With the new Elite League speedway season just a few days away, one rider who is glad to be back in Wolves colours is German star Christian Hefenbrock.

After appearances for Lakeside Hammers and Peterborough last season, Christian is proud to be returning to the club he calls his spiritual UK home and is fired up for a busy season of racing across Europe.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s Press and Practice evening at Monmore Green, Hefenbrock said: “I am well prepared this season, with accommodation and a UK mechanic all sorted, and I just have a few things to sort out with my Polish bikes before I am ready.”

The 2006 German national champion will face a tough season of travelling to race at stadiums all over Europe this summer, with appearances in no fewer than four national leagues.  

He added: “I am racing for Indianerna in Sweden, 

Bydgoszcz in the Polish league and Landshut in the German Bundesliga, although I may only ride in a couple of German fixtures because of clashes.  

“It should be a bit easier than when I last rode for Wolves though, as this time I don’t have any Under-21s.”

Looking at the new Wolves line-up for the 2008 Elite League, Christian is optimistic about the squad’s chances.

“It is a young side and everyone needs the points. Fredrik Lindgren is 

experienced at Monmore Green and will be a good number one, and I’ve known Nicolai Klindt and Ales Dryml for a long time.”  

He added that Klindt had a liking for small tracks, so should go well around Monmore.

“I think the key could be Niels Kristian Iversen, as he 

has shown good form at Wolverhampton in the past,” Christian added.

Over the close season the German has been training hard, including a 10-day training camp in Poland.

Christian said that his second full Wolves season would hopefully be more organised than his stint in 2006, thanks to an improved back-up team.

“I wanted to ride for Wolves last year, but it didn’t work out with the averages,” he said.