VOL. 52 ISSUE 20 MAY 19, 2015 P35
a rostrum today anyway. So to
actually win this GP with so many
things going on this week was
good for me and good for the
sponsors.
"Hard work pays off. I haven't
been happy with things for sev-
eral years. It has been up and
down, but tonight I really felt my
bikes suited me. When you've
got yourself and the bikes as one
unit, you know it's possible. But
you still need to go out and do it."
Pedersen is renowned as
one of World Speedway's gating
gurus. But that doesn't stop him
seeking perfection. Even when
he won his semi-final, he felt
there was room for improvement
to ensure he came out on top.
"I analyzed the replays of my
start in the semi-final a little bit. I
made a mistake and didn't make
as good a start as I should have
done," he said. "I analyzed it and
I made it better in the final. It's
nice when you can look at small
things and get them working for
the next race.
"I've changed my gating style
a little bit over the last month and
the way I work on the bike. That
has really made a difference
compared to the last couple of
years. It works very well and
that's good."
Pedersen watched as light-
ening-trapping rival Woffinden
picked the inside red gate for the
final. But rather than steer clear
of him with his selection, the
Dane was determined to win the
starting struggle and chose blue.
"I knew Tai [Woffinden] was
getting faster and faster towards
the end, but when he took gate
one, I believed I could make a
start on him," Pedersen said.
"If he'd made it, he could have
squeezed me out. But I believed
I could make it and I did. I can't
wait for Prague now. I want to
put some more points on the
account."
John Hipkiss
(Far left) For triple
world Champ Nicki
Pedersen it was an
emotional first FIM
Speedway Grand
Prix win since July
2012 in Tampere,
Finland.
(Left) Pedersen
(right) took the win,
but Tai Woffinden
(left) leads the
points after the
second round of the
championship.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
JOHN
HIPKISS