RANDOMIZE/INTERVIEW/M2E: Patrick Hansen: I am in good shape and feel ready to ride

Patrick Hansen is returning to league tracks after a year-long break due to injury. After the 2024 season, the Dane left INNPRO ROW Rybnik for ORZEŁ Łódź, where he is one of six new players. In the following interview, he explains the reasons behind this decision and talks about preparations for the upcoming season.

• After two years spent in Rybnik, Hansen leaves the local INNPRO ROW. – I think the PGE Ekstraliga wouldn’t be for me after such a break – he said.
• The Dane’s new club is ORZEŁ Łódź, with whom he spent almost a week training by the Polish sea.
• Besides the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga, the rider will participate in the Swedish league. Hansen’s team will be Dackarna Malilla.
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ORZEŁ recently participated in a training camp at COS Cetniewo in Władysławowo, where for the first time, all Łódź speedway racers had the opportunity to meet each other. – It was really nice. Nothing hurts, and nothing bothers me. Of course, when the guys went running, I couldn’t do it with them, but that’s practically the only thing I couldn’t do. I’m in good shape strength-wise and feel okay, now I just need to test myself on the bike – says one of the two Danish riders on ORZEŁ– Patrick Hansen.

– I was a hundred percent ready to ride even last fall, but I lacked a bit of fitness and strength. I’ve been training all winter and I’m ready. The fact that I can’t run yet luckily doesn’t mean I can’t ride a motorcycle – emphasizes the speedway racer.

Why did Hansen choose Łódź? – I had a valid contract in Rybnik, but last year I didn’t race, and the team managed to advance. I think the PGE Ekstraliga wouldn’t be for me after such a break. An opportunity arose to ride in Łódź, which I took. For me, it was important to already have a contract, and I feel that the club is reopening itself. I like riding there. I’ve been there a few times, and everything always suited me. I was definitely happy to have a contract and could train calmly during the winter because it’s certainly better than a ‘Warsaw’ contract – explains the rider.

For the 26-year-old, ORZEŁ is already his eighth club in his career. After the 2024 season, was Łódź the only speedway center in Poland that offered him a contract? – In terms of the METALKAS 2. Ekstraliga, yes – ORZEŁ was the only one. There were informal talks with other clubs, but only Łódź was concrete. Most wanted to wait until spring – admits Hansen to ekstraliga.pl.

The Dane won’t only be racing in Poland in the upcoming season. At the beginning of this year, the rider announced that he had signed a contract in the Swedish league. Hansen’s new club in Bauhaus-Ligan will be Dackarna Malilla. – I wanted to race in Sweden earlier, but I always preferred Denmark because it was closer. However, there were many problems in Denmark. Tracks can be poorly prepared, and it doesn’t always look professional. After such a long break, I think it will be better for me to race in Sweden, where the tracks are better, and there is a higher level of competition – says the speedway racer.

The new ORZEŁ Łódź rider is entering his third season in the background of the PGE Ekstraliga. What are his goals for next year? – It’s certainly important to finish the season healthy and in one piece. I hope I’ll ride well enough for both Swedish and Polish clubs to be satisfied – concluded Patrick Hansen.

Marcin Rusewicz