Copenhagen Speedway GP Preview Saturday 30 June 2013.

Emil Sayfutdinov will be aiming to extend his 11 point lead at the top of the Speedway Grand Prix standings this weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 23 year old Russian has already claimed three victories in the 2013 GP campaign.

Tai Woffinden, Sayfutdinov’s nearest challenger finished third in Prague two weeks ago with a broken collar bone. So far the 2013 season has been a season to remember for the 22 year old after being crowned British Champion, and with his exceptional meeting in the Czech Republic has proved just how much the Scunthorpe born rider has developed and matured since 2010.

This will be the first grand prix since Czech Republic, 18th May where all 15 original riders will take part with the return of Australia’s Darcy Ward. Ward crashed out in Gothenburg and has suffered two months on the sidelines with a badly broken shoulder.
The former under-21 world champion made his return earlier this week for his Swedish team Dackarna. Scoring 11+1, Ward demonstrated he is still on form prior to his accident.

Track record holder Nicki Pedersen (54.02 seconds), who is still suffering problems with his broken arm after colliding with Woffinden in Sweden four rounds ago, as well as Niels Kristian-Iversen will be aiming to break the curse of the Danes at the Parken stadium.

The only Danish rider to win at the 274 meter track was wildcard Hans Andersen in 2006 with Pedersen managing two consecutive second places in 2007 and 2008.
Rising star Michael Jepsen Jenson has been handed the wild card for Saturday’s meeting. The 21 year old knows exactly what it takes to succeed in a meeting of this calibre as the outgoing Under-21 world champion was victorious in the 2012 Nordic GP.

Grand Prix old boys Tomasz Gollob and Greg Hancock notably put on an exceptional display at the Parken Curcuit as Gollob, 42, has reached the final five times out of the last six years and Hancock, 43, three times out of the last five.

23 year old Swindon Robins rider Peter Kildemand and Peterborough Panthers Kenni Larsen, 25, have been named as the track reserves.
With a capacity just short of 30 thousand the Parken stadium will be set alight from 7:00pm local time (6:00pm British time).