Artem, this season in Speedway European Championships tournaments you scored eight points two times (Torun and Kumla) and once five (Landshut). How would you summarize your starts in this year's European Championships?
- It is certainly not the way I thought it would be. I expected a little better results. I was expecting something different and it is what it is – that’s speedway. But surely I will do everything to stay in the top five.
To the top five you are losing only three points, and so it is probably a loss to catch up ...
- Yes of course. I need to score some 11 - 12 points in Ostrow and I have to also count that either Martin Vaculik, or my older brother will have a worse day, then surely I could pass one of them.
So is your goal in Ostrow is to score 11 - 12 points?
- Yes, I hope that I can do this. For sure I will fight to the end, and how it will be we will find out in Ostrow.
The worst result you had in Landshut. Did you feel worst on this track?
- I cannot say that this track does not suit me. Truthfully, I do not know why I rode so poorly. The track was fine, but I could not find the proper setups and I lacked speed. In Ostrow I hope it will be different – I will prepare better, I have a new engine, so I hope that will be fine.
Do you like the track in Ostrow? You haven’t ridden there too often ...
- You're right, rather seldom I have ridden there. Maybe some two or three times, but I had the opportunity to ride there, even a little bit this year because I was there for training in March or April, so it should not be bad. The main thing is to find a good setups right from the beginning, then it will be all right.
Unfortunately, your Polish team MRGARDEN GKM Grudziadz was relegated from extraleague. Accordingly, you finished the season in Poland. Could this be for you disadvantage to prepare well for the tournament in Ostrow?
- No, no. This will not make any difference. For sure I will try to prepare the best, and the fact that I no longer had the league in Poland does not matter for me at all. We will see how it will be in Ostrow. When I succeed, it will be great, but if I don’t, then I'll just have to start in next year qualifying rounds for the European Championships and it will not be a tragedy.
As we said, Grudziadz was relegated from extralegue, but you had a pretty good season in Polish league so probably you will have no problem with finding a club in extraligue, right?
- I hope so, but we'll see how it all goes. I think I rode quite well and next year I manage to compete in Polish extraleague – I really want.
Artem, in the pictures I often see you in cap of American Greg Hancock. Is it a special souvenir or perhaps an expression of respect for the current World Champion?
- No, rather not. I really like Greg, it's a great colleague on the track and beyond. He gives me caps, so I wear them (laugh). I like them very much, and he is probably also happy that I wear his caps, so somehow it came out (laugh).
Thank you very much for the interview.
- Thanks, see you in Ostrow.
