FREDDIE: I'D GO ELSEWHERE

Thursday 17th November 2011, 07:55

Wolves star Freddie Lindgren wouldn’t rule out racing for another Elite League club if the rules force him to quit Monmore Green.

Top flight teams can currently sign just one rider with an average in excess of 8.00, although this regulation could be dropped at the BSPA’s annual meeting in Coventry this weekend.

If it stays in place, Wolves will be forced to choose just one of current top three Lindgren (9.21), Tai Woffinden (8.52) and Peter Karlsson (8.12) to spearhead their side next year.

All three have strong cases to remain at Monmore Green and even if the eight-point restriction is lifted, it seems likely the point limit will force at least one of the three riders out of the Black Country club.

Lindgren is keen to stay put at Wolves, but admits he will not follow the lead of Poole duo Chris Holder and Darcy Ward and quit British racing if he can’t sign for his team of choice.

"My first choice is obviously Wolves, but I want to race in England next year. We’ll see what happens."

- Freddie Lindgren

He said: “It’s a difficult decision of course. But we can’t really say much until we know exactly what’s going on.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead. My first choice is obviously Wolves, but I want to race in England next year. We’ll see what happens.”

If the rules work out for Fast Freddie, he is keen to stay at the club where he has matured from a raw rookie into one of British speedway’s most dependable No.1s.

He added: “The indications I’ve had so far are that they want to keep me in the team for next year, but nothing is 100 percent yet. I think I’ve been pretty lucky to stay at one club for so many years.

“I did my eighth full season at Wolverhampton this year and I’ve increased my average from year to year. I’ve become a true No.1 at this club.”

Lindgren believes setting a point limit is the best way to keep team strengths even.

The eight-point limit was introduced to ensure every team had a No.1 when the Elite League was expanded to 10 clubs last winter. And although Lindgren believes it has served its purpose, he feels the regulation is past its sell-by date.

He said: “I can understand why the rule came in with two extra teams entering the league. It produced a bit of movement with riders and made sure every team could have a good No.1. But as it stands now, it’s going to be the same amount of teams and I don’t see the point of the rule anymore.”

Lindgren added: “We don’t know if this rule is going to stand yet. We’ll just have to wait and see, but Wolverhampton proved it doesn’t always work when you have riders on high averages at the top.

“We didn’t finish near the top of the league and it’s not really an advantage.

“We already have the regulations with the averages (point limit) and I don’t think we should have too many rules to say what kind of team clubs have to have.

“With just a point limit, teams have a choice of going top heavy and weak at the bottom, or go with an even team and be stronger all the way through.”

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