Krasnikov returns to defend his title :)

Nikolai Krasnikov has changed his mind and will be defending his World Ice Racing title after all.

Krasnikov won a record breaking 7th consecutive title last year, but then announced his intention to quit, or at least take some time out - see my previous report here - Krasnikov The Great

 

 

Taking his place in the recent Russian national championships, Krasnikov finished runner-up after a nail biting run-off with Danil Ivanov, and automatically became eligible for one of Russia's allocations in the World Championship qualifiers. Probably not too surprisingly, he will now take his place in round 2 of the competition at Sanok in Poland this weekend (Jan 28-29th).

Krasnikov , who will turn 27 in February, hails from Shadrinsk, which lies near the Russian border with Kazakhstan. He rides in the Russian Superleague for the Kadyrov club in Ufa, where he has won six league titles. Talking to photographer Ian Charles at Inzell last year he explained that had lost his enthusiasm for racing. The season had been one of ups and downs and it had drained him both physically and mentally.

Over the summer he has rested and not even done much moto-cross, but he has kept himself fit and as soon as he was back on his ice bike, his enthusiasm returned. He just wanted to race and more than anything, he wants to defend his title and win it for an unprecedented eighth time... and who's to bet he won't do it?

Dates for the 2012 FIM Ice Speedway Gladiators World Championship...

 28th Jan - Q.Round 1 - St. Johann - Austria
                  Q.Round 2 - Sanok - Poland
                  Q.Round 3 - Lukhovitsy - Russia
4th/5th Feb - Final 1 - Krasnogorsk - Russia
11th/12th Feb - Final 2 - Ufa - Russia
16th/17th Feb - Final 3 - Assen - Netherlands
31st Feb/1st March - Final 4 - Uppsala - Sweden

The 2012 FIM Team Ice Speedway Gladiators World Championship Final will be held on 25th/26th February at Togliatti in Russia.