What makes speedway in Güstrow is so popular?
- Firstly I think the main thing is the track. It is short and has an unusual shape and many different lines you can race on. Usually the races are not over until the last corner. Also the crowd is pretty close to the track which makes a good atmosphere.
Since 2014, you've been cooperating with One Sport. Do you think that signing the deal with this company has let you make a big step forward?
- It has given us the chance to see world class riders and great events on our track every year.
I remember that at the SEC inauguration 2014, club's employees were very touched with the sight of full packed stadium. Was it kind of an emotional feeling?
- I have to say that not a single person is employed or paid by the club. That means the whole team works in the stadium in their spare time. We have a brilliant crew who partly spends every weekend in the stadium just for a beer and a sausage after work because they love the sport and the club. People take off from work to prepare the meetings and they give everything to make every meeting a success. Of course if they get a packed stadium, the World’s best riders and good racing in return it’s quite emotional for everybody involved. After a meeting like this when you have a quiet minute and all the pressure falls off and you look back at all the effort and that it was worth it that surely is very emotional.
Do you think that attendance at SEC and Speedway Best Pairs proved that speedway in Germany is worth investing? Why since the last Grand Prix in 2008 (meeting was cancelled) noone has decided to give Germans a chance for such a big event?
- The fan base is surely there. There were several tries before to bring World class Speedway back to Germany but One Sport were the ones who finally did it and it proved right.
What's the key factor in cooperation with One Sport that you still want to make such exhausting events?
- The SEC girls of course! On a more serious note it makes us all proud to welcome the best riders of Europe in our little town and our little stadium. To be live on TV in so many countries is a challenge and an honour at the same time. Without One Sport we never would have that possibility.
This year again, in Güstrow, the inaugural SEC round will be held. Will there be a full pack? Do you have any estimated numbers when it comes to selling the tickets?
- I hope it will be the same as 2014 of course. We started to sell the tickets early December last year and the run for tickets was sensational again. One third of the tickets was already gone last year which speaks for itself.
Does Güstrow and Teterow like each other? I'm asking about the sport rivalry and this local one…
- Let’s say we respect each other. There was quite a big rivalry a couple of years ago but since both clubs dropped out of the German League, the Bundesliga, for several different reasons it got more relaxed. Today we are partly working together. For example I will be Clerk of the Course at the SGP in Teterow or staff of them will be helping out at our meetings too.
Will the Grand Prix in Teterow have any influence on the attendance at SEC?
- I don’t think so. Speedway is very popular in this part of Germany and both events have attractive admission prices that make it possible for all fans to come to both events.
How is the stadium's renovation going?
- The renovation is one of the reasons we dropped out of the league. The plan was to stage the SEC opening round with a new grandstand for more than 2.000 people at the home straight but unfortunately that didn’t work out because of the current political situation in Europe. We get a lot of financial support of the ADAC (German Autocycle Union) but the support of county and town was put on hold. However we have a confirmation that we get the support and now the plan is to start works late summer. Furthermore I have plans for new pits and many more developments on my desk already.
One day before SEC meeting, at the Güstrow track, the world championship's final at the motorcycles with lower capacity will be
taken. Is it another prestige's elevation for you?
- It’s a World Final, what more can I say. It really is the meeting I am looking for this year. The 16 best youngsters in the World and our track will be perfectly prepared for them. I think it’s ideal for them and I’m sure this will be a real cracker that nobody should miss.
Who, in your opinion, will become the Individual European Champion 2016?
- Of course it depends on the qualifiers but in the end I think it will be between Nicki and Emil.
