INTO THE UNKNOWN

Tuesday 14th February 2012, 10:59

World No.2 Andreas Jonsson says he will head to Auckland “with an open mind” as he bids to find the perfect bike setup for the FIM New Zealand SGP on March 31.

The Swede ended last year in red-hot form, winning three out of the final six Grand Prix rounds and helping Zielona Gora lift the Polish Ekstraliga title.

AJ starts this year’s World Championship as one of the favourites to triumph. But like the majority of his rivals, he takes a major step into the unknown when he races at Western Springs Stadium next month.

"During the meeting there is not much time for making changes. But this Grand Prix circuit will come as a surprise for everyone."

- Andreas Jonsson

Only NZ SGP wild card, six-time national champion Jason Bunyan has experience of competing at the 413-metre venue – the biggest on this year’s Grand Prix calendar.

So Team AJ will have to be at their best to find a speedy setup and ensure the five-time Swedish champion’s bike is the fastest in the land of the long white cloud.

He told Gazeta Lubuska: "I’ve not been there before with my team, so we have not seen the track. I only know that it is long, but I do not know what the surface is like and its geometry.

"You have to go there with an open mind and not to be unpleasantly surprised later.

"The team must prepare a little differently and we must take into consideration a number of setups.

"During the meeting there is not much time for making changes. But this Grand Prix circuit will come as a surprise for everyone.”

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