Danish racer Michael Jepsen Jensen is determined to use his Speedway GP comeback season as a stepping stone to a World Championship challenge in 2027.
MJJ fell just a point short of guaranteeing his spot in next season’s series at the FIM SGP Challenge in Terenzano on Saturday, when he scored nine points – leaving him one point short of the top-four finish needed.
But the 2012 FIM Speedway World Cup winner’s hopes of qualification are boosted by the fact he is currently fourth in this year’s standings on 66 points going into the FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Lodz on Saturday.
With the top seven riders in this year’s World Championship certain of spots for 2027, MJJ is in good shape to make the cut.
If he drops out of the top seven, he also receives a place for next year if two of FIM SGP Challenge winner Robert Lambert, third-placed Kacper Woryna or fifth-placed Andzejs Lebedevs reach the SGP top seven after they finished ahead of him in Terenzano.
But Jepsen Jensen is determined to punch his own ticket for 2027 and then use that as a launchpad for a title quest – rather than just staying in the series to make up the numbers.
He said: “To be honest, I want to stay in the top seven this time. Anything can happen, but if I don’t feel like I can compete in the GPs, that’s okay. If I shouldn’t be a part of the GPs, I shouldn’t be a part of them. That’s how it is.
“I did the meeting in Terenzano because I do want to be a part of it, and I also believe the chance is still not too bad that I will qualify. If I can stay in the top seven this year, I am okay with that. Then I will have learned a lot, and I can build on that next year.”
Despite scoring five points at round six in Malilla and two at the opener in Landshut, three final appearances so far this year mean Jepsen Jensen is still 12 points clear of eighth-placed Max Fricke and just 15 points short of Robert Lambert in the race for the rostrum.
“I’m in the mix,” he said. “After Malilla, I was very surprised that I am still No.4. With two crappy rounds, I didn’t see that coming. But the other rounds were decent, and I managed to get things done in the end, even with mistakes and failures.”