Robert Kościecha: You Can’t Underestimate Anyone

Robert Kościecha is about to start his second season as the coach of BAYERSYSTEM GKM Grudziądz. In an interview with ekstraliga.pl, he talked about the preparations for the upcoming season and the form of his players.

• Robert Kościecha talks about the training camp in Spain.
• The coach of BAYERSYSTEM GKM Grudziądz discusses strengthening the U24 position and highlights the role of Miśkowiak.
• Each of the eight PGE Ekstraliga teams is a strong team. Everyone prepares very solidly for the season, you can’t underestimate anyone. – said Kościecha.
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Marek Kania (ekstraliga.pl): Are you satisfied with the current progress of the preparations for the season?

Robert Kościecha (coach of BAYERSYSTEM GKM Grudziądz): I think so. We initially planned to go on track on March 15 and managed to do it. The track isn’t perfect yet, but I’m glad the weather is cooperating, and it looks better each day.

Did the training camp in Spain go as successfully as last year’s?

That’s correct. It was shorter than last year’s, but it was a decision we made after talking with the riders who have many other commitments during the preseason. It was a great time, the guys talked a lot, integrated. I’m glad the club organized this trip despite the cost. The camp helps build a good atmosphere, and we will definitely repeat it in the future.

BAYERSYSTEM GKM Grudziądz has scheduled friendly matches with KS Toruń and MOONFIN MALESA Ostrów Wielkopolski. Are you planning any additional preseason matches?

If in conversations with the riders the boys express the desire for an extra practice match on our track or away, there will be no problem with that. We are constantly in contact with several clubs to arrange such a meeting.

In the first home match of the PGE Ekstraliga you will face the team of INNPRO ROW Rybnik. Do you think this rookie team is a good opponent for the season opener at the stadium on Hallera 4?

Each of the eight PGE Ekstraliga teams is a strong team. Everyone prepares very solidly for the season, you can’t underestimate anyone. The league is very unpredictable. Even the smallest mistake during a match can cause problems later in the season.

In several of last year’s home matches, BAYERSYSTEM GKM Grudziądz started poorly and had to make up significant deficits from the first series of starts. Do you know how to address this?

We had matches where our starts weren’t the best. The toughest situation was the match with STAL Gorzów, where after the first series we were already losing by 10 points. We ultimately managed to win 46:44, which is a credit to the team. We’d like to control the score more often, as we did in the competition with BETARD SPARTA Wrocław in the regular season or with KRONO-PLAST WŁÓKNIARZ Częstochowa. The problem has been diagnosed, and I hope we won’t make mistakes and will be a strong team from the very start.

Michael Jepsen Jensen made a spectacular comeback to PGE Ekstraliga, with an average of 2.111 pts/run. Do you think the Dane can maintain such good performance this season as well?

Michael is a very aware rider. He is in great physical shape for the season, and his equipment is well-invested. You can see he’s doing everything to achieve the best results.

For Jaimon Lidsey, last season wasn’t particularly outstanding. Can the Australian improve his form from last year?

Jaimon is certainly capable of much better results. A weaker end of last season affected his race point average. He’s young, a great guy, who has a lot to prove. I talked to him and his mechanics. Jaimon knows what mistakes he made and will want to avoid them in the future.

Was Jakub Miśkowiak the player your team missed last season?

Everyone saw how our U24 position looked. Kacper (Pludra – editor’s note) got opportunities whenever possible. Of course, when the team was losing, I had to make substitutions for him, which he complained about later. It was our weakest link. Jakub Miśkowiak comes to us as an enhancement. He is well-prepared for the season, knows his role in the team. I hope everything will function well.