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NEWSDESK continued from page 3 tried to organise a pay-per-view live fight with the Dane. Woffinden stated: “We’re about the same height, same size, same weight. We’ve got history – I belted him once.” However, the fight never happened because, apparently, Madsen’s Polish club Częstochowa blocked it. The Dane dismissed any talk of Woffy’s headline-grabbing angst and the importance of rivalries. He said: “That’s not up to me to say that, it’s up to the fans. I don’t care, I don’t need a rivalry with Tai or anyone. “I think he has more of a problem than I do. “I’m here to win the World Championship, not to get into any fights or make friends, or whatever.” Madsen is a two-time silver medalist but does he feel this could finally be his year? He added: “Yes, I do. And it’s not just something I say. Mentally, I’m very fit, I’ve never felt better in my whole life than how I do right now. “I think it’s important to feel mentally fit if you want to win the World Championship. I haven’t felt like this for a long, long time. I just feel that it’s going to be a great season. “Obviously there’s lots of things that have to click to win the world title. It’s not enough just to be mentally or physically fit. “There’s many aspects. You need to have good equipment, be fit, not many injuries, stuff like that. But Madsen doesn’t believe that triple World Champion and Danish team boss Pedersen can be a big influence on his 2024 bid. He continued: “I think in general in Danish speedway it’s good to have Nicki as the coach. He can help a lot with the young guys. “But in the GP I have my own team around me that is working quite well. “Nicki sometimes brings in some input. We talk and whatever I can use I take with me. He’s good to have around, for sure.” THE man they’ve got to beat is, of course, Bartosz Zmarzlik. The silver medal he collected in 2021 punctuates his domination of the sport since 2019 with four titles. It was perhaps appropriate that in Paris, the home of the Olympics and the famous five rings for 2024, Zmarzlik is looking for his fifth gold medal – to equal Swedish legend Ove Fundin’s title haul. At just 28-years-old, Zmarzlik is now getting tantalisingly close to Ivan Mauger and Tony Rickardsson’s record six titles. If this powerhouse Pole maintains this form, he will undoubtedly become the most decorated rider of all-time before the end of this decade. Naturally, in typical ‘sportsman speak’, he insisted to me that he is only concentrating on the season ahead, not the records. He told me: “I’m very happy with what I make over the past five years. I really don’t look at the numbers. I just fully focus on this season. Then I just make a plan for the next season. “I don’t look at how many medals I have in the GP right now, only at the end of my career. “I have had many seasons already but I don’t look behind me. The only idea in my head right now is to make the fifth world title.” Zmarzlik also refused to be drawn on whether he fears any riders in the field. There are potential title pretenders in the latest young guns coming through, Robert Lambert, Jack Holder, Dan Bewley and Dominik Kubera. But Zmarzlik remains the red-hot favourite to make it a high five, even though he didn’t admit it. He concluded: “For sure, I just look at myself. But many times I see the other riders in the GP and leagues who are making big progress. “There are (the likes of) Symon (Wozniak), Dominik (Kubera), Dan (Bewley), Jack (Holder) and Martin (Vaculik) last year. Everyone wants to win. It is my job to stay there.” The 30th SGP series has begun amid the dramatic setting in the City of Love. Let’s hope this is the season in which controversy, rivalries and passion truly returns. Complin ‘mortified’ GLASGOW’S Lee Complin is said to be “mortified” after being ruled out of the start of the season by a “non-negative” anti-doping test result. The defending Championship title winners were rocked after being forced to begin their campaign at Berwick on Saturday night without their inspirational reserve. Complin, 39, received his “non-negative” result just an hour before the BSN Series clash at Shielfield Park. Referee Michael Breckon then deemed that he was ineligible to race. Allied Vehicles Tigers lost by six points with a six-rider team – but, naturally, the main talking point was the loss of Complin. mouth. All the medication he’s been taking has clearly made him fail a drug test.” Not surprisingly, the social media keyboard warriors went to town, hurling premature accusations and toxic remarks after Glasgow released the news. His wife responded by adding: “Maybe you should all wait for the results before jumping to conclusions! Lee Complin anxiously checks his phone while team-mate James Pearson also looks worried at Berwick last Saturday. Picture: TAYLOR LANNING It was clear that the Yorkshireman was furious with the verdict and he stayed in the pits all meeting to help his team-mates. The Speedway Control Bureau released a statement during the meeting. It said: “At the Berwick v Glasgow BSN fixture on Saturday, April 13, 