Martin Vaculik again has to chase his rivals to win the title of Individual European Champion. Last year he managed to do it in Rzeszów but this time it will be more difficult because current leader Emil Sajfutdinow in great form surely won’t resign from the gold medal.
Martin, the last tournament of Speedway European Championships in on a track in Częstochowa. Do you like riding there?
- Yes, this track is really good and I fell very well there. The track is always prepared in the way which makes possible to race and it is very important. I think it was really good choice because it will be promotion for speedway.
Your loss to Emil is six points. Is it many?
- It can be said that it is many and it is not many. Surely Emil is a favorite and it will be difficult to beat him but last season Nicki had five point advantage and I managed to undo this so it will be definitely very interesting.
So if you managed to undo it last season this year it is also possible…
- Yes, exactly… Generally it’s only one point more so everything is possible.
Emil Sajfutdinow and Nicki Pedersen were riders of Włokniarz Częstochowa in the past. Peter Kildemand this season is a representative of the club from Częstochowa. Do you think that it is additional advantage for them?
- Yes, definitely. They know the track in Częstochowa really well and I think it will be easier for them to find the right setups. However, on the other hand, for me it’s not a new track because I have started there many times so I think it will okay.
So far the worst score you had in Gustrow. Why?
- It was totally new track for me so I couldn’t find the right setups. It was only at the very end when I found out what is going on. However, as it is know, it was too late. Surely now I would know what I should do on that track.
It is said that during Individual International Championship of Extraleague you tested a lot. Are you going to use this knowledge during the SEC final in Częstochowa?
- No, no – that’s totally different story. It were rather tests concerning the track in Tarnów. Surely I won’t use it during the tournament in Częstochowa.
This is your second season in Speedway European Championships. Have the series made a step forward in your opinion or we can’t say about development?
- We can definitely say that the series has developed. What is more, I think that it will be still developing and will be attractive for fans. Still the level is really high and, as you said, it has made a big step forward.
Are you preparing in some special way for tournament in Częstochowa?
- Yes, I eat a lot of kiwi and apples because I’ve heard that if you do that, you will ride well on the track in Częstochowa (laugh).
Interesting theory and is there some kind of minimum which you would like to achieve in this tournament?
- No. Honestly, I never do that. I just try to do my best. There is no sense to create additional pressure because nobody needs it.
Three tournaments of Speedway European Championships are behind us. Are you generally satisfied with your scores?
- I can say so. As we said before, in Gustrow wasn’t very well but generally it’s not bad. I have as many points as Nicki which means that I’m in the top three. I hope that after the tournament in Częstochowa I will be even happier.
I guess you know the situation of the club from Częstochowa. The representatives of the club do not hide that the SEC final can help them a lot. Do you think that it can be so?
- It’s difficult to answer your question for me because we, riders just race and we try to score as many points as possible. However SEC surely can help because fans are interested in these tournaments, there are transmissions in Eurosport so such show really can be useful.
So I let you invite everybody for the final in Częstochowa…
- I would like to invite all fans at the stadium in Częstochowa. I assure that all riders will do their best and it will be a great show. For us it is great to ride when the stadium is full. See you!
