NKI TURNS UP HEAT ON TARNOW

Monday 23rd July 2012, 04:09

Danish star Niels-Kristian Iversen produced another inspirational Polish performance to help Gorzow close the gap on Ekstraliga leaders Tarnow with a huge 49-41 win at home to the Swallows on Sunday.

NKI powered to 13 points from six outings. He was well supported by Gorzow SGP bronze medallist Bartosz Zmarzlik, who tallied 10 paid 14, while Michael Jepsen Jensen racked up 10 paid 11 and Matej Zagar notched nine.

But the team’s Grand Prix regular Tomasz Gollob continues to endure an horrific season in the Ekstraliga and managed just one from two outings after falling in heat two. He finished third in race seven, but took no further part at the Edward Jancarz Stadium.

World champion Greg Hancock led the visitors on 10 points, while SGP first reserve Martin Vaculik warmed up for his second World Championship appearance in Gorican on Saturday with eight. Maciej Janowski scored seven paid 10 at reserve.

Elsewhere, Chris Holder raced to 13 points for Torun as they annihilated Czestochowa 60-30 at the Marian Rose Motoarena.

Adrian Miedzinski also shone on 12 paid 13, while Ryan Sullivan and Darcy Ward contributed nine apiece. Daniel Nermark and Miroslaw Jablonski tied on nine paid 10 at the top of the Lions’ scorechart.

Danish champion Nicki Pedersen stormed to 17 points for Gdansk, but it still wasn’t enough to save the coastal strugglers from sinking 51-39 at home to Leszno.

The Bulls remain without world No.3 Jaroslaw Hampel, but FIM Fogo Croatian SGP wild card Jurica Pavlic stepped up in the Pole’s absence with 11 paid 12 – a mark matched by Przemyslaw Pawlicki. Troy Batchelor weighed in with 10 paid 12.

Team Great Britain international Tai Woffinden followed up his strong FIM Monster Energy Speedway World Cup by top-scoring on 12 paid 14 as Wroclaw won 46-44 at home to Bydgoszcz.

Grand Prix racer Freddie Lindgren piled up 11 paid 13, while Tomasz Jedrzejak accrued 11.

Russian hotshot Emil Sayfutdinov starred on 12 for the hosts, while Krzysztof Buczkowski and Robert Kosciecha tallied 10 apiece for Bydgoszcz.

In the day’s other meeting, Rzeszow overcame the loss of injured Aussie Jason Crump to triumph 48-42 at home to Zielona Gora. Polish international Grzegorz Walasek romped to 15 from six, while Rafal Okoniewski added 13 paid 15.

Piotr Protasiewicz led Falubaz on 11 paid 13. World No.2 Andreas Jonsson totalled nine.

In the First Division, Swedish star Peter Ljung raced to a 14 paid 15-point maximum as Grudziadz won 49-40 against Lublin. His SGP rival Hans Andersen added six paid seven.

And a mammoth 16 paid 17-point haul from Bjarne Pedersen wasn’t quite enough to rescue Gniezno from a 46-44 loss at Lodz. Antonio Lindback collected 10 for the visitors.

OTHER NEWS