Sheffield speedway: Berge knows he can improve

The Sheffield racer will represent France in the first-ever FIM event at the new National Speedway Stadium, which finally opened for racing last Friday after numerous delays.

Berge is strongly fancied to make progress through to the final itself when he lines up in Manchester on May 21 – and Tigers colleague Nathan Greaves has been handed one of the reserve berths.

Berge said: “The World Under 21 Championship is something I am very keen to do well in and I am certainly feeling good about going to a new track.

“I’m fairly happy with my form so far this season but I know I can do better. It’s a tough meeting at Belle Vue but I’m looking forward to it.”

British youngsters Max Clegg, a former Sheffield mascot, and Robert Lambert are also in the field along with exciting Australian racers Brady Kurtz – a regular guest in Tigers colours last year – and Jack Holder, brother of 2012 World Champion Chris.

Meanwhile Sheffield return to action this Thursday against Glasgow at Owlerton – Berge’s former club.

“I will take it the same as any other meeting,” he said. “I like the Sheffield track and the Sheffield people have been very good to me so far, I am enjoying my time with the club.

“Hopefully I can start finding some consistency away from home and we can be a really top team, we have good riders throughout and we can be up there.

“It’s just the away form which needs working on, we were all disappointed to lose at Peterborough because we were running them close early on.”

Berge opened up the meeting with a 5-1 alongside brilliant skipper Simon Stead but tailed off to manage just two more points from three rides.

Glasgow are fresh from a bumper win over Scunthorpe at Ashfield and with Ben Barker and Arron Summers in their side they are sure to be a major threat to Sheffield’s proud home record.