Before the first SEC round in Güstrow, which runs this Saturday, we're with Sam Ermolenko - a legend of the American speedway and Eurosport commentator.
On saturday, SEC starts. While looking at the starting list, who do you think will win the whole cycle?
It might be too easy to say Emil Sayfutdinov will conquer for the third year in a row, but his Shoulder injury early this season just might play its part? Gustrow is a tricky venue to start off with; most of the top contenders will know this and would want to make sure they score top points!
Emil Sayfutdinov is a champion from 2014 and 2015 and he surely counts on hattrick, feeling motivated to get the gold for the third time in a row. Can he do it?
Emil will be my favorite to regain his title but the determination of the Dane, Nicki Pedersen will focus on a result at Gustrow to kick-start his SEC, maybe at any cost if he is focused in my opinion if NP and pulls it off his belief in the title could be just what he needs, his past three seasons finishing on the podium was so close!
Can Nicki stop Emil?
So I will put my neck on the line and say Emil’s record… Emil’s back to back Under 21 World title equal’s his success in the SEC but, to be coming back from injury and Nicki Pedersen’s up and down season if he has looked just might be enough. Can Nicki handle it and keep a cool head or should I say a steady pace is yet to see, he could put a stop on Emil taking his third Championship if he does.
Who do you think could be a dark horse in the whole championship?
When you look down the order of the other top stars in this year’s SEC for 2016 I can identify a few dark horses, I don’t have to look too far down to see Antonio Lindbaeck, the Swede has what it takes to do the business without a doubt in my opinion so I will say he is my Dark horse!
Look at the this year's SEC venues: Güstrow, Daugavpils, Togliatti, Rybnik - which riders have the best chance for winning each of these rounds?
2016 SEC will be stopping at four very different type of tracks, okay they all have a start gate but the shape for starters is Gustrow, its rides very much like a circle and depending on the weather, if wet it may produce a out-side riding line as the meeting runs… but if its dry and watering is needed it will slightly change riders chose with a start passion playing its part. Riders will be relying on their gating to get track position and in most cases it’s the inside, leaving the best riders chasing…
But round two Daugavpils much longer straights and again if the dirt is there the riders will have a much better chose to race for fast track lines, the riders that have track experience like Grigorij Laguta and Andzejs Lebedevs will want to claim a good result. The set ups for this style, track will favor most!
Toglitti track I have no experience so if I was to say the size tell, looking back at Gustrow size it’s the smallest track in this year’s SEC at only 298 meters but Toglitti next smallest at 353 meters, now the 55 meters makes a difference with the riders that have raced there before will play in those riders hands…
The final round in Rybnik Poland is the biggest and just maybe the venue that most of the SEC riders have time racing on, this track will bring many capable riders scoring points but at this point we will have learnt of the top contenders…
Güstrow will be first host of SEC 2016. What kind of competition do you expect?
Round one Gustrow, I expect riders to be looking to gain an early advantage as normal but in my opinion no rider could win every race, so with that statement it would bring many surprises, by the time the final gets under way it will be one of my top picks that will stand on the top, here’s my prediction…
So, the TOP 3 in Güstrow...
Nicki Pedersen, Antonio Lindbaek, Emil Sayutdinov…
