AJ AIMS TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK

AJ AIMS TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK

Saturday 8th September 2012, 13:30

World No.2 Andreas Jonsson is desperate to rediscover the magic which carried him to World Championship silver in 2011 as he prepares for the FIM Scandinavian SGP in Malilla tonight.

The Stockholm-born man is currently eighth in the standings on 76 points, but will be keen to cement his automatic qualification spot when he lines up on his Swedish Elitserien home track.

Jonsson won three of the last six SGP rounds of 2011 to rocket from 10th in the World Championship after event five in Cardiff to second place following the last SGP in Gorzow.

AJ could do no wrong on the track or with his bikes, but hasn’t been able to get back into that high-scoring groove this term.

"I know that I am consistent and can perform every time, but at the moment it hasn’t been that way. I’m looking to get back to the same form and feeling as last year."

- Andreas Jonsson

“I’ve been consistent this year – only on a lower level,” he said with a rueful smile.

“I think everything is about trust in your stuff, believing in what you have and having confidence when you ride. When you have something that works, you feel confident when you ride and you get stronger and stronger.

“I know that I am consistent and can perform every time, but at the moment it hasn’t been that way. I’m looking to get back to the same form and feeling as last year.”

Jonsson has a tiger on his tail in the quest for qualification as compatriot Antonio Lindback is just two points behind him in ninth, having won the FIM Fogo Italian SGP on August 11 and finished third in Cardiff on August 25.

“Antonio has been doing great,” Jonsson admitted. “He has been going really well in the leagues and everywhere.

“He’s on fire at the moment and I’ve definitely got to do something and start scoring some points to keep that last automatic qualifying position.”

Jonsson has been tipped as a future world champion for many years and would love another shot at achieving this dream in 2013. Despite enduring an inconsistent year, he doesn’t believe wholesale changes are needed to get him there.

He said: “I think it’s really small stuff that makes a big difference sometimes in speedway. I don’t think there are any big adjustments needed. I think there are small things that need to be changed and done in a different way.”

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