Niels-Kristian Iversen claims Cardiff victory

Niels-Kristian Iversen won the FIM British Speedway Grand Prix in front of 40,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

The Dane put last months Speedway World Cup Final disappointment behind him, when he was excluded in Heat 20, costing Denmark the title.

In the final heat, Iversen spectacularly overtook Aussie Chris Holder on the first lap, and didn’t look back. Holder finished second, with compatriot Peter Kildemand in third whilst home favourite Tai Woffinden came home last.

“I knew when I hit the front that I had it. The speed was there and I just had to keep it on. It was fantastic. A great feeling,” said Iversen.

He added: “I haven’t done that many Grand Prix finals, but I’ve got four wins from eight. It just gives me that little bit extra when I get to one. It brings out the best in me. A big race brought a little bit too much out of me in the World Cup. I think that one will haunt me until the end of time!”

The win for Iversen saw him jump from ninth to fourth in the World Championship standings, but the Dane remains 20 points behind current leader Woffinden after the first four events.

“I’m in fourth position, but there are still eight rounds left,” he said, before adding; “There’s such a long way to go.”

Given last months World Cup disappointment and his serious knee ligament injury last year, Iversen is delighted to have bounced back from a recent dip in form.

“It was a tough one after the injury. I felt pretty good when I started the league meetings in March, but when it really mattered, I felt I’d lost a little bit of belief that I can really do it and feel good on a bike.”

Runner up Chris Holder was disappointed that he couldn’t achieve his third British victory after taking an early lead, but his impressive haul of 18 points has lifted the Aussie from 13th to sixth in the riders championship.

But having endured an injury hit two years, Holder was pleased to be back to his best

“After three rounds, I was nowhere near the top eight. One good round has put me straight back up there,” Holder said, before adding that he was pleased to have recorded two podium finishes and two victories at the Millennium Stadium.

Peter Kildemand, who came third on the night, was only drafted into the meeting as a replacement to the injured Jaroslaw Hampel, and the Dane put on a stellar performance.

Having not featured in the previous three events, Kildemand is determined to pish for the top eight automatic qualifying places for 2016 after reaching his third final in as many full Grand Prix appearances.

“It’s going to be tough to get into the top eight, but that’s my aim and I’ll do all I can. Cardiff was just amazing. I’ve never tried anything like this. I’m really pleased I was here and I’m really pleased to be in the final again,” said the Dane.

Despite coming home last in the final, home favourite Tai Woffinden was still pleased with his performance.

The current leader stormed into the semi-finals on 12 points, before coming home first in his semi-final to reach the final. But the Brit was unable to record his second successive podium appearance after he came last in the final heat.

“It doesn’t really matter too much about the final. I scored as many points as I needed to and extended my lead in the championship. It obviously would have been nice to win the meeting, but I did what I had to do,” said Woffy.

“I’ll take that forward now. I’m feeling good about things and I’m in a good position so I’ll just keep working hard and hopefully it will pay off at the end of the season.”

In addition to the final result, wild card Craig Cook lifted the roof off the Millennium Stadium with an impressive win in heat three, but fell just one point short of a semi-final appearance.

Fellow Brit and Coventry Bees star Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris had a disappointing evening, recording just five points, leaving him 12th in the riders championship on 23 points.

With Nicki Pedersen scoring nine on the night, Woffinden extends his lead over the Dane to 12 points as they prepare for the Latvian Grand Prix later this month.

Last year’s winner Greg Hancock came fifth after recording 12 points, leaving him four points behind Pedersen in the riders championship, and despite Matej Zagar finishing 6th with ten points, he drops to 5th in the riders championship as a result of Niels-Kristian Iversen’s Cardiff victory and 14 points.