In the coming weekend the 2nd final of IME is going to be held in Tomaszów Mazowiecki. At the local ice arena will be different ice racers than it was in Sanok last month. Sports sanctions covered the championship leaders - Dmitry Solannikov and Vladimir Fadeyev. Among others, Franz Mayerbüchler, who gave our portal an interview before this tournament, will fight for the title of the best rider in Europe.
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Magdalena Magdziarz (speedwaynews.pl): How do you feel before the second final in Tomaszów Mazowiecki?
Franz Mayerbüchler: I'm really looking forward to it because I had a good feeling after Sanok.
– How did you evaluate the preparation and organization in Sanok last month? What do you think about the track? How did you find the atmosphere there as well?
– It was really a special track because of the sun. The two corners had different types of ice because one was all day long in the sun and the other one was in the shadows. It was like really special track conditions, but this was like not having any hands on the organizers because they couldn't do anything about the weather. But I had no problem with this one. So all in all, they've done a fantastic job. They prepared the ice after practice, perfect again. So there was like nothing to say about this one. The atmosphere was superb because the organization, like in the pits, people were really calm, like not making stress or stuff like that.
– In the terms of the track – did you see any differences between the first day, during the final of the Championship, and on the second day of the Sanok Cup?
– A little different because on Sunday it started to rain. So the first heat on Sunday, it was like really soft ice because of the rain, but then it stopped raining and in the end, the ice was really hard, really hard-packed ice. But I had no problems with this one.
– The coming race in Tomaszów Mazowiecki will be some kind of different from usual because there’s the absence of the Russian riders, Soliannikow and Fadiejew. What’s on your mind about this situation in terms of purely sporting, as it will influence the competition on Sunday?
– Well, it's like the two top guys are missing. We all know the situation with Ukraine, so we can't do anything about this for sure. The riders are like the last ones there that have to afford what's happening in Ukraine so that they have to stay at home.
– What do you reckon about sports sanctions against Russia in general? For example, about the World Championship? There are divided opinions. Some people say that thanks to the absence of Russian, the other riders have more opportunities to win. On the other hand, others say that it's going to be more like the European Championship, then the World Championship. What do you think about this? I am talking about World Championship now, but you also take part in these races.
– It's really tough because we all know that the Russians are the fastest riders. The race will be a little slower, so it's easier for the other guys to win. But on the other hand, this sport, I assume it's a tiny sport. So we can't do anything that’s happening to Russia.
– It's the first time in your career that you qualified for the Ice Speedway World Championship. You did it in Örnsköldsvik in Sweden.
– I was surprised myself in Sweden to get the qualification done, but I had a wonderful day. The season is a really small season. Unfortunately, my home race was canceled, and also Berlin. So on the one hand, I'm really happy about being in the first season in World Championship, to make the qualification and to compete against the best of the world. I will try to make my best of it in Holland.
– What is for you, the biggest success in your career?
– I think it was the third place in German Championship, and I also like to get the qualification, the fifth place in Sweden to get the qualification done for World Championship. Maybe this weekend in Tomaszów will be a good race too.
– If all goes well, you will add this race to your list of successes. What about the ice Speedway in Germany? Are there any prospects of getting young people to race?
– It's quite hard because we don't have opportunities to practice, and that's the biggest problem we have. If someone wants to try it, we don't have the possibility. That's why we don't have many riders. We have tough times because we have two big races in Inzell and Berlin, but since Corona started, some people have stopped or made a break. So possibly in the next few years, it's getting better, but I don't know.
– So do you think that situation can improve, and it can be better in the future?
– Yeah, for sure.
– Tell me also, how did you start with the ice speedway? What was the beginning of your ice speedway?
– It started ten years ago because my father was also riding ice speedway, and then I just went with him to practice. That's where I started with the first steps.
– What do you actually like about the ice speedway? I consider that this discipline is dangerous, and it is a bit different from classical speedway.
– Well, it's like about speed on the ice. We almost touch the ice with the handlebar. We're doing the turns, the corner speed is like what makes the excitement for me.
– Do you want to add something about what I didn't ask you? Maybe you want to thank some people?
– Yeah. Thanks to my father, to my family, and all my supporters.
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