e competition as they edge closer to top spot on the AFL ladder.The Bulld

Ipswich Witches captain Danny King gives Sky Sports an insight into the life of a professional Speedway rider. Speedway is hardly the kind of sport you can have after-school clubs for. You cant just nip to the park, jump on a bike and have a whizz around with your mates.The nature of the sport, and motorsport in general, makes it a difficult sport to get into as a youngster. Speak to most riders and it is something passed on down the generations and many follow a similar route to Dannys into the sport. Speaking to Sky Sports, King said: My dad got us into it. I think he had a go when he was a kid, but his parents couldnt afford it and I think it was his dream to get us into it - and it went from there really.I got into grass track, which is similar to speedway, when I was six. We did that until we were old enough to go to speedway because you cant race speedway until you are 15 or you couldnt when I was younger anyway.So we did grass track until the age of 11 or 12 really, then we started to do a bit of both. When I was 15, I went into full-time speedway. Many speedway riders start off racing grasstrack A unique part of the sport means that the vast majority of riders are paid based on performance, rather than a set contractual fee every week, like many other sports. As a youngster starting out it can be tough financially, with the cost of bikes and equipment adding up, it is tough to balance the books, and many riders take on other jobs. It is tough but I had to work as well as race, said King. I had a full-time job and I did that until I was good enough to go professional and earn enough to do speedway on its own, but I always worked up until then.It was difficult balancing the two jobs but luckily I had very understanding bosses and I took it as holiday when I needed to. The majority of speedway riders are paid based on performance A lot of the time it was only an hour here and there, because I could work til three oclock and then still get to most places to race at the meeting in the evening. It was a bit of give and take, I worked extra hours if I had to, but as long as I could go early for my speedway!Once up and running in the sport, the more successful you are the more hectic your schedule becomes. The former British U18 Champion rides at the top level in Britain and Denmark and the second division in Polands strong speedway pyramid.He has also rode in Swedens top-flight, meaning that despite grappling with a 500cc bike for a living, the travelling can sometimes be even more gruelling.When we are in full swing we are busy, said King. It depends on what leagues you are doing, but you have Sweden on Tuesday, Denmark on Wednesday, Poland Sunday and England every other day in between.You could have a week of Sunday Poland, Monday Wolverhampton, Tuesday Sweden, Wednesday Denmark, Thursday Ipswich, Friday Coventry - and so on, but then you might have a slower week so it comes in dribs and drabs. Speedway riders face a hectic schedule during the season A lot of travel organisation needs to be done as the riders jet around Europe, adding to an already busy lifestyle, but the 29-year-old prefers to deal with this side of the job himself, instead of involving an agent.I do it all myself but thats because I like doing it myself, its something I enjoy doing, he said. I like to know where Im at and I am in control of it. A lot of the time it is difficult and you need to work out is it best to go from here to here or straight there?, so obviously if there was another person Id always be constantly on the phone checking.Last season it was Dannys dedicated mechanical teams task to make sure that all the equipment found its way across Europe, meaning a van can become a second home in the world of speedway.And with life on the road during the season, it can be tough for professional athletes to maintain a regime and diet, but King does all he can to maintain the highest standards.Obviously we are racing so much so you dont have time to go to the gym 24/7 but obviously it is important when you are not racing to keep fit and get plenty of rest, he said.The diet is another hard thing, I always try and eat healthily as after a meeting it is late at night and the chances of getting anything healthy are slim! So that is part of the preparation, a nice healthy late lunch because I dont eat before a meeting and if you eat too early you get hungry by seven! So about two oclock on the day I will have some food. Injuries do not put King off the sport he loves When the riders are racing they are at their happiest, but there is always a downside to any sport and speedway is no different. The dangerous nature of speedway means riders will almost certainly suffer some serious injuries along the way but the Witches rider says it does not change a riders mentality towards the sport.He said: I think when you do something like this sport you understand that its a dangerous sport and injuries happen and I dont know any speedway rider that has gone through his career without getting injured. Its that kind of sport and you have that mentality. You accept it and if it happens it happens.As if injury was not hard enough to take, if youre not riding youre not earning in this sport and there is no chance of easing your way back into this sport after injury.King said: Obviously we have insurance, but we dont earn any money so its very important to have good insurance and good background with good physios and things like that, so you can get back on the bike as soon as possible.Im sure you could speak to some clubs and theyd have connections but mostly you sort that out yourself. Also See: Riders view: Off-season Riders view: race day Dean Chance Indians Jersey . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Nick Goody Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/4228u-oscar-gamble-jersey-indians.html . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Keith Hernandez Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Hunter Wood Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Hawthorn appear to have timed their run perfectly heading into the final quarter of the season. Aside from a rampaging Adelaide, the Hawks are clearly the form team of the competition, according to this weeks edition of the ESPN AFL Power Rankings.Alastair Clarksons men have jumped up to an equal season-high ranking of second, with a couple of soft-ish matches against Richmond and Carlton to help them along in the coming rounds.Meanwhile the Crows, with three home games over the next four weeks against bottom-eight sides, are expected to continue their stranglehold over the competition as they edge closer to top spot on the AFL ladder.The Bulldogs are this weeks losers despite technically being winners against Richmond; much like other unlucky teams in previous editions of the rankings, theyve fallen down the rankings despite a victory. A narrow win over a bottom-10 side such as the Tigers isnt particularly worthy of celebration, especially consideriing Sydneys victory at the Cattery and West Coasts win over top-eight contender North Melbourne both look slightly better on the resume.ddddddddddddThe Suns continue their late-season rise, though with serious injuries to key midfielders Gary Ablett and Michael Rischitelli, how long will it be before they start to fall down the rankings again?LegendForm: The higher the number, the better a teams recent form.Draw: The higher the number, the easier a teams upcoming draw.Fitness: Determined by the number and quality of fit players available. A list in good shape is ranked around a 7; a list missing three or four best-22 players might be considered a 3 or 4.X-Factor: The number and quality of genuine match-winning players.Attack: Potency of the teams offence.Defence: Ability of the team to prevent the opposition from scoring. ' ' '