Grand Prix hope for Hefenbrock
Wolves may yet have an interest in at least one of next year's speedway Grand Prix.Wolves may yet have an interest in at least one of next year's speedway Grand Prix. Skipper Peter Karlsson, agonisingly, finished one place short in the qualifiers for the 2007 world championship. But Germany has been pencilled in provisionally to host the final round of next year's title campaign at Gelsenkirchen on October 6.
Skipper Peter Karlsson, agonisingly, finished one place short in the qualifiers for the 2007 world championship.
But Germany has been pencilled in provisionally to host the final round of next year's title campaign at Gelsenkirchen on October 6.
The wild card choice for the event at the Veltins Arena, home to soccer side Schalke 04, is overwhelmingly likely to be a German.
And that puts Wolves' Christian Hefenbrock in the frame.
Although there's a wave of young chargers emanating from the country the wild card choice, unless some hot prospect emerges unexpectedly, is likely to fall between Hefenbrock and Coventry's Martin Smolinski.
"It's all over the German newspapers about it being me or Smolinski," said Hefenbrock.
The 21-year-old is excited about the prospect, while noting that the date is still only provisional.
"It would have to be confirmed," he said. "But I would be delighted. It would be a big thing for me.
"And it would be much easier to find sponsorship too!"
Smolinski is the more experienced rider and posted a higher Elite League average last season.
But Hefenbrock won his national domestic title last season.
And he also became the only German ever to reach the rostrum in the world under-21 championship when he finished third in Terenzano, Italy.