2024, four riders, two from each team, had been randomly selected for an anti-doping test. “Glasgow rider Lee Complin was one of the four riders selected and, unfortunately, Mr Complin’s test had comeback as a non-negative result, therefore he has been excluded from the event. “The sample test will now be sent to the laboratory for further analysis. “Mr Complin’s SCB Registration will be suspended until the results have been confirmed from the laboratory.” It is understood that Complin has been suffering from a tooth abscess for the past few weeks and has been taking pain relief for that. This was confirmed by his wife Laura on Facebook on Saturday night. She stated: “He’s been taking pain relief for the abscess in his “He’s absolutely mortified and upset without all your stupid comments. That’s all I’m going to say on the matter and won’t be replying to comments either!” Glasgow are planning to make a statement but that is probably going to be after the test results are released. With those findings not expected for a week, it’s likely that Glasgow will have to find a replacement for their first home meeting of the season against Edinburgh on Friday. 4 speedway star April 13,2024
page 5
JOHN LOUIS RIP IPSWICH and England legend John Louis passed away last Friday, just three weeks after he had been inducted into speedway’s official Hall of Fame. Louis, 82, was a giant on track in the days when England ruled the speedway world and after calling time on his racing career at the end of 1984, he returned to an active role in the sport as co-promoter at his former club Ipswich in 1989. He remained in charge of the Witches until ill health forced him to step down 32 years later but his son Chris, who was jointly enrolled into the British Speedway Promoters’ Limited HoF, continues to keep the family ownership of the Suffolk club. John made his Witches debut near the end of the 1969 season and spent 11 years of his 15-season career at Foxhall Heath. n There will be a full tribute to the former British Champion in next week’s issue. Women’s interest T HE 2024 Women’s Open Championship, to be held as a one-off meeting at Leicester, has generated excitement – not only here in the UK but worldwide. It will be run alongside a staging of the British Youth Championship at the Pidcock Motorcycles Arena on Saturday, August 31. Great Britain will be represented by their top two female riders, Katie Gordon and Rachel Hellowell. Undisputed world No. 1 and Workington rider Celina Liebmann leads a trio of German contenders, along with 16-year-old Hannah Grunwald and Patricia Erhardt, 20. To give the event a truly international flavour, 21-year-old Teagan Pedler is making the trip all the way from Adelaide, Australia to compete. Any other female competitors who would like to compete in this event can still register by sending an email to neil@scbgb.co.uk JUST SAYING... By PETER OAKES DOES British speedway have a drugs problem lurking underneath the surface? Without for one minute prejudging the outcome of the latest case (Glasgow’s Lee Complin), it means that in less than 10 months, four riders have failed their initial test. And if you go back a little further, to July, 2022, when Ben Barker was suspended, that figure is five. Three of those riders – Nick Morris, Steve Boxall and Richie Worrall – are all currently banned from racing and now Complin has had his licence suspended by the Speedway Control Bureau. Lee may be cleared but it is still a worrying trend that four riders could have given what are initially described as non-negative samples when the drugs testers have come visiting since the middle of last year. I understand that since last July, the SCB have overseen six random drugs tests at various tracks (including Saturday night’s visit to Berwick), which means a total of 24 riders have been tested, assuming that no-one has been asked to give a sample more than once. With four positive tests, it means that 20 riders have been ‘clean’ but the failed tests make up an uncomfortable 16.66 per cent of the total – that’s close to one in every six riders tested have produced what is termed a ‘non-negative’ sample. Allowing, as we must, for a mistake and the possibility of Complin’s B sample proving to be negative, it is still 12.5 per cent (that’s one in eight) of the numbers tested. That is, in so many ways, a frightening figure but, of course, statistically it is such a small sample that it almost certainly doesn’t tell the true story. Also, we have to remember that in some instances even an over-the-counter painkiller can contain a prohibited substance. In their guide to athletes, UKAD (UK Anti-Doping) state: “Medications prescribed by a doctor or bought directly over the counter may contain prohibited substances. It is an athlete’s responsibility to check their medication before using it even if they have used it before.” There is also the possibility that the authorities are acting on ‘information received’ and, if that is the case, then shouldn’t they be commended, because no-one can condone drug taking in such a dangerous sport. April 13,2024 speedway star 5

