Stars’ skipper in the spotlight

The captain of King’s Lynn Stars, Nicolai Klindt, gets the time to enjoy his moment in the Q&A spotlight answering columnist Gavin Caney’s questions in Your Local Paper.Nicolai. When did you first get bitten by the speedway bug?My dad took me to Vojens where we watched the ‘Toms Guldbarre’ and the ‘Se & Hoer’ meetings.I was standing on a box by the fence so I could watch the racing.Later we went to the local track Outrup, where we would watch Super League racing with the likes of Sam Ermolenko, Jimmy Nilsson and Rune Holta.I first rode a bike in September 1994.At what point did you start to think you could become a pro rider? Was it when you won junior titles in Denmark? I never thought at a certain time “this is now” as I just enjoyed riding my bike. Of course I had dreams of one day becoming a world champion like everyone had back then.I was very fortunate that for the 2006 season the Polish Ekstraliga changed their rules to allow foreign u21 riders to race at number six and seven, which gave me a contract for Wroclaw.If people knew the money I had in my contract, they would probably not believe me, but it was nearly 20 years ago and it was one of the best, and most enjoyable, years in my career. Was the British League one you always wanted to race in? Why do you think so many Danes come and ride over here?I guess it was the norm back then, that if you wanted to become a professional speedway rider, you had to ride in England. There was not really any other way around it!When you look back at the riders that have come out of Denmark in the 1980s and 90s, they all rode in England – and it’s the same if you include the best riders from Denmark in the 2000s. I still think it is very important to come to England and race as it gives you so many more things to take with you in life, other than riding your bike.You’ve had some rotten luck with injuries. Can you even list how many bones you’ve broken? Or separate which crashes have been your most serious?I would personally say that my worst injury was in 2017 where I completely tore my ACL, my MCL, both of my meniscus’, cartilage damage and a fracture to my femur.I’ve injured both of my shoulders, fractured both of my shoulder blades, my left collarbone, three bones in my left hand, three or four fingers, five or six ribs, my left fibula, fractured my sternum, torn three ligaments in my right ankle, broke my lower back, fractured my neck twice, broke my right ulna (lower part of the arm) and I’ve had multiple concussions since I started racing – which looking back, is probably more serious than any of the bones I’ve broken. You returned to King’s Lynn in 2022 after nearly 10 years away. Why do you think you spent so long away from the Stars?I don’t think that the club saw me as a right fit after a very unsuccessful and short stint back in 2013, where I probably had the worst season in my career ever and I ended up getting dropped by multiple teams in England in the space of two months.The reason I came back was because of Alex Brady.He was the guy that brought me back to British Speedway and I’m still, to this day, very grateful for the effort he put in to make that happen. In 2023 Lynn’s results were poor but your own performances and scores were incredible. How did that season feel for you as skipper?I have to mention that the first nine meetings for the Stars in 2023 were very poor for myself as well.It wasn’t until Belle Vue away in late May that I turned things around and only scored below 12 on two occasions after that.Personally, I took it upon myself to do whatever I could to give the team, and the riders riding in it, the best chance of winning meetings. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen until after I got injured in a meeting I said all along was where we would win – at home to Belle Vue.Another injury ruined 2024 for you but the Stars ended the season on a high with some positive results. How did you assess their campaign?I was very proud to be a part of the team and for them to finish off so strong, even though I was on the sidelines.Of course I would have liked to have been able to make a difference in the pits and on the track, but I think we showed that we were the ones to watch in the last part of the season. We managed to beat a very much in-form Leicester at home, which was massive for the club going into 2025.You’re back as skipper for the 2025 season. What do you think about the one to seven and the club’s play-off hopes?I think we are very strong. We have a young British rider in Ashton Boughen with a big future ahead of him, if he keeps level headed, and a one-to-six like no other team.Whoever rides at number six, we will have the strongest reserve in the league, no doubt. And we have riders with lots of experience, yet lots of potential to increase their average.Every single one of us can be a no.1 for King’s Lynn and beat any no.1 in the league. And it’s not just something I’m saying, it’s been proven throughout the 2024 season.Without a doubt, I believe the club has put together a team that will reach the play-offs, if everything works out for us and all riders stay injury free.FACT FILEName: Nicolai KlindtAge: 35Birth place: Varde, DenmarkGrew up in: Outrup, DenmarkFormer UK clubs: Wolverhampton, Swindon, Peterborough, Sheffield, Leicester, Scunthorpe, Workington, Poole and OxfordCurrent club: King’s LynnSporting hero: Tony RickardssonTwitter: @nklindtFIVE INTERESTING FACTSNicolai has a little hobby he would call “eating out”. Everywhere he travels, he tries to find new restaurants to eat at and experience different foodsWhen the Danish rider is home, he weighs and tracks all the food he’s eating. It’s time consuming, but it holds him accountable. If not, he’d probably be in a very different shape than he is generallyKlindt’s mother passed away in December 2020 and he was caring for her the last two months or so. It’s something he said he will always be grateful for, being able to have been there for her in the end and it made things much easier for him in the time afterwardsThe Stars’ skipper was a very naughty kid at school. He was always loud, always got into an argument with teachers and got sent outside the room multiple times a week. It was very different to how he really was – often very insecure and shy in bigger crowdsNicola’s dream when he finishes his career is to open his own little cafe in the village he lives in. He loves making food and feels that the ideas he has is something that is missing in the area.QUICKFIRE QUESTIONSRestaurant or takeaway?Film or series?Bath or shower?Tea or coffee?Sweet or savoury?Summer or winter?Day or night?Holiday or staycation?Favourite food: My own chicken burger when I get the sauce just right.Least favourite food: Black puddingFavourite TV programme: Married At First SightLeast favourite TV programme: Not a clue. I don’t watch that much TV. Maybe cricket?Favourite band/musician: Central Ce.Least favourite band/musician: Probably some heavy metal, where they’re screaming down the micFavourite film: American Gangster, I love a Denzel Washington film.Least favourite film: I can’t think of one specifically.