MOLLER TO TEAM UP WITH PEDERSEN IN DANISH COACHING ROLE

Danish assistant coach Henrik Moller is ready to form another successful double act with new boss Nicki Pedersen after extending his contract with the national team.

Moller served as assistant to previous team manager Hans Nielsen, and even stepped up as boss for the 2020 FIM Speedway of Nations Final in Lublin, when the four-time world champion was confined to his hotel room after testing positive for Covid-19.

Pedersen and Moller raced together for Danish club Holsted and will now team up again to lead their country into a new era. Their partnership started with a training camp for Denmark’s under-23, under-21 and under-19 stars in Fredericia on Saturday.

With Pedersen still racing for Polish club Grudziadz and Holsted, as well as taking on other riding commitments, Moller stands ready to support the new boss, as well as step in when there are date clashes between Pedersen’s racing and coaching roles.

But he believes the fact his old team mate is still getting sideways could really benefit the Danes as they get ready for this summer’s FIM Speedway World Cup in Wroclaw from July 25-29.

He said: “Nicki has the strength that he is still close to the sport as an active rider in the world’s best league.  He has a lot of know-how about the sport and about the latest gear, which can be a big help, especially for the young national team riders.

“In return, I bring a lot of experience from DMU’s national team setup, just as I have a very close relationship with many of the elite riders that I have known since they started in the sport.

“Nicki and I go back a long way, when we raced as a pair at Holsted, so we will probably have a really good collaboration, where I will of course step in and help with the squads when Nicki has to focus on his career as an active rider.”

Three-time world champion Erik Gundersen will continue his long-standing role coaching the country’s young riders. But Moller is also keen to play his part in creating opportunities for Denmark’s next generation of stars.

He said: “We have done very well in recent years, winning medals in the senior and youth ranks, but we need to activate the large pool of young talent with national-team potential out in the clubs.

“That is why I also aim to help train more coaches for the clubs, as well as start more training sessions for the young riders. It will raise the riders’ level at a young age and contribute to getting even more riders into the sport, so that our talent pool grows and both the sport and the Danish national team are prepared for the future.”