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NEWSDESK

continued from page 3

tried to organise a pay-per-view live fight with the Dane.

Woffinden stated: “We’re about the same height, same size, same weight. We’ve got history – I belted him once.”

However, the fight never happened because, apparently, Madsen’s Polish club Częstochowa blocked it.

The Dane dismissed any talk of Woffy’s headline-grabbing angst and the importance of rivalries.

He said: “That’s not up to me to say that, it’s up to the fans. I don’t care, I don’t need a rivalry with Tai or anyone.

“I think he has more of a problem than I do.

“I’m here to win the World Championship, not to get into any fights or make friends, or whatever.”

Madsen is a two-time silver medalist but does he feel this could finally be his year?

He added: “Yes, I do. And it’s not just something I say. Mentally, I’m very fit, I’ve never felt better in my whole life than how I do right now.

“I think it’s important to feel mentally fit if you want to win the World Championship. I haven’t felt like this for a long, long time. I just feel that it’s going to be a great season.

“Obviously there’s lots of things that have to click to win the world title. It’s not enough just to be mentally or physically fit.

“There’s many aspects. You need to have good equipment, be fit, not many injuries, stuff like that.

But Madsen doesn’t believe that triple World Champion and Danish team boss Pedersen can be a big influence on his 2024 bid. He continued: “I think in general in Danish speedway it’s good to have Nicki as the coach. He can help a lot with the young guys.

“But in the GP I have my own team around me that is working quite well.

“Nicki sometimes brings in some input. We talk and whatever I can use I take with me. He’s good to have around, for sure.”

THE man they’ve got to beat is, of course, Bartosz Zmarzlik. The silver medal he collected in 2021 punctuates his domination of the sport since 2019 with four titles.

It was perhaps appropriate that in Paris, the home of the Olympics and the famous five rings for 2024, Zmarzlik is looking for his fifth gold medal – to equal Swedish legend Ove Fundin’s title haul.

At just 28-years-old, Zmarzlik is now getting tantalisingly close to Ivan Mauger and Tony Rickardsson’s record six titles.

If this powerhouse Pole maintains this form, he will undoubtedly become the most decorated rider of all-time before the end of this decade.

Naturally, in typical ‘sportsman speak’, he insisted to me that he is only concentrating on the season ahead, not the records.

He told me: “I’m very happy with what I make over the past five years. I really don’t look at the numbers. I just fully focus on this season. Then I just make a plan for the next season.

“I don’t look at how many medals I have in the GP right now, only at the end of my career.

“I have had many seasons already but I don’t look behind me. The only idea in my head right now is to make the fifth world title.”

Zmarzlik also refused to be drawn on whether he fears any riders in the field.

There are potential title pretenders in the latest young guns coming through, Robert Lambert, Jack Holder, Dan

Bewley and Dominik Kubera.

But Zmarzlik remains the red-hot favourite to make it a high five, even though he didn’t admit it.

He concluded: “For sure, I just look at myself. But many times I see the other riders in the GP and leagues who are making big progress.

“There are (the likes of) Symon (Wozniak), Dominik (Kubera), Dan (Bewley), Jack (Holder) and Martin (Vaculik) last year. Everyone wants to win. It is my job to stay there.”

The 30th SGP series has begun amid the dramatic setting in the City of Love.

Let’s hope this is the season in which controversy, rivalries and passion truly returns.

Complin ‘mortified’

GLASGOW’S Lee Complin is said to be “mortified” after being ruled out of the start of the season by a “non-negative” anti-doping test result.

The defending Championship title winners were rocked after being forced to begin their campaign at Berwick on Saturday night without their inspirational reserve.

Complin, 39, received his “non-negative” result just an hour before the BSN Series clash at Shielfield Park. Referee Michael Breckon then deemed that he was ineligible to race.

Allied Vehicles Tigers lost by six points with a six-rider team – but, naturally, the main talking point was the loss of Complin.

mouth. All the medication he’s been taking has clearly made him fail a drug test.”

Not surprisingly, the social media keyboard warriors went to town, hurling premature accusations and toxic remarks after Glasgow released the news.

His wife responded by adding: “Maybe you should all wait for the results before jumping to conclusions!

Lee Complin anxiously checks his phone while team-mate James Pearson also looks worried at Berwick last Saturday. Picture: TAYLOR LANNING

It was clear that the Yorkshireman was furious with the verdict and he stayed in the pits all meeting to help his team-mates.

The Speedway Control Bureau released a statement during the meeting. It said: “At the Berwick v Glasgow BSN fixture on Saturday, April 13, 2024, four riders, two from each team, had been randomly selected for an anti-doping test.

“Glasgow rider Lee Complin was one of the four riders selected and, unfortunately, Mr Complin’s test had comeback as a non-negative result, therefore he has been excluded from the event.

“The sample test will now be sent to the laboratory for further analysis.

“Mr Complin’s SCB Registration will be suspended until the results have been confirmed from the laboratory.”

It is understood that Complin has been suffering from a tooth abscess for the past few weeks and has been taking pain relief for that.

This was confirmed by his wife Laura on Facebook on Saturday night. She stated: “He’s been taking pain relief for the abscess in his

“He’s absolutely mortified and upset without all your stupid comments. That’s all I’m going to say on the matter and won’t be replying to comments either!”

Glasgow are planning to make a statement but that is probably going to be after the test results are released.

With those findings not expected for a week, it’s likely that Glasgow will have to find a replacement for their first home meeting of the season against Edinburgh on Friday.

4 speedway star April 13,2024

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