Lewandowski: My head works better (interview)

KS APATOR Toruń lost in Wrocław to the local BETARD SPARTA 42:48. The guests, however, returned home satisfied, taking a bonus point won in the two-legged match. Krzysztof Lewandowski added 2 points with a bonus to the team’s tally. The Toruń junior talked about his mistakes in the junior race, his away performance, and his outlook for upcoming matches.

Błażej Kowol (ekstraliga.pl): You lost this match 42:48 and you are taking a bonus point from a tough venue. Are you happy with the one point or disappointed because you almost managed to beat the hosts “for three”?

Krzysztof Lewandowski (KS APATOR Toruń): Yes, anyone can be beaten, no one is a robot. So there is a certain feeling of insufficiency. On the other hand, we are happy with the bonus point because it significantly improves our position in the league standings.

You scored 2 points and a bonus in 4 races. How do you rate your performance?

I’m not completely satisfied. For some time now, I have been looking at certain matters differently, my head works better, and I see that now I have finally started “showing up” at the matches, and my riding has improved. On the other hand, I have problems with adjusting the motorcycles. Right now, without this element, without a good start, it’s hard to fight for more points.

In these away matches, at this moment, do you see the possibility for improvement more in your head or in equipment?

Primarily in my head. Changes have already happened there, but there is still room for improvement. Now we need to focus on the motorcycles’ work to draw out as much potential as possible.

What has changed, then, that your mental state is better?

I approach all events more calmly. I have learned to control my emotions, which helps me a lot.

Your impressions of this track? It was probably quite hard for Wrocław this season?

Yes, exactly as you say. It slightly surprised us because we really weren’t expecting such a hard surface. However, we had time to walk the track, drew conclusions, and adjusted our settings accordingly.

Did this start differ much from the rest of the track?

No, it practically didn’t differ. It was hard too.

I’m asking because especially in the first series, you read the track conditions well and at the start you were even better than the hosts.

Sometimes I say that the lack of training is the best training. Because when you start the match with a clear head, the results can be better. This might also be the reason why in the early phase of the competition we looked stronger at the start than the hosts. I assume that during training their start could have been a bit grippier than it was in this match.

In the junior race, you led for a long time, but ultimately the hosts arrived at the finish line faster. What was missing?

Speed in the motorcycle and knowledge of the track. The local riders deprived me of a “three” with their excellent knowledge of this track. They managed to build their speed appropriately and use it.

What conclusions will you draw from this match? There’s a good chance you’ll meet BETARD SPARTA Wrocław again in the quarterfinals.

There’s always a chance. And we’ll draw conclusions calmly, so as not to draw too hasty ones under the influence of emotions. We definitely have some room for analysis, with a cooler head.

You have 3 matches left until the end of the regular season. Is the main goal simply to secure a playoff spot, or are you aiming more specifically?

The goal doesn’t change. We have to win matches, and we are very motivated because obviously, everyone wants to win. So we are doing everything to win the next matches as well.

You now face clashes with KRONO-PLAST WŁÓKNIARZ Częstochowa and ZOOLESZCZ GKM Grudziądz. What’s your approach to these meetings?

Standard. We will prepare in training as always – training on Friday, the match on Sunday, in which we will want to add three points to our league tally.