"I should have performed much better in the competition" says the young Dane, Emil Pørtner, in an interview, summing up the 2021 season. Nevertheless, it had a positive ending, topped by a silver medal and the title of Danish Junior Vice-Champion, losing only to Tim Sørensen. In addition, Pørtner's name has also reappeared in the Danish national team.
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Magdalena Magdziarz (speedwaynews.pl): – We are currently in-between seasons. How do you spend that time? Are you resting, or have you already started preparing for next year's speedway competition?
Emil Pørtner: I never relax. In my off-season, I focus a lot on my physical shape so that it is at its very best for the speedway season to start again. In addition, there are all the practicalities of contracts, sponsors, and more… So, I prepare myself as best I can for the season to start and for everything 100% around me and my team to be in control.
– How would you sum up the past season? Are you happy with everything?
– I am disappointed with my performance in the Danish Superliga. I should have performed much better. That said, I always know I'm coming strong again. Fortunately, I also proved that at the last race of the season, the u21 Danish championship, where I won a silver medal. It was an absolutely perfect ending to a slightly difficult season on my part, and it bodes well for the upcoming season.
– Which element of speedway takes the most effort? Which of the elements of preparation requires the most work in your opinion?
-There is not only one thing that is required in the preparations. It's a mix of everything. Therefore, I place equal emphasis on physical and mental training. In addition, there must also be good control of one's team and the home front.
– Who helps you in your career? Whose help can you count on? Who is part of your team?
– My family is a great help in my career. In addition, my faithful sponsors are also a great and indispensable help. And my good friend and faithful mechanic, Benjamin, who has been a part of my career for the past 4 years. Without all of them, I would not have been able to be where I am today.
– At the just-mentioned Danish Junior Individual Championships you showed a very good performance, taking the second place on the podium. You were also the only rider at the time to beat the later winner of the evening, Tim Sørensen, by a distance. Were you aiming for second place in this tournament?
– I always do my best to win every tournament I race in. If you do not go after winning, you might as well stay home and park the speedway bikes in the workshop.
Podium of the Danish Youth Individual Championships (photo: Slangerup Speedway Club social media)
– Some time ago, it was announced that your new club for the 2022 season would be GSK Liga. You were a rider for Slangerup Speedway Club for three years. Why did you decide to change clubs?
– I needed to try something new, to develop myself. Grindsted has shown interest in me before and has chosen to do it again. They believe a lot in my talent, and our collaboration is already perfect. In addition, Grindsted is also close to my hometown, where I have many sponsors, who now have a greater opportunity to come out and see me ride, and I will make arrangements for them.
– This year, you were also called up to the Danish national speedway team, this time in the U23 category. Will you treat the next season as a bigger challenge due to your appointment to the U23 national team, or will you approach it as you always have?
– I will always do my best. But of course, I'm happy to be on the national team. I look forward to the collaboration and hope I will ride in more tournaments with Team Denmark this season.
– Still, about your country's national team, Maia Aamand has also been called up. Is this a step forward in terms of women in speedway?
– I do not know if it is progress for women in the sport. I grew up with a sister who raced on a speedway, so it seems natural to me.
– According to experts, Denmark was a medal candidate in the Speedway of Nations. The Danish national team ended this year's two-day Speedway of Nations final with a bronze medal. Nevertheless, there was a desire for a higher place in this competition. What was the reason for that? Was it a track issue, for example?
– The Danish national team has had a hard time for some years now. But we are working hard to get back to our top-level, as we have been many years before. We are working hard on this with the youth national teams. I would not say that it was the fault of the track, but perhaps also that our competitors were better.
– Next year, the decisive competition in the Speedway of Nations is going to take place in Denmark. Do you think that, as hosts, you will be able to take first place in this competition?
– Yes, of course. And with the support of the Danish fans, my colleagues usually find extra gear.
– How would you describe the relationship between the riders in the Danish national team?
-This is good because there is good cooperation and time for laughter when there is no need to focus 110% on the meeting.
– In the end, would you like to say something to the fans?
– Yes, I would like to say thank you for your support for one more season, and I am looking very much forward to seeing you in 2022. And I look forward to stepping into Poland and showing my name there.
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