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Three time Speedway World Champion Nicki Pedersen has kept the pace set by Brit Tai Woffinden as the Dane won in last night’s Swedish Grand Prix in Malilla.
Pedersen claimed his second Grand Prix victory of the series, pipping Woffinden in the final race as both riders ended the evening on an impressive 17 points, with home wildcard Antonio Lindback in 3rd and Matej Zagar in 4th.
Woffinden, the 2013 world champion, remains nine points ahead of Pedersen at the top of the riders Championships as we reach the halfway stage of this year’s Grand Prix series.
But with six rounds remaining, Pedersen is determined to continue to push Woffinden, especially with his home round in Horsens next month.
He said: “I had the speed and thought I could make a good first and second corner. I did and I won it.
“I could feel Tai there. He’s going in the right direction and he’s fast. He is not the best gater in the world, but he makes good cutbacks and things like that. At the moment, the luck is going his way.
“But I’m just enjoying myself and scoring my points. It’s still a long season and I’m in for the battle.
“It’s my second Grand Prix win of the year, and it’s definitely enjoyable.
“It’s hard to pull away or pull back points, but it is still a long season. We’re halfway. It would have been nice to get a couple of points on him in Malilla, but I scored what I needed to and that’s what counts.
“A win on top of that is good publicity. It’s good for the team and it’s good for me.
“We haven’t quite been there for the last few years, but this year we’ve put a little extra into it. It’s just a bonus when we win the GPs.”
With the Danish Grand Prix fast approaching, Pedersen will be looking to secure just his third SGP victory in Scandinavia having claimed wins in Finland and Sweden this year. Rounding off a hattrick of Scandinavian victories in his home country would continue a strong season from the Dane.
“Horsens is another meeting where we have to do the job. The team is working hard. Hopefully we can have a great night, enjoy ourselves and get some points on my total.”
Woffinden was, despite an illness, pleased to leave Malilla having not lost any ground on Pedersen who remains hot on his heels.
“I’ve felt pretty ill all week. I’ve had a cold and I ate some bad chicken in Poland last week, so I haven’t felt the best. So to come here and ride like I have done, feeling like that, is a great achievement for me. I’m looking forward to the next meeting.
“Everybody knows how long the season is. I just have to keep my head down and keep focused.”
The meeting was in danger of being called off after heavy rain subdued the track on Friday and Saturday afternoon, but Woffy paid tribute to the volunteers who lay the track with covers before preparing it for the race.
“Full credit to the people who worked here.
“I woke up and saw rain and it was coming down heavily throughout the day, so to even get this meeting on was an achievement. Congratulations to them; it proved to be a good race track.”
Home favourite Antonio Lindback, who appeared as a wild card after two years off the Grand Prix stage, thanked the fans that turned up despite the dreadful conditions.
He said: “I want to be back in the GP. I want to be world champion, so I hope I can qualify for next year. I will do my best.
“It was a great night. The fans were amazing. I could hear them every time I went out. I loved it.”
Woffy remains leader of the riders Championships with Pedersen still nine points behind the Brit. American Greg Hancock remains 3rd after picking up nine points, but now finds himself 13 points behind the Dane.
Matej Zagar, who finished 4th in Malilla, is joint 4th with Cardiff winner Niels-Kristian Iversen, who picked up 10 points in Sweden, on 53 points, five behind Hancock, whilst Aussie Chris Holder, who also claimed 10 points, is 6th on 51 points.
