmet! His victory celebrations at the race track have always been “out there” but this time he really out-classed himself (and Rossi who normally knows a thing or two about unusual celebrations!). Luckily, Lorenzo was rescued from the water and arrived on the podium sopping wet with a massive grin and looking the happiest man on the world of Lorenzo’s Land!

There was sporting congratulations to his nearest rivals on the rostrum and it was nice to see a hug between him and Pedrosa after their amazing duel. Remember two years ago, King Juan Carlos of Spain had to make the two Spanish pretenders shake hands as they didn’t exactly have a warm friendship.

After the race Lorezno was hardly able to speak, full of pure emotion, "I have no words to describe how I feel. I am so tired. I did 100% effort today and that is my present. One of my dreams!"

It appeared that his present arrived early as he's due to celebrate his birthday in just two days time.

This enthralling race and victory put Lorenzo at the top of the championship standings, not a bad day’s work for someone who missed part of pre-season testing and suffered with a hand injury. Perhaps this season, Lorenzo’s Land really can rule the world? Next race is three weeks time (do we really have to wait that long!) at LeMans in France. Let’s hope it can be as exciting as this one. Now you will have to excuse me, I’m off to watch the re-run again and marvel at how Lorenzo stole the victory! Catalunya 2009, Rossi beating Lorezno at the final corner was awesome but today was something very special too…

By Leandra Graves