Freddie ready for play-off charge

The side last made the play-offs in 2013 and finished seventh last season, prompting wholesale changes in the line-up for this campaign.

Among the five new faces is Swede Joonas Kylmakorpi and Lindgren is happy to have a good friend of his on board and is hoping get the season off to a good start.

"We live very close by in Andorra, we have put a lot of work in this winter, and we know each other well so hopefully it will help," he said.

"I think the first aim you have to start with is to get into the play-offs. It's vital to get in there.

"It's a long season so you have to be lucky with injuries, and hit form at the right times, but to get into the play-offs is the main thing.

"I think the reserve pairing (Kyle Howarth and Max Clegg) looks very strong at the moment, it's really key for us in the top five to maybe race above the level we have been in the past.

"I had a pretty tough year last season, and I know I am capable of a lot more and I have put a lot of hard work in this winter to make that happen.

"It's always hard to, in the beginning of the year, try and find your feet.

"A positive start, that is what we are going to aim for and try and get the points ion the board in the league table as soon as possible."

Lindgren is one of only a handful of riders to commit to the new Marcel Gerhard engine, which he won the Olympique individual on at the end of last

season.

When asked if he feels he made the right decision in committing to it, Lindgren said: "That's what I'm going for at the moment but obviously we don't have the answers yet.

"It's very early days, I have been doing some testing and everything has felt good but the answers don't come until you start racing again."

Kylmakorpi, who will be at number one for the clash with Belle Vue Aces on Tuesday, added: "Like Freddie said, we put a lot of hard work in the winter and it's going to be interesting to see if it has actually given anything.

"I need to up the game a little bit now I am going to be number one to start with.

"We have got a good team I think, we need two or three guys in the top five to really improve this season if we are going to be fighting for the play-off places."