JT/Fox Oxford Cheetahs riders Todd Wiltshire, Jimmy Nilsen and Brian Andersen are looking for a lift in the penultimate round of the Grand Prix at the Vojens Speedway Centre in Denmark on Saturday but all for different reasons, writes Leon Hill.
Wiltshire is the highest placed of the trio, lying in seventh place on 48 points, 25 behind leader Mark Loram.
Wiltshire is still in his first year of the series and his performances so far have been excellent considering his inexperience of the event.
He is looking forward to Vojens, although he admits that he hasn't been there for a while
"It is another Grand Prix circuit that I haven't ridden for ages and I will need to work hard at the practice on Friday to make sure I get a good feel for the track," he said. For Nilsen, the pressure is a little heavier as he lies in tenth place, meaning a trip to the Grand Prix Challenge and no automatic qualification.
He will need to produce two good performances to avoid that meeting, which can easily signal the end of Grand Prix dreams.
For Andersen, his only hope is the Grand Prix Challenge, but, at 23rd in the standings and only nine points to his name, he too needs to lift himself up the rankings.
If he stays as he is, it is likely he will have to go from the very first heat, and as it is on the same format as the Grand Prix, it could mean he faces a lot of races.
Vojens, controlled by Grand Prix supremo Ole Olsen, is a dedicated speedway venue and is always immaculately prepared. There should be some excellent racing as the battle for the title hots up.
With Tomasz Gollob missing the last round due to his collar-bone injury, it only really leaves Tony Rickardsson to challenge British No 1 Loram for the title.
Rickardsson had to do things the hard way last year and can certainly not be regarded as an underdog.
For anyone who wishes to watch the meeting live and does not have access to Sky television, the SOS have arranged a barbecue in Kidlington where the Grand Prix will be shown on a big screen. For more details contact Graham Darling on 01869 244209. From an Oxford perspective, three Cheetahs are out to improve their positions and all for different reasons. Todd Wiltshire is the highest placed of the trio currently lying in seventh place on 48 points, 25 behind leader Mark Loram.
Todd is still in his first year of the series and his performances so far have been excellent considering his inexperience of the event.
Wiltshire is looking forward to Vojens although he admits that he hasn't been there for a while
"It is another Grand Prix circuit that I haven't ridden for ages and I will need to work hard at the practice on Friday to make sure I get a good feel for the track".
For Jimmy Nilsen the pressure is a little heavier as he currently lies in tenth place meaning a trip to the Grand Prix Challenge and no automatic qualification.
He will need to have two good performances to avoid that meeting, which can mean the end of your Grand Prix dream so easily. For Brian Andersen his only hope is the Grand Prix Challenge but at 23rd in the standings and only nine points to his name he too needs to lift himself up the rankings.
If he stays as he is, it is likely he will have to go from the very first heat, and as it is on the same format as the Grand Prix themselves it could mean a lot of races for him.
For anyone who wishes to watch the meeting live and does not have access to Sky television the SOS have arranged a BBQ to be held in Kidlington where the Grand Prix will be shown on a big screen. For more details phone Graham Darling on 01869 244209.
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