SEVENTH HEAVEN FOR IVERSEN

SGP 2019 qualifier Niels-Kristian Iversen’s iron grip on his national title remains unbroken after he raced to a record-equalling seventh straight Danish Championship in Esbjerg on Saturday.

NKI topped the podium ahead of Mikkel Michelsen and FIM Speedway Grand Prix star Nicki Pedersen on his Danish home track, pulling level with Pedersen on seven national titles.

While triple world champion Ole Olsen has 12 Danish titles to his name, Iversen matched the former SGP race director’s extraordinary run of seven in a row between 1967 and 1973.

Victory in 2019 would see the GP Challenge runner-up surpass that tally and go second outright in the all-time standings.

But for now, Iversen is celebrating a commanding performance, which saw him race to a 15-point maximum in the heats to seal the title before the final.

He finished third in that race, with Michelsen taking the chequered flag to overhaul Pedersen for the silver medal.

The triple world champion reached the last four on 11 points along with Kenneth Bjerre, who was fourth in the final. Michelsen ended his heats on 10, pipping Mads Korneliussen into the extra race on countback.

Michael Jepsen Jensen fell short of the final on nine, along with Rene Bach. It was a tough night for former SGP regulars Peter Kildemand and Hans Andersen, who scored six and five points respectively.