The last round of this year’s Speedway European Championships series takes place in Ostrów. The organizers have prepared many events for the last few years which they gathered many fans at the stadium. Will it be similar this time? We have asked about it the president of the club Mirosław Wodniczak.
Mr president, when did think about organization of Speedway European Championships series in Ostrów for the first time?
- The idea was born last year during one of SEC rounds in Togliatti when I was there with Adam Krużyński (boss of Nice), we were talking with the boys from One Sport and finally we reached an agreement some time later and I’m very happy because of that.
Were the negotiations concerning the organization of the round long?
- In my opinion they weren’t long. The boys pointed that Ostrów is a very interesting place for speedway. In our city there were some interesting events earlier which gathered a lot of people at the stadium. During a friendly match there were over 11 thousand fans, this speaks for itself.
What must be changed at the stadium so that it was adjusted to a round of SEC?
- I think that only some details still have to be done. Bosses of One Sport, Karol Lejman and Jan Konikiewicz visited our stadium and they had no reservations. Requirements concerning lights are done, there will be new surface, we will change the fence at one place. Apart from that, it can be said that the stadium is ready for SEC.
In 2014 you were present during the final round of European championship in Częstochowa. What were your assumptions after that event?
- Mainly I would like to have similar show to this in Częstochowa also in Ostrów. Then it was created by Emil Sajfutdinow and Grigorij Laguta who were riding almost at the fences! It was really great racing and I wish the same me and fans so that on the 19th September there were also a lot of emotions.
Do you already have an idea what should be done to encourage as many fans as possible to come at the stadium?
- At this moment we have a lot of questions about the start of selling the tickets so I’m not afraid of attendance. Of course we won’t be waiting passively. We did some marketing actions so far after which the stadium was really full. Such was during friendly match Poland – Australia when honestly we did such little marketing and the stadium was full. I would like to repeat the scenario from Individual World Championship U21 when there were 14 thousand fans in Ostrów. That’s why I think that such prestigious tournament will also encourage a lot of fans not only from Poland.
Let’s talk about league for a moment. Before the season you have recruited the best coach in Poland Marek Cieślak. Are you going to qualify to extraleague?
- That’s only sport so it’s hard to say who will qualify to the best league. Surely we have one of the best coaches and we will try to have as good score as possible. Besides a few teams in 1st league is really strong, pay attention on the line – up of Lokomotiv Daugavpils or ROW Rybnik. Great ambitions are also in the team from Gniezno who can do a lot in the league. I think that these teams will be really strong and they will decide who will qualify to extralegue in 2016.
We also know that there were changes on the surface in Ostrów…
- Exactly, we brought 300 tons of syenite because some stones started to appear. The coach suggested us that the track should be changed a little so that it could be prepared better. If we rode on it in the summer at 2 p. m. so in the biggest heat, it would be very difficult to do something with the surface. We believe that bringing the syenite will help to prepare the track easier.
Rune Holta has also moved to your team. Do you think that this rider is still able to ride at the high level?
- I think so. For him it is now a step back but sometimes it is needed to make another forward. It is similar situation to ours when we were relegated in 2013 to the 2nd league to qualify now and rebuild ourselves. In my opinion he thinks in a similar way and we also remember that now we will use through silencers again and that’s why I’m sure that we’ll see him while he will be making a good score and it can be even the best rider of the 1st league.
Are you satisfied with transfers which were made or would you like to have someone more in the team?
- We have trusted Marek Cieślak when we recruited him. Also as far as transfers are concerned. It was the coach who was building the team. He presented us the names of riders who he would like to see in the team and at the end we have managed to realize most of these plans. I think that we have interesting team which will fight effectively in the 1st league.
The final round of SEC is a great challenge. Are you already thinking of inviting to Ostrów Speedway Best Pairs Cup which is also organized by One Sport?
- I think that we will check with the boys from One Sport in this event which is planned on the 19th September 2015 so during the final of Speedway European Championships and then we will be talking and decide what to do next.
What can you wish fans in 2015?
- Mainly a lot of emotions at the stadiums. Not only league but all of them. I also encourage to visit stadiums during the events organized by One Sport and I believe that we will meet everybody in Ostrów. Happy New Year!
