Sajfutdinov eyes Elite ride

World Under-21 champion states ambitions

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 27th March 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sajfutdinov eyes Elite ride

Sajfutdinov: Ambitious Fotospeedway.pl

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World Under-21 champion Emil Sajfutdinov has insisted he wants to ride in England, but he does not know when.

The 17-year-old Russian is already seen by many as the finest prospect for many years.

And he is evidence of speedway's ever growing popularity in Eastern Europe, with Poland and Russia the new hotbeds for the sport.

Sajfutdinov revealed that he turned down offers to ride in the Sky Sports Elite League this year, as he already has commitments in Poland, Russia and Sweden.

"Of course I would like to come and race in England one day," he told the Speedway Star.

"But where and with who still needs to be decided.

"I think that in the next few years something will happen with a British club. I had offers from Poole, Coventry and Lakeside to come and ride in the Elite League this year.

"But that would have meant too many matches for me and I am not ready for that yet."

Russian hope

Sajfutdinov, who shone for Russia in the World Team Cup last season, has his eyes set on reaching the top.

"I won the World U21 series and I'd love to get to the GP, it's hard for me to compete in all these different countries, very hard but I am ready to fight and I am going to try and win everything in the sport."

Sajfutdinov's successes has helped talk of Russia gaining a Grand Prix of its own within the next few years and the youngster admits that would be great news for him.

"Russian speedway is growing all the time, so I believe there will be a Grand Prix in Russia in 2010 and if I am in this, I'll obviously try to win it," he concluded.

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