What does Tomasz Gollob do in his free time? How did you spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve?
- I hear this question quite often. The most often people ask me about it because they want to know as much as possible about a rider, what he does when he doesn’t ride. These days are in a way divided. Every rider needs relax and peace when he ends a season. That’s what I did in November and December – I was relaxing. However I don’t hide that I always spend my free time actively because I was riding motocross since the end of November 2014. Christmas I spent with family as each of us, in the company of loved ones. Honestly now I’m concerned with the new things which are closer and closer and January 2015 is organizational. Next, at the beginning of February I will go to motocross to Spain where I train my stamina. Later is the busiest time so March – April when we start riding in league and other tournaments. That is how last months looked like and what is important it has looked the same for thirty years.
When are you going to ride on a track for the first time?
- It is depended on the weather as every year. We are waiting until there will be positive temperature outside. As far as I remember during all those years I managed to ride on a track at the beginning of March or the latest in the middle of March.
It is impossible not to ask about transfer movements. Big surprise was your transfer from Toruń to the new team in ENEA Ekstraliga, GKM Grudziądz. What did you decide on such movement?
- This year I was considering three clubs but I’ve decided to sign a contract in a new team of Polish ENEA Ektraliga, GKM Grudziądz. This one of the closest places which I could choose because my home town is very near. I am very happy that I join this team. New team in a league has always a difficult task so we have to take care of this club and together with my teammates we will do our best to be in the highest league. We all know that this is not easy task. I thanked the other clubs because of the simple reason – they were too far. In my age one rather wants to be as near home as possible and not drive thousand kilometers every week. Last two years I spent in Toruń and I was happy because of that. It was really great to ride at so beautiful stadium. I think that every rider would like to ride in this club. I had such opportunity and I’m happy because of that, the situation which is there now has caused that I have left together with the owner of the club, Mr. Roman Karkosik. I have very good memories from that period, I thank everybody for good cooperation, for this what we did for those two years. Now this work will be done for the team from Grudziądz.
What can be strong and weak point of the team from Grudziądz?
- It is the beginning of the way so it is now hard to say what can be strong and weak point. Although our strong point can be definitely technical track. So far I can say nothing else because simply I haven’t had an occasion to meet anybody else than people who were dealing with me in terms of signing the contract. I have assurance that everything will be done positively and prepared as well as possible. Additionally the stadium will become more and more beautiful every day which of course makes me happy.
Are you going to sign a contract abroad apart from starts in Poland?
- There are many plans but the most important is surely doing my best in the team from Grudziądz. Apart from that I am still waiting for offers which are supposed to come. I mean here SEC or other tournaments. As far as starts abroad are concerned, honestly, I am thinking about it. I realize that if I choose starts in other leagues, it will take me a lot of time and consequently I hardly ever will be at my place. In the meantime I also take part in motocross trainings and tournaments. I think that when I join these things and add also my start in Grand Prix at National Stadium, my calendar will be definitely really filled. If I were nineteen, I would start in all leagues in the world but now I have to take care so that everything is prepared as well as possible and not to ride too far. I am rider met so I don’t want to deal with the things which could interrupt me to do a good score for Grudziądz.
Polish silencer has finally got an approval from FIM. I guess you are happy because you supporter of this silencer from the very beginning?
- If it is a through silencer, I can be only happy because it is very positive for our discipline. It is even not because of me but all rider will feel relief because the discipline will live again. What silencer it will be, we have to wait because as far as I know three or four have got the certificate. Surely I will choose through silencer, I will be preparing to it and adjusting all parts in my bike. Will I be riding in the front or at the back? We will see together but thanks to through silencers speedway will definitely stand up, give fun to fans, there will be more actions and speedway will be safer what is essential.
Did you have an opportunity to test the silencer made by referee Demski earlier?
- Not yet but I’ve heard Krzysztof Kasprzak’s opinion who was testing it at the end of last year and he praised it very much. If it is a through silencer, I think it will be a good silencer.
Some fans don’t see the difference between new and old silencer. Could you shortly explain why there were so many battles because of that in recent years?
- The difference is cosmic! As far as I remember when I used through silencer, a bike had more energy it was possible to ride in a close contact. Engine reacted on your movements of accelerator. It is known that speedway bike has no brakes so it is very important that when I closed – engine braked. In case of new silencers fumes which were present inside and couldn’t go out caused that bike reacted with some delay. There were less injuries than after introducing so called new silencer and it was possible to do incredible actions on a track. In my opinion, everything was better. Is is worth to mention that costs were much lower because equipment wasn’t so hot. What did it exactly mean? Well, chamber which was previously through, was shut. There was flow of this chamber through different labyrinths where this air couldn’t go out. It caused that silencer choked, was full of gases and the engine couldn’t empty. Because of that it was harder, more complicated to ride. When I closed accelerator at straight or at bend, bike was still riding because fumes which were cumulated under head, were excreted too late. Because of that engine reacted later and braked after some time. This silencer, which we used so far, will be in my mind as something unsuccessful but I count that this through silencer which I will definitely use. Speedway is a discipline which is known for noise. If we limited noise for example in Formula 1, then it wouldn’t be Formula 1 races but we would associate it with vacuum cleaners racing. This silencer is to make speedway more audible to put the whole dynamics in it. That’s my opinion on this subject.
Last year season in SEC you ended at 9th place. Surely there was insufficiency because first tournament in Gustrow was successful…?
- I have really good memories connected with Speedway European Championships. This is the event which will be developing all the time. Riders want to start in these tournaments which are organized and prepared well. Four events, on four different tracks in Europe where a lot of people come and I heard that in Gustrow the record of attendance was beaten. It is true that I rode there pretty well but I will ride even better when through silencers will appear. There will be competiveness. This series is prepared really well which fits both riders and fans at the stadiums and in front of TVs. Many riders don’t want to start in Grand Prix or other tournaments but they want to show up there and realize themselves. I also would like to do that because European championship is the last thing in speedway which I haven’t won. If it is possible, I will definitely fight for this title.
Thanks for the interview.
- Thanks very much.
