Pirates: Madsen chasing his GP dream (From Thisisdorset)

Pirates: Madsen chasing his GP dream

7:00am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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LEON Madsen is targeting a Grand Prix qualifier’s place after mixing with World Championship stars Nicki Pedersen and Hans Andersen in Croatia last week.

Pirates’ reserve has just spent three days at a Gorican training camp with a dozen of his Danish compatriots, including Poole heat leader Bjarne Pedersen, a former GP rider.

And Madsen admits rubbing shoulders with the likes of that talented trio has whetted his appetite for a shot at his own GP series dream.

The ambitious 21-year-old, eagerly looking forward to his first full British campaign, has already pinpointed helping Castle Cover Pirates back to the top of the Elite League as his main target for this season.

But, on a personal front, he is eyeing up a long run in this year’s GP qualifiers for the 2011 competition.

Madsen, now back in his Danish base of Vejle, said: “I’m aiming for the GP. That is my individual goal this season.

“I think it is a realistic target and I’ll do everything to get into the GP qualifiers.

“That’s why I’m getting new bikes and getting myself into even better shape than last season.”

Madsen, handed a permanent Pirates team berth after impressing in seven late season appearances for the club in 2009, must star in the first round of the two-meeting Danish Championship to progress to the GP qualifiers.

The crucial round is at Esbjerg on May 28.

Madsen said: “I have to get in the top seven or eight there because I don’t think Nicki or Hans, who will take part in the national championship, do the GP qualifiers.

“You have six or seven places up for grabs, so the top eight should do it. But my goal is a top-four place.

“It’s not the best track for me, but I have raced some very good meetings at Esbjerg.

“I have a good feeling about the meeting and I’m looking forward to it.”

Madsen added: “I’m looking to do better than last year when I was fifth after the first Danish Championship meeting.

“But both meetings in 2009 counted towards the GP qualifiers and I was a little bit unlucky in the second one at Fjelsted.

“I ended up outside the top eight after I had a crash and a problem with one of my engines.”

• Davey Watt, Neil Middleditch, Garry May and Jay Herne will answer fans’ questions during a ‘Quiz the Panel’ event at Poole Stadium tonight.

Admission is £4 for Poole Rider Equipment Fund organisation members and £5 for non-members.

The event begins at 7.30pm.