It is safe to say that last year was a very steep learning curve for Jimmy Hörnell, but the Swedish rider – who will have home advantage tomorrow (Saturday 1 February) for the Qualifying Round of the 2025 FIM Ice Speedway World Championship powered by Anlas, Kineo and HKC Koopmann – is determined to convert his hard-won experience into solid results this season.
Of course, first he must fight his way to a top-eight finish tomorrow at Örnsköldsvik to secure his place among the sport’s elite for the Finals at Inzell in Germany on 14-16 March and Heerenveen in the Netherlands on 4-6 April, although the thirty-four-year-old successfully navigated the Qualifying stage last year before impressing in his debut season in the FIM Ice Speedway World Championship.
“Experience is very important,” he said. “Every year I’ve been racing I’ve learned how to prepare mentally before, during and after a race. Now I am calmer and more focused on the task than I was before and not so jumpy ahead of a race. Maybe it has to do with my age?”
While Hörnell is a relative newcomer to competing in this highly-specialised discipline having taken it up just six years ago, his background in Motocross means he is certainly no stranger to racing motorcycles. He also grew up around Ice Speedway, having been born in the municipality of Örnsköldsvik and as a youth made regular visits to the Kallehov circuit to watch his father race.
With the sport such an integral part of his life – he is also a former mechanic for the three-time and reigning champion Martin Haarahiltunen – he regrets that he waited so long to start racing Ice Speedway.
“Now, after a few years of racing, I wish that I started sooner than I did, but I’m very happy that I [eventually] took the decision to start racing. Maybe it was just the right time in my life?”
After progressing via the Qualifying round to the 2024 Finals, Hörnell impressed on the opening day of the championship at Inzell with a fighting fifth. It was his best result of the campaign and although he signed off at the series’ final round with a solid eighth at Heerenveen he ended the season ranked tenth.
“Last season was very interesting, and I learned a lot about pre and post-competition preparationsthat I can take with me to the races and that should give me better consistency. I had a couple of rough days, but I was happy that I could come back and finish strongly.”
Hörnell can count on having the crowd behind him on Saturday, although he is conscious that home advantage often brings other factors into play.
“Of course, it can give an advantage, an energy boost, but there is also a little more pressure when you race at home, although it is a lot of fun to compete in front of family and friends.”
If he can once again negotiate this first hurdle, then Hörnell has a very simple gameplan.
“My goal is better continuity in my racing over the upcoming competitions and a top-five position when everything is finished. That would be fantastic!”