Post by admin on Nov 30, 2015 23:55:26 GMT
Danish champion Niels-Kristian Iversen says he considered every option to avoid quitting the British Elite League, but admits his hectic schedule left him “rundown completely”.
The Esbjerg-born racer has confirmed he won’t return to King’s Lynn next year as he aims to slim down one of the busiest diaries in the sport.
In addition to his FIM Speedway Grand Prix commitments, Iversen races for Gorzow in Poland, Swedish side Indianerna and Danish team Esbjerg, as well representing his country in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup.
Competing in the UK added at least another 28 dates to his schedule – double the number raced in Poland, Sweden or Denmark.
So something had to give and Iversen admits he found it hard going to compete in all four of Europe’s top leagues, as well as ensuring man and machines remained in tip-top condition.
He told Speedway Star: “This year, we had different silencers and there were a few things with setup on the bike that weren’t right.
“I had quite a bit of work to do when we got started and I didn’t feel like I had the time in the schedule. Every time I had to test, it had to be in the meeting, and I don’t think that’s the proper way to do it because it’s going to cost you points. It’s not ideal.
“I felt so knackered and I couldn’t keep going like that. I don’t think it has done my health any good.
“I was rundown completely at some stages and I couldn’t keep up with the schedule and preparations to perform at my best.
“I tried to look into all different solutions over the last couple of months to see how I could stay racing in England. But whatever I could have tried, I would have still had such a hectic schedule here because there are too many meetings.
“I looked into every different option. I tried to see if I could do less abroad, but there will be a couple more meetings in Sweden if we go to the play-offs. Last year King’s Lynn didn’t make the play-offs, so you can end up with more meetings than I had this year.
“I didn’t see any other option than to give Britain a miss. I did 98 meetings in 2015, and that’s without practices. That’s more than I have done for a few years. I still love riding in Britain and riding at King’s Lynn. But the schedule takes a lot of energy.
“There were 12 GPs last season, and that’s 24 days in the season because of practice. It’s hard to be prepared for everything, and that’s the downfall.”
Iversen admits becoming a father to daughter Nicole has placed another important demand on his time.
He said: “You can’t do everything you want to do, especially now we’ve got Nicole. I didn’t relax in the same way at home. She’s two now and every time I’m at home, she wants to play and I want to spend time with her as well.
“It’s the way life goes when you have a little one. She takes a lot of time and I want to take time with her when I’m home because I’m away so much.”
Had Iversen been offered the chance to race half of King’s Lynn’s matches and share the fixtures with another top rider, he says he would have raced on in Britain.
He said: “I still love to ride here and I would still have been part of it.
“It wouldn’t be as demanding if had two riders to share, but it’s not up to me to make the decision with the regulations. I can’t change anything with the regulations. It’s up to other people to do that.
“Why it wasn’t brought in this year, I do not know. But I think it’s something to look at.
“I don’t think I have done my last meeting in England or my last meeting for King’s Lynn. I want to come back, but it’s a good time to cut down a little bit.
“It’s a bit of a gamble for me as well – I won’t know if I’ve done the right thing before I actually do it.”
SGP
The Esbjerg-born racer has confirmed he won’t return to King’s Lynn next year as he aims to slim down one of the busiest diaries in the sport.
In addition to his FIM Speedway Grand Prix commitments, Iversen races for Gorzow in Poland, Swedish side Indianerna and Danish team Esbjerg, as well representing his country in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup.
Competing in the UK added at least another 28 dates to his schedule – double the number raced in Poland, Sweden or Denmark.
So something had to give and Iversen admits he found it hard going to compete in all four of Europe’s top leagues, as well as ensuring man and machines remained in tip-top condition.
He told Speedway Star: “This year, we had different silencers and there were a few things with setup on the bike that weren’t right.
“I had quite a bit of work to do when we got started and I didn’t feel like I had the time in the schedule. Every time I had to test, it had to be in the meeting, and I don’t think that’s the proper way to do it because it’s going to cost you points. It’s not ideal.
“I felt so knackered and I couldn’t keep going like that. I don’t think it has done my health any good.
“I was rundown completely at some stages and I couldn’t keep up with the schedule and preparations to perform at my best.
“I tried to look into all different solutions over the last couple of months to see how I could stay racing in England. But whatever I could have tried, I would have still had such a hectic schedule here because there are too many meetings.
“I looked into every different option. I tried to see if I could do less abroad, but there will be a couple more meetings in Sweden if we go to the play-offs. Last year King’s Lynn didn’t make the play-offs, so you can end up with more meetings than I had this year.
“I didn’t see any other option than to give Britain a miss. I did 98 meetings in 2015, and that’s without practices. That’s more than I have done for a few years. I still love riding in Britain and riding at King’s Lynn. But the schedule takes a lot of energy.
“There were 12 GPs last season, and that’s 24 days in the season because of practice. It’s hard to be prepared for everything, and that’s the downfall.”
Iversen admits becoming a father to daughter Nicole has placed another important demand on his time.
He said: “You can’t do everything you want to do, especially now we’ve got Nicole. I didn’t relax in the same way at home. She’s two now and every time I’m at home, she wants to play and I want to spend time with her as well.
“It’s the way life goes when you have a little one. She takes a lot of time and I want to take time with her when I’m home because I’m away so much.”
Had Iversen been offered the chance to race half of King’s Lynn’s matches and share the fixtures with another top rider, he says he would have raced on in Britain.
He said: “I still love to ride here and I would still have been part of it.
“It wouldn’t be as demanding if had two riders to share, but it’s not up to me to make the decision with the regulations. I can’t change anything with the regulations. It’s up to other people to do that.
“Why it wasn’t brought in this year, I do not know. But I think it’s something to look at.
“I don’t think I have done my last meeting in England or my last meeting for King’s Lynn. I want to come back, but it’s a good time to cut down a little bit.
“It’s a bit of a gamble for me as well – I won’t know if I’ve done the right thing before I actually do it.”
SGP