FIM Speedway Grand Prix: Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls set for opener

The World Championship FIM Speedway Grand Prix Series (SGP) gets underway on Saturday night (April 26) with the FIM Slovenian Speedway Grand Prix.

The Speedway Grand Prix series brings together the 15 best riders in the world as they battle it out over 11 rounds for the right to be called world champion.

Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris will be flying the flag for Great Britain and they are both in a confident and determined mood, and looking forward to getting the season underway

“I’m feeling great at the moment,” said Chris Harris.

“We built eight new bikes over the winter for the new season and unfortunately we had a few small electrical problems, which are now sorted, so the equipment is going great.”

Harris, casts a trim yet slightly stocky figure, with the energy of a tightly coiled spring, something that he has been working on since the 2007 season came to a close.

The 25-year-old Cornishman said: “I’ve been in the gym a lot over the winter and I am now fit and raring to go.
 
“I’m injury free and looking forward to getting out there. My aim is to improve on last season which was my first season in the Grand Prix, so realistically I want to break into the top eight and then look to go higher.

“On track I will need to be regularly making semi-finals and if I do that, then I’ll be looking to go all the way.”

Scott Nicholls is also looking forward to getting out on track, despite a hand injury that kept him out of a number of early season league meetings.

“The hand is not 100 per cent but it’s ok. I’ve had two meetings back-to-back and both with less than perfect track conditions. In Poland I crashed in my first ride so that fully tested it.”

Nicholls, less than four weeks away from his 30th birthday, knows that this is a big season for him.

“I know my capabilities and I want to do it now. Not starting with a major injury is a big plus for me. It’s vital to get a good start to the season. I’ve not done that due to injury for the last couple of seasons.

“I have shown that I can finish seasons strongly, but it is consistency that wins World Championships.

“I want to be World Champion; that is what I have put the money, effort and time in for. I haven’t hit my best yet, I am a more skilful rider now and more mature mentally.

“I am always mentioned it the top group of riders in the Elite League, but not when it comes to Grand Prix. I want to change that this year.”