Mikkel Michelsen aims to keep pressure at bay in Speedway Grand Prix - 'I have just had the wrong approach'
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Published 30/05/2024 at 17:15 GMT
Mikkel Michelsen secured his first victory in Speedway Grand Prix when taking the chequered flag in front in Landshut earlier in May. The Danish star heads to the next round in the Czech Republic capital of Prague in high spirits, and will look to build on his maiden win. Watch and stream the 2024 Speedway Grand Prix season on Eurosport and discovery+
Highlights as Michelsen takes Speedway Grand Prix of Germany win in Landshut
Mikkel Michelsen has said his aim for the remainder of the Speedway Grand Prix season is to take to the track with no pressure on his shoulders.
The Dane secured his first win at the highest level of the sport with victory in Landshut on May 18.
The breakthrough win brought huge joy to the Dane, and he has admitted that he was putting too much pressure on himself when competing at the elite level.
He has been working with sports psychologist Grzegorz Wieclaw to keep pressure at bay when on his bike.
“I want us to take a looser, more chilled-out approach to the GP series, without putting so much pressure on ourselves,” Michelsen said ahead of the Orlen FIM Speedway GP of Czech Republic on Saturday, which will be live on Eurosport and discovery+.
“The only thing we want to do is go out and give 100%, and we will see where we end up.
“I have just had the wrong approach to Speedway GP. I have been putting too much pressure on myself. If I have learned anything from this last year and a half, you need to stay patient, stay humble and work hard.
"All of these guys are super talented. They all want to win, and they all want to race hard and work hard as well. You just have to keep believing and working.”
Reflecting on his win in Germany, Michelsen said: “It was nice that everything happened as it did in Landshut, getting my first win. It has been a long time coming, and it has required a lot of hard work. It feels pretty good.”
Victory in Landshut snapped a run of 20 straight meetings without an appearance in a Speedway Grand Prix final for Michelsen, as noted by FIM Speedway, but there was never any thought of throwing in the towel.
“I was talking to my dad about it,” he said. “You just need to hang in there. You need to be patient.
“All athletes go through rough patches, and I have been stuck in one for a long time. But we continued the hard work and kept believing that eventually it was going to turn around.
“Even in Landshut, it wasn’t a walk in the park. But it clicked. The team worked hard, and everything happened the way it should.
“I don’t show up with the mentality that I can’t beat all of these guys here. If I didn’t believe this, I should stay at home and watch it on television.
“Whether it’s a league match or any individual meeting, I come to win all of my races and win the meeting. That is the mentality I have always had."
Victory in round three lifted Michelsen to fifth in the standings, and he will take confidence into the remainder of the season.
“Sure, my win in Germany is going to give me some more confidence, but at the end of the day, it’s all about being consistent," he said. "This is what we have been trying to embrace this year and we’re trying not to put so much pressure on ourselves.”
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Watch and stream the 2024 Speedway Grand Prix season on Eurosport and discovery+
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