THOMSEN'S CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

Danish champion Anders Thomsen says reaching the FIM Speedway GP of MFR – Togliatti rostrum has given him a thirst for more podium champagne.

Thomsen finished 11^th in last year’s Speedway GP World Championship, and underlined his potential by reaching four semi-finals and one final – finishing third at Togliatti’s Anatoly Stepanov Stadium.

While that night belonged to meeting winner Artem Laguta, Thomsen admits it was an unforgettable experience as he joined the eventual world champion and Gorzow team mate Bartosz Zmarzlik on the rostrum.

“That feeling on the podium in Togliatti was amazing,” he said. “I am sure I was much happier than Artem, and he had won in his home country! It was my first podium in the Grand Prix and I felt like a world champion just for getting third position.”

Thomsen makes no secret of his Speedway GP ambitions, but he’s determined not to pile on the pressure ahead of his second season on the sport’s top stage.

He said: “Of course my goal is to be world champion one day. But it is not something I have to do this year. I am calm about everything. But of course I want to fight my backside off to do the best job I can do.”

In his quest to reach the top, Thomsen admits a Hungarian influence in his pit corner, including tuner Luigi Barath, is paying dividends.

He said: “The whole of my team is from Hungary, my tuner and my mechanics. We have a good relationship and I feel I have a really good team.

“I have known Luigi for many years and I have had a few good engines from him in the last couple of years. He makes a good engine for me for Vojens. I used it for the Danish Championships and it has won me two gold medals.

“He knows what to do and he has worked with Nicki Pedersen – one of the best riders ever.”