IT’S not often that Danny Ayres is left speechless.
But Glasgow’s new cult hero struggled to find any words as he watched a video of Tigers fans singing his name on a supporters’ bus last month.
“Tears were in my eyes,” he said. “It was phenomenal. Words can’t describe how I felt when I watched that. I was speechless – it’s overwhelming. You’ve got six other lads there, and they’re singing my name – the No 7. What can I really say to that?”
Now, Ayres is desperate to pay those people back – and insists he will get there – but says he needs to relax a little.
The Tigers reserve thinks the only thing that can stop him and his team-mates from racing to glory this season is themselves.
He said: “I’ve been frustrated, but mainly because I’m putting so much pressure on myself to succeed that it’s actually hindered me for the last few weeks. I’ve taken the approach now that I’ve got to try and calm down, relax and enjoy it a bit more.
“Although the speed’s there, and it’s always been there, I’m trying to make it happen a bit too quick and I’m not going to take the world over in one race.
“It’s just difficult because I want it that bad, and I’ve made such big steps in the sport, that in the ideal world I feel that I’m going to jump into this and take it over. I know it’s not going to happen – I don’t think there’s a bloke on the planet that can make that happen – but I’m trying to do things that have not been done before.
“Things like that video are exactly why I go out there and ride like a t***, because I’m so overwhelmed that I want to give something back to them for singing my name – and it hinders me a little bit. But that’s not to say I don’t want them singing my name. I know 99.9% are behind me at Glasgow and I will succeed – I’ll make sure I succeed. It’s just got to be done a bit more controlled.”
Ayres goes to Edinburgh tomorrow for the first time as Glasgow complete their League Cup fixtures at Armadale – although they’ve already qualified as group winners. The Tigers then face Scunthorpe in the Premier League against Scunthorpe on Sunday.
I don’t do speedway for convenience. I do speedway because I want to be the best.
The 29-year-old said: “I’ve never ridden tracks that are so grippy before – in the National League you don’t find that. I’ve got to adapt to the Premier League tracks in a Premier League race. I am going to be a busy boy soon – so more bike time will be good.
“I scored four points at the weekend and that’s all I’ve been employed to do. But I want to be the part of the team that’s scoring all these big points. The team around me have been absolutely excellent. I will be contributing and I will be putting in the big scores, but it’s not going to happen overnight and I’ve got to understand this. That doesn’t mean you aren’t going to get a racer every time he goes out there and give the fans something to get off their seats about – but I’ve just got to do it a little bit different.”
Glasgow are unbeaten in competitive action so far, and Ayres says he doesn’t think there’s “any reason” why that can’t continue – as long as he can back up his colleagues. He said: “Nike Lunna came to the party big time at the weekend, you’ve got Coty Garcia who’s been coming to the party; the only person who hasn’t really been coming to the party is me – but I’ve still been scoring.
“I don’t think there is any team that can touch us, it’s just whether we beat ourselves. At the moment, all I’m doing is turning up to beat No 7s, and a little bit later on I can start worrying about the others. I will be backing the top boys up, it’s just going to take me a bit of time.”
Ayres prepares for meetings by sticking his headphones in his ears and tuning into some drum and bass music to get himself “buzzed” for the racing. He admits that his step into the second tier has been mentally draining for someone who’s only two years into his speedway career – but is committed to travelling from his Cambridge base every week in order to hit the top.
He added: “I don’t do speedway for convenience. I do speedway because I want to be the best. I drive seven hours every week because I want to be in the best team and I want to be with the best riders. It’s as simple as that.”
Glasgow can make it three wins from three in the league – and nine points from nine – if they beat Scunthorpe, following their 62-30 demolition of Peterborough on Sunday.