Janusz Kołodziej will start in the SEC final in Częstochowa straightway but he is going to fight for the medal of European Championship. Although loss to Emil Sajfutdinow is too much, but fight for the podium seems still real.
Janusz, you are losing eleven points to Emil Sayfutdinov at this moment. It seems that it’s even too many. Do you think that this loss is still to undo?
- As far as sport is concerned, everything is possible but you have to look realistically at everything. Emil’s advantage is really big and it will be difficult to undo it. What is more, he is in such form that he seems to be the main favorite. Personally I can assure that I will do my best to ride as good as I can and generally I’m not looking at that what other are doing.
But fighting for medals is still real for you I guess…
- The loss is definitely less so you can say so. However, as I said before, I will just try do to my best and ride as well as in Gustrow and then we’ll see what will be the score at the end. Of course it is possible that if the rival, who is ahead of me, has worse day, I can fight for the medal. The main aim for me is to fight for the top five because it’s a guarantee to start in the series next year.
What can you say about the track in Częstochowa? Do you like it?
- Yes, I have no bad memories connected with it. Even I won there the Golden Helmet in the past. That’s a great track to fight and usually I am able to have pretty nice scores there. What is more, the surface really suits me and so far I was always able to find the right setups to ride fast there. I hope that this time will be the same.
For two years you have been present on the podium of Individual Polish Championship. Does this fact mean more self – confidence for you?
- I’m very happy that for the last few season I have managed to be on the same quite good level because sometimes riders have problems to keep form but luckily this doesn’t bother me. It’s really important indeed because it assures a kind of calm taking into consideration preparing to each event. Of course the medal of Polish Championship mentioned earlier are also a reason for happiness for me.
Coming back to SEC series, the worst score which you had was in Togliatti. Why?
- Generally from the very beginning I didn’t feel well in Russia and I don’t connect this country with speedway so I couldn’t find the right motivation. Of course this wasn’t the main reason because mainly I wasn’t doing well on the track. I couldn’t find the right setups and it was additionally more difficult because of the rain. Maybe if it hadn’t been raining, I could have adjusted to this track faster.
This is your first season in Speedway European Championships. What are your impressions?
- Only positive. Everything is really professional and well organized. I was taking part in Grand Prix series also and we can surely say that the organizers of SEC can’t feel ashamed. I really want to start in the series also next season.
The final round of SEC might be very important for the club from Częstochowa which has quite serious problems. Do you, I mean riders, pay attention on this fact?
- Well, these things aren’t dependent on us and maybe not exactly concerning us but of course I hope that my presence and mainly scores will encourage fans to come at the stadium in Częstochowa and it will be useful for the club. By the way I would like to invite all fans from Tarnów for the SEC final.
Do you prepare in some special way for this last round?
- Particularly at this time I have a kind of speedway marathon and we are preparing everything taking into consideration this fact. The final in Częstochowa will be the first event in this difficult time for me. I will ride in SEC, Polish league, Swedish league, final of Grand Prix Challenge so that’s pretty much. I have to plan everything taking into consideration logistics.
You are the only Pole who still have chance to win medal in European Championship. Is it kind of additional motivation for you or maybe you feel some pressure?
- Rather not, but surely I’m aware of this fact. I’ll do my best to have really good score.
Many riders said that Individual International Extralegue Championship was an opportunity for different test of engines. Did you do the same? Did you want to check something before the SEC final?
- No, no. It was just the event which I wanted to win. The beginning wasn’t good for me because the track in Tarnów wasn’t prepared as usual in the league but the ending was really okay and that’s the most important for me. If it was the other way round probably I would wonder what is going on. Fortunately it seems that everything is fine and the score also was okay.
Thanks very much.
- Thanks and see you in Częstochowa.
