Martin Vaculik won the last meeting in Rzeszow to clinch the title of European Speedway Champion. It was the first time under a new formula that the European Champion was found. By scoring an immaculate 18 points the cool Slovak achieved what seemed impossible before the meeting, when he was trailing Championship leader, and home track favourite, Nicki Pedersen by 5 points.
Radosław Zieliński (SEC): Martin, when we spoke a few days before the bif fianl of SEC, you told me that probably nobody will be able to catch up with Nicki Pedersen already. But it is you have been European Champion.
Martin Vaculik: Well, yes. To be honest, it seemed unreal to catch Nicky. Especially when he went on his track in Rzeszow, where the league was going very well. This time, however, it was clear that the track does not fit him too much and it ended up being all right for me.
R.Z: You made eighteen points in the competition. Was it easy for you as competition, even as it looked on TV?
M.V: Easily certainly was not because no competition, especially the latter shall never be with those kind of easy. All that day was perfect for me. I had a great fit motor, engines worked very well. More importantly, I was very focused on driving. I was riding with a "clean" head, I had some time to focus only on those occupations. I wanted to go to neutral and everything so perfectly played that won all eighteen points.
R.Z: When Nicki Pedersen was excluded from the last chance heat, did you feel now that you are a champion?
M.V: Certainly I felt that she opened up to me a great opportunity. However, the repeated constantly that you have to get in the final of the one desired point. It is known that there are falls, defects. I was focused only on to win the race. Let us not forget that it is very fast on this day was Grigory Laguta and Grzegorz Zengota.
R.Z: The grand finale you had to bring one point, but the first time you have been hit by Gregory Zengotę. As with your prospects looked those incident?
M.V: The first time hit me Zengota, and the second Laguta. All this might have been my fall and do not know how it might end up. It could be that I do not have become a champion of Europe, because it is the final race where anything can happen.
R.Z: Let us return for a moment to the exclusion of Nicki Pedersen. Shortly after the incident came to your other players, began to congratulate you for. It was evident, however, that you would not even garner praise.
M.V: I did not want to receive congratulations yet, because I did not have guaranteed the title. As long as you have passed the finish line and you will gain the victory, it really has nothing to congratulate. As I mentioned, in the final could include a defect, I could just as easily fail and end up a totally different. I must admit that I very pleased the reaction of players, but still wanted to wait for the official decision.
R.Z: How do you judge at all this year, a very successful European Championship for you in a new form?
M.V: Very well. The whole series has been very successful. Here are young, energetic people, who know what they want, and they are for a great round of applause. The new formula has allowed us to show people around the world what the speedway. In Gdansk, though the judge did not excluded me, but someone else may be different. It can enter the factory to the final, except that Togliatti and Gorican is also cool event for me because I won there good points. And of course, at the end of Rzeszow, very, very successful for me. The whole cycle would rate very well and I know that we can still develop.
R.Z: It seems that a rhetorical question, but on the track you rode the best when it comes to the SEC?
M.V: For each track I rode well. But you know, I mentioned nicest Rzeszow, where everything went perfectly and I won European title. Track in Rzeszów is very similar to my track Żarnowica, maybe competition was a little different surface, but generally very good feeling there. You could say that I felt at home there. I like to ride on such sites.
R.Z: The season is now complete. What is the situation with regard to your membership club in Poland and Sweden?
M.V: I changed the club in Sweden. I walked away from Elit Vetlanda, where I rode quite a long time and went on to Vargarny Norrkoeping. I hope that everything will be ok, I will continue the progress made in terms of Elitserien. Starting in Poland is about open. I do not know where I will start. Naturally priority in any talks will be the Unia Tarnow, but I have not decided what I wore club colors next season.
R.Z: Do you want to go a round of the SEC in your home country? Is the object in Żarnowica suited to playing the caliber of events that is the SEC?
M.V: It is the dream of every player to go in the event of more importance in his country. The qualifying competition for the SEC was all neatly organized, but it was the first such event in Slovakia increased for some time. There are young people, energetic, wanting to do everything possible to develop the sport. If one of the rounds held in Żarnowica I think it would be a great experience for the fans, but also for me as a Slovak. It seems to me that such an event could only help spread the speedway in Slovakia.
R.Z: Let us for a moment to some, a controversial situation. On the Internet, there is a photo of a man who had his sweatshirt graphics Insult club Rzeszow. You pointing for him. What you have to say, when it comes to this matter?
M.V: This whole situation took place from what I remember the derby meeting with Unia Tarnów and Stal Rzeszow . In these cities, so that some people say to each other. I remember something every Unia's rider recorded a joke and talk about the team Rzeszow . Then probably somebody wanted to get a photo . I am not a man who wants to offend anyone , as I drove to Rzeszow club and very good memories of that period . Just like last competition the SEC, where I received a lot of applause and positive emotions from the local fans. I would like to apologize to the fans of Rzeszow. For me, derby matches are very exciting , full of stands , great atmosphere , but surely we will not kill ourselves on the track , because the people of the two cities can not really be like . I would like to emphasize that I respect a lot of fans in Rzeszow , and once again I apologize for the situation. I'm always positive about every club and every fan , so I do not want my only assessed through the prism of a single image .
R.Z: In the last season we have seen many serious injuries. What do you think was the reason?
M.V: Definitely is not conducive to driving a new technology silencers. In the past we did not have so many accidents. Bike reacts differently than before, do not always have the full control over it, is in some unpredictable moments. Unfortunately, it was a very unlucky season - you can say that unlucky 13 at the time, we had a lot of injuries, then rehabilitation, but squeeze my fingers crossed for it to next season to such situations occurred.
R.Z: What time of the season Martin Vaculik will remember for a long time?
M.V: Rzeszow, Rzeszow, and once again the Grand Final SEC in. European Championship that was something I definitely will not forget.
R.Z: What do you regret most when it comes to season 2013?
M.V: At the beginning I made the wrong decision, which led to my poor performances. But in the end I can not complain, because this season has given me a lot when it comes to experience, learn for the future. Certainly learned from some of my actions and I want to use them in the future to earn a lot of points in each league, in which I played.
R.Z: At the end, would you like to say something to all the speedway fans?
M.V: I wish first of all to spend quality time during the winter break. I would like to thank all the fans cheering, they were with me when I had a variation of form, it's very cheered and gave me strength for the next starts. I greet the crowd of Tarnow, Slovakia, and those of Rzeszow, by the way thanks again for an amazing party at the European Championship competitions.
R.Z: Thank You.
