The “Professor” is a four-time world individual champion, but also the winner of 18 other world championship titles, the most trophy-winning and, according to many, the best speedway driver of all time. “The weather is better than in Denmark at this time of year and now we are here for the second time with the Danish national team and it is really wonderful in Međimurje, we always feel at home here. The track is top-notch, the conditions are top-notch, and we had fans in the stands these days,” Hans Nielsen began. “We have three Grand Prix drivers in the team, we wanted them to feel the track, on April 30 and the first race of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship is being ridden on this track in Donji Kraljevec and we are looking forward to it.”
Four-time world individual champion, and winner of 18 other world championship titles, Hans Nielsen.
After a long time, Denmark has three drivers in the championship, Mikkel Michelsen, Leon Madsen, and Anders Thomsen. “Again, we have three drivers among the 16 best in the world and I expect a lot from them. Leon Madsen is an experienced driver, in 2019 he was close to the title, Mikkel Michelsen is a two-time European champion, an extremely fast driver, and Anders Thomsen made his debut in the SGP last season and is ready for great things.”
Anders Thomsen (middle), and Mikkel Michelsen (right).
Mikkel Michelsen will stay in Međimurje for a few more days after representing the Kingdom of Denmark at the Millennium Stadium. The Polish Extraliga in Lublin will follow on Monday: “I drove many times on this track, the first race takes place right here and I haven’t been lucky in Croatia, but hopefully that will change.”, said Mikkel and added: “Last season I achieved my best result in the Polish Extraliga, we were silver as a team and it was a great feeling. I hope we can achieve something similar this year, or even better yet. I’m looking forward to the season, it’s time”.
Mikkel Michelsen.
Speedway is celebrating 100 years of sport this year, and as it is devised in Australia, a return to this continent awaits us: ”Australia is supposed to be the last race of this season. It is difficult to look so far ahead, but with the new season we are all looking forward to new experiences and a new vision of the sport.”, said Mikkel. “The finals in Australia await us after the club and league finals, but now my focus is on the first race. We will return really soon here, to Croatia, and then we go a step further.”
Along with three Grand Prix drivers, Denmark brought to Međimurje six of the best national drivers who drive on leagues from England, Denmark, and Sweden, and with them a young driver in training, European U19 champion, and sports hope of Latvia Francis Gusts.
The opening of the season in Croatia will be on April 30 with the first race of the FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX, which returns the World Championship to Međimurje after 10 years, a place that lives for speedway. The 16 fastest drivers in the world will compete at one of the world’s best speedway stadiums and start the story of speedway together with Discovery Sports Events, the new promoter.
More information and tickets for the first race can be found in Entrio.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
