Aussies in world speedway mix

Darcy Ward says the Aussie contingent has what it takes to take the New Zealand speedway grand prix gold medal back across the Tasman Sea on Saturday, April 5, but expects 2013 winner Jaroslaw Hampel to take some beating.

The 21-year-old is in Auckland for the FIM Speedway Grand Prix series opener at Western Springs and can’t wait to race in front of a partisan Kiwi crowd, as well as thousands of his fellow Aussies who are expected to make the trip.

Ward is joined by 2012 world champ Chris Holder and SGP newcomer Troy Batchelor in the City of Sails, where the best Aussie result was fourth place by Jason Crump in 2012.

Ward would love to top the box in his local event, but admits 2013 Auckland winner and 2012 runner-up Hampel will start as favourite.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it. There’s always a big lead-up and there are a lot of people watching, but that’s the fun of it.

“It’s a big event. It’s the first round, so you don’t need to pull all your cards out. But you do need to score points and it could come down to the end, so every point counts.

“There are three Aussies here with myself, Chris and Troy in the series. We’re all good riders and we have as good as a chance as anyone in New Zealand. But of course Jarek Hampel loves these big tracks and he seems to be the man down there.

“It all comes down to that one day – some people have bad days; some people have good days.”

Ward is being tipped as the bookmakers’ favourite to be world champ. Asked how he rated his own chances, Ward replied: “For sure I think I’ve got what it takes. I could have a great year and be the quickest person in the leagues, but come Grand Prix day, and it might not work.

“You need a bit of luck and you need things to swing your way to win the title. Woffy was the quickest all year in 2013 without a doubt. But I was injured, Chris was injured and Emil Sayfutdinov got injured.

“It was Woffy’s (Tai Woffindin’s) year. You can’t take anything away from him. He was definitely fast. But you need a little bit of luck, some good races and you need to keep your speed throughout Europe and enjoy it.”