THOMSEN EYES ROSTRUM RETURN

Danish racer Anders Thomsen believes his side can challenge for Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations gold as they bid to end their five-year wait for a world championship medal.

Thomsen teams up with world No.5 Leon Madsen and 17-year-old sensation Marcus Birkemose as the Danes face Poland, Russia, Australia, Sweden, Great Britain and the Czech Republic on Day 1 of the Final in Lublin tonight.

This will be Thomsen’s Monster Energy SON debut, but he goes into the meeting on the back of winning his first Danish Championship at Vojens on September 30 and being handed an SGP 2021 wild card.

The Danes have not won a senior world team medal since they finished second at the 2015 FIM Speedway World Cup Final at Vojens.

While Thomsen admits this weekend’s Monster Energy SON Final showdown will be a real test, he’s backing his side to be contenders.

He said: “It’s a big challenge for me to go into the Speedway of Nations Final. It’s a new tournament for me and I am there racing for the Danish team as well, so it is a big thing for me to go there and show what I can do.

“I’m racing alongside Leon Madsen, who is one of the best in the world. It’s always nice to team up with one of the best riders. I don’t know him too well, but for sure we will do what we can and see if we can get on to the podium.

“Some of the other countries are missing some riders. While that’s a shame, of course this puts us in a better position. If we hit form on the day, we can go to the top for sure.”

Denmark’s chances are boosted by the form of their under-21 star Birkemose, who finished third in the Danish Final.

Aged just 15 when last year’s Monster Energy SON Final took place, the reigning Danish and European Under-21 champion wouldn’t have been old enough to race. But Thomsen is backing one of world speedway’s brightest young talents to star this weekend.

“He is really on fire,” the SGP star said. “He’s flying at the moment and he can spring a big surprise on everybody. At the Danish Final, he was sometimes two bike lengths in front when he dropped the clutch. He has something working really well for him.”