b. 17th December 1984 (age 23)

Skwierzyna, Poland

Michal's Website

MICHAL Rajkowski needed no further recommendation than the one he brought with him to Belle Vue this season.

He felt ready to step up into the Elite League after an impressive season with Premier League Newport in which he established an average over the six-point mark which was halved to the 3.10 figure on which he joined the Aces. And his Newport team manager Neil Street, the former Australian team boss and Jason Crump's grandfather, had nothing but encouraging words for the ambitious Pole, who is also studying at university to become a sports' teacher.

Rajkowski was in big demand last season for guest bookings but refused to take them all as he didn't want to overdo things in his first British season. Indeed, Belle Vue were one of the clubs who he turned down when offered a booking.

Rajkowski is unusual for a Pole in two ways. First, he wasn't signed up with a Polish club at the start of the season because he wanted to live over here and concentrate on racing for the Aces, just as he did at Newport last year.

And, secondly, he doesn't mind the smaller, tight tracks as he showed at Somerton Park in 2007. Poles are brought up on big, full-throttle circuits and the smaller ones often cause them problems.

Like his fellow countryman Lukasz Jankowski, Rajkowski is confident he will have increased his average by the end of the season. He had the advantage of starting the season in a reserve berth. He said: "I had a good season at Newport last season so I felt it was the right time for me to try the Elite League. "I will be racing against better riders so I will be able to learn and to improve. I am happy, too, that I will be riding in the same team as Jason Crump and Joe Screen so I will be able to learn from experienced top riders like them.

"I would happy to reach an average between five and six points and I think I can achieve that." He added: "Living here also means I will be able to improve my English. I learned it at school but staying in Newport last year was a big help."

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