Speedway: Mark desperate to see Darcy in Grand Prix (From Bournemouth Echo)

Speedway: Mark desperate to see Darcy in Grand Prix

7:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Sport By

FORMER world champion Mark Loram has urged the FIM to hand Pirates star Darcy Ward a Grand Prix wild card for 2013.

Ward last season turned down the opportunity to compete on the world stage due to a regulation in Poland that stopped clubs tracking more than one Grand Prix rider.

As Ward races alongside Holder at Ekstraliga big guns Torun, participating in this year’s series could have cost the Aussie his lucrative deal at the MotoArena.

Ward, though, has already expressed his desire to ride in the 2013 series and Loram believes Grand Prix chiefs should make the 20-year-old their main priority when dishing out next year’s wild cards.

Loram, who won the title while a Pirate in 2000, told the Echo: “It would be awesome if Chris Holder could win this year’s title and if they can persuade Darcy Ward to ride next year as well, we will be well away!

“Nobody likes watching those guys more than me and there is a whole new breed coming through now with Chris, Darcy, Emil Sayfutdinov and the Danish boys.

“I don’t know a lot about the likes of Mikkel B Jensen and Michael Jepsen Jensen, but having watched them as wild cards and in the World Cup, having those guys in the mix as well would certainly spice up the Grand Prix.

“When it is time for the old boys to hand over the reins, it’s going to be really exciting.

“People tell me that these lads remind them of me when I was riding, which is a lovely compliment.

“Unfortunately, I am now the one sitting on my sofa watching them through my hands! It’s really exciting, though, and great to watch.”