Panthers' Bjerre knows Danes will be up against it
PANTHERS man Kenneth Bjerre would gladly swap personal success for national glory.
PANTHERS man Kenneth Bjerre would gladly swap personal success for national glory.The Huntingdon resident delivered the best individual display during the opening two rounds of the 2009 Speedway World Cup when scorching to a splendid 21-point maximum in Event One on Saturday.
Despite Bjerre's brilliance at Vojens, holders Denmark could only struggle to a third-place finish. They know more is required tonight when lining up against Sweden, Australia and Great Britain in the race-off at Leszno in Poland for the two remaning places in Saturday's final.
But they face a tall order with Nicki Pedersen sidelined after suffering serious burns to his left leg in a crash with Russian rider Grigory Laguta in Event One.
Skipper Hans Andersen returns in place of the three-time world champion while the Danes have sprung a surprise by leaving out struggling Bjarne Pedersen in favour of youngster Patrick Hougaard.
Bjerre's Panthers pal Niels Kristian Iversen will be out to improve on a disappointing six-point haul on Saturday.
Bjerre admitted: "Saturday was obviously a really good night for me - one of the best of my career. To get a six-ride maximum was really pleasing, but you don't get paid by the point in the World Cup so I would rather have taken less points and a Danish win.
"Last year we had five riders who were all flying at the time, but that isn't the case at the moment. It has been a tough year for the top Danish riders and things haven't really been going for us.
"Nicki has not been riding like we all know he can, Hans has had some hard times and both Niels and Bjarne had a tough time the other night.
"But we are in the race-off and will be doing everything we can to make the final. It will be really, really hard to win the World Cup again, but I definitely think we can get the bronze medals."
Leszno holds mixed memories for Bjerre after two visits already this season. He missed out on the semi-finals when the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium played host to the European Grand Prix but set the record straight in final style with a smashing 16-point haul there in a recent Polish League meeting.
"I like the tracks to be grippy and that is just how it was when I went there to ride for Gdansk the other week," continued Bjerre. "It was much slicker for the GP and it will probably be that way again, but it is a big, fast track and you just have to go out and race it.
"I'm really glad that Poland are not in the race-off because that would have made a hard meeting even tougher. We saw what they did at this track in 2007 when they won the race-off and then went on to win the final as well."
Ryan Sullivan's place in the Australia team is under threat after a poor showing at Alwalton on Monday. Adam Shields and Troy Batchelor, who both ride for Leszno in the Polish League, are in contention to replace him.
Great Britain are also considering changes to Monday's line-up but Sweden are expected to track the same riders as Saturday.
Russia and Poland qualified for the final after winning Event One and Event Two respectively.
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Weather for Peterborough
Monday 06 September 2010
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