DAN THOMPSON is hoping that the help from three World Champions will help guide him to British Under-21 glory.
The Ipswich and Plymouth star begins the event as one of the favourites at Glasgow’s Ashfield Stadium on Sunday, live on BSN.
Thompson led last year’s final for three laps but ended up finishing THIRD in an agonising end to his title bid.
But with the guidance from Emil Sayfutdinov and Jason Doyle at Foxhall Heath and previously from Tai Woffinden as a kid, he hopes that new belief can help him take gold this time.
He said: “Ipswich is more a family than a team, everyone is so inclusive. There are so many jokes going around and the help I get is unreal.
“Before I was moved on from my previous clubs I was sort of just an individual, I wasn’t really included. It was a bit intimidating for me.
“Since the change to Ipswich it’s built me up as a character and built me up as a rider. It’s definitely been a good move for me.
“Emil and Jason are two of the most professional riders in the world as well as two of the nicest people you could meet.
“I’m pitted next to them and they’ve always got advice if the track is changing and telling me what to do to improve my set-up. I couldn’t be part of a better environment.”
Both Dan and twin brother Joe Thompson will be in action at Ashfield.
Their emergence in the sport was highlighted in TV programme True Grit with Tai Woffinden back in 2018.
It’s been a long road to success since that documentary and Dan admits that it can be tough when expectation comes into play.
He added: “Every rider goes through it at some stage when they are supposed to be the next big thing. We then all go through our struggles. People like to say what they want.
“It was a cool experience to be a 14-year-old and hanging out with a three-time World Champion and getting advice from him. I didn’t really take any pressure from it.
“Now I’m almost 21 and I’m an adult. I need to start becoming a heat leader in the main leagues. I need to push on so when I turn 21 I’m well established.
“I was over the moon to get the British Under-19 title and obviously want the Under-21 title as well.
“I was leading last season’s final for three laps. There are a lot of good riders in the field and Leon Flint is on his home track.
“But that won’t make a difference to me. I’ll still be giving it my all. I’m confident I can go there and put in a good shift.
“Probably the hardest thing for youngsters is consistency. Only Tom Brennan of our age group is the one that’s made consistency permanently.
“I’ll definitely aim to be consistent like him. So far this year I’ve sort of been doing that.
“I just go into every meeting like it’s a new day and fight as hard as I can for my points.”
British Under-21 Championship, June 2, 2pm:
1. Ashton Boughen, 2. Ben Trigger, 3. Max James, 4. Sam Hagon, 5. Mickie Simpson, 6. Joe Thompson, 7. Leon Flint, 8. Dan Thompson, 9. Vinnie Foord, 10. Jake Mulford, 11. Luke Harrison, 12. Freddy Hodder, 13. Nathan Ablitt, 14. Ace Pijper, 15. Jody Scott, 16. Luke Killeen. Reserves; Stene Pijper, Mark Parker.
Stream live HERE
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.