IPSWICH Witches star and returning Grand Prix man Jarek Hampel admits that his decision to start last season in Suffolk paid dividends in the GP Challenge at Coventry.

IPSWICH Witches star and returning Grand Prix man Jarek Hampel admits that his decision to start last season in Suffolk paid dividends in the GP Challenge at Coventry.

The Polish international finished third in the SGP qualification final to secure his spot in the 2010 series, along with winner Magnus Zetterstrom and second-placed Chris Holder.

This result ended his two-year exile from the World Championship series, and Hampel admits he may not have done it without his three-month spell riding for Ipswich at the start of last term.

He said: “It was an English track and it wasn't so simple. When I'm riding in Poland, it's completely different.

“But I rode in Britain for half the season and I did this to help me get in at Coventry. I knew the track before I went there and that was a good move to race in British speedway.”

Having battled furiously to regain his place at World speedway's top table for two years, Hampel described his bronze medal at Brandon as a dream come true.

He added: “I have been working really hard to get back into the Grand Prix. There were some tough qualification rounds but in the end, I qualified through.

“I have been dreaming about the Grand Prix for two years and my dream has come true really.

“Even when you've had a good season all year, I know everything can end on one night. That's why I put my all into doing this meeting and concentrated from the beginning to the end.”

Hampel is taking some time to relax as he mulls over his options for next season. The 27-year-old admits he would consider a British comeback.

But with the SGP series on his 2010 schedule, the Pole admits he may already have enough on his plate, having done deals with Leszno in Poland and Elit Vetlanda in Sweden.

He said: “Everything is going to be much different next year because doing the Grand Prix will be a different story. I need to be good when I want to be one of the best riders in the world.

“I will continue in Sweden and Poland. But I will make a decision about Britain in December.

“It's very hard to race Britain, Poland, Sweden and the Grand Prix because it's too much travelling and too many meetings. But I need to think about it anyway.”

Speedwaygp.com