SPEEDWAY: ‘Weekend to forget’ as World Championship dream is dashed for Kenneth Bjerre
Kenneth Bjerre endured Grand Prix Challenge disappointment. Picture: IAN CHARLES - Credit: ©2017 Ian Charles
Huntingdon racer Kenneth Bjerre saw his World Championship dream turn into a nightmare.
The Danish star, who has lived locally for more than a decade, missed out on qualification from the Grand Prix Challenge in Germany last Saturday after being caught up in travel chaos.
Bjerre could only manage seven points from his five rides at Landshut to fall short of the required top-three finish to earn a return to the sport’s biggest stage.
Bjerre saw his Friday-night flight from Stansted to Munich delayed due to storms before eventually being cancelled due to time issues at the German airport.
He then had to seek an alternative Saturday flight from Birmingham via Frankfurt and missed practice at a track he had never previously ridden.
“My flight boarded an hour late and we then had to wait two-and-a-half hours for a new take-off slot, but it eventually got cancelled altogether.
“I managed to get another flight out to Germany on Saturday, but it’s never good to go into a big meeting after travelling all day.
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“I also arrived at the track too late to practice and that was not ideal as I’d never been there before.
“I didn’t have a lot of luck with my start positions in the meeting either and it’s a weekend I just want to forget.
“A meeting like the GP Challenge is so tough that you have to feel perfect and also have a bit of luck, but it didn’t go to plan for me from the minute I got to the airport.
“I’m so disappointed as this meeting was the focus of my season, but there is not much I can do about it.
“I guess it wasn’t meant to be so I’ve just got to put it behind me and move on.”
Bjerre started with a solid second place before taking third in his next outing.
A last place in his third ride was a serious blow to his hopes of qualification, but Bjerre responded well to win his fourth outing. His night finished with a third place in his final ride.