The Danish connection

Our newest Viking invader has been given the inside track on the Bandits from one of the club’s favourite Great Danes.

Bastian Borke’s switch from Edinburgh was confirmed last week with the 21-year-old from Aarhus completing our super seven. But, as he told Scott Frame in an exclusive interview for Berwick Speedway’s Total Access programme, it is not just in Britain that 2024 brings new challenges.

In Denmark Bastian has moved from Slangerup to Grinstead where his team manager will be Nicolaj Busk Jacobsen who made a lasting impression during his four-year spell with the Bandits from 2017.

“I’ve known Busk since I was riding 85ccs, around the time that he first joined the Bandits, and he always had good things to say about everything to do with Berwick, the track, the management and supporters,” Bastian explained.

“I was able to see for myself how good everything at the club was when I rode here with Edinburgh last season. I understand that they might not be the biggest club in British speedway, but that family atmosphere is one that I’m looking forward to. The fact that there is never any problems with payment at Berwick helps too!”

Bastian faces a busy season as he returns to Valsarna in Sweden and Rsezow in Poland in addition to Danish and Cab Direct Championship commitments.

“One of the other attractions of joining a Saturday club is that I will be racing in Poland on Tuesday, Denmark Wednesday and Sweden on Thursday,” Bastian explained. “Last year I had to dash over for a Friday night meeting, this season I have the opportunity to catch my breath and prepare for Berwick.

“I’ve only been to Shielfield Park once, but it was a good night and I know it is a track that I am going to enjoy racing on. In the UK each track is so specific and so different, but I felt that by the end of last season I had the hang of tracks of all size and shape and that definitely helped my racing on the continent too.”

You can hear more from Bastian about his hope for 2024 along with an interview with his starting reserve partner Freddy Hodder on the Bandits’ YouTube channel or via our social media channels. Total Access with Freddy & Bastian (youtube.com)