KJ: It’s a small town near Odense, called Norre Aaby.
HJ: How did you get into Speedway?
KJ: My dad and my Dad’s brother has been the team manager for Denmark and raced
for many years, so it was only natural that l got involved at some stage.
HJ: What made you decide to take up
speedway and come to England?
KJ: I raced three years before l came to England and l’ve raced in Poland,
Sweden and in Denmark and had some pretty good races too.
I wanted to improve and l began to think how could l do this and that England
was perhaps my best option.
HJ: Who organised it all for you?
KJ: Jan Steachmann the Danish National Team Manager recommended me to Dave (Tattum)
and it all went on from there really.
That was 12 months or so ago and l was ready to race.
HJ: How old are you?
KJ: I was just 20 in January.
HJ: Are you married?
KJ: No l’m not married, but l have a girlfriend (Pernille) back home in Denmark.
HJ: Where do you live in England and
why?
KJ: I live in Wolverhampton with Ewan who is my mechanic.
HJ: How often do you go back to
Denmark in the speedway season - each week?
KJ: I’ve been over here for a month now but l have 10-15 meetings in Denmark
this year and l’ll be going back home on Tuesday (last Tuesday).
HJ: Do you drive or fly home each
time?
KJ: No l have my bikes over there as well as in England so l can fly, which is
much better and quicker of course!
HJ: Do you ride back home for anyone
in 2009?
KJ: Yes l ride for Vojens.
HJ: Anyone else?
KJ: Club Miskolc in Poland, although they are actually in Hungary, but race in
the Polish league division two on Sundays.
HJ: Why Stoke then?
KJ: Yes why Stoke.
The people here are nice, and l like the track.
There is never any trouble in getting paid and it’s my first English club so l
like it here very much. I’m relaxed and comfortable.
HJ: How have you settled into life in
England - do you like it?
KJ: It took some time but now l’m okay and hopefully my
speedway is going in the
right direction.
HJ: What is it about England that you
like?
KJ: It’s all about speedway over here.
So many races, so many meetings much more than back home.
The experience of riding so regularly is what being here is all about.
HJ: You took things cautiously when
you first came over in 2008, but from about mid-season your scores began to
improve greatly - why was that?
KJ: In the first half of last season l was struggling a lot you know.
It wasn’t because the Stoke track was any different from those back home, but l
needed to find the right people to get behind me and help me really.
In the middle of the season Ewan came on board and we hit upon the right set-up
and l began to score much better.
HJ: Which tracks do you like here in
particular and which ones don’t you like?
KJ: I like Stoke of course and one like Birmingham suits me too.
I also like Workington and quite a few others too.
HJ: Any you don’t like?
KJ: I’m not such a fan of Berwick. Last year it was quite bumpy and l’m hoping
it will be better this year, but who knows?
HJ: Why do you think that is because
of the two different bends up there?
KJ: No not really - more about the straights really which are very bumpy!
HJ: Will it be easier to go back to
the away tracks in 2009 now that you have seen most of them at least once?
KJ: Yes l think so.
Last year when l first came over from Denmark things were difficult for me,
especially away from home.
Take Redcar, l didn’t score too well the first time up there but we went back
and l think l got double figures which was good for me.
Workington was the same - it was better second time there.
HJ: Is there a rivalry between you and
Jesper (Kristiansen), and is it friendly?
KJ: We’ve known each other for a long time.
We first raced against each other on 80cc engines as youngsters and that must
be for the last 10 years or so.
Yes it’s very friendly. When we race together we know where we are on the track
and that’s important for us.
He knows what l can do and l know what he can do and that helps us both.
HJ: What do you think about having
three Danish lads in the side in 2009?
KJ: Yes it is nice to have three
Danish guys in the team.
Tom
is a good guy and it all helps.
HJ: You will be aware that Jan
Staechmann the Danish National TM was a Stoke Potter.
What has he told you, or did he tell
you before you came here?
KJ: Yes l was aware that he had raced here at Loomer Road for about four or five
years wasn’t it?
He told me about the Stoke track and the people so l was comfortable coming
here in the first place.
HJ: You ended 2008 with a 4.87
average. Were you pleased with that or had you
expected to do better?
KJ: Averages don’t really bother me you know.
To me it’s all about making good points not keeping an average as such.
Good times are important too, by that l mean times on the track.
If you go fast it usually means you score well.
HJ: Do you feel at home here at Stoke
now?
KJ: Yes my scores are getting better and l’m more relaxed about racing here
these days, which is good.
I know the track and the set-up better.
HJ: What’s the ambition for this
season and in the future?
KJ: Well l have to admit l’d like to get in the GPs, everyone wants that, but
there can only be 16 at any one time so it’s tough you know.
I realise it’s going to be some years away before that happens for me but
that’s the aim and the focus for me.
This year hopefully l can end up with a seven or eight points average for Stoke
and that will be progress for me.
I’d settle for over six but really my aim is eight.
HJ: What do you think about Stoke
being 80 years old then?
KJ: That’s amazing isn’t it - a lot of history!
HJ: Did you know that we once raced at
another track in Hanley at Sun Street?
KJ: Yes l did, someone told me all
about it. It’s good isn’t it?
HJ: After speedway what do you think
you will do?
KJ: To be honest l don’t even think about that.
It’s all about speedway in my life right now - l’m only just 20 you know so l
hope to race for many years yet.
