HAMPEL EDGES LESZNO AHEAD

Sunday 25th September 2011, 21:31

World No.2 Jaroslaw Hampel scored 12 paid 13 points to lead Leszno to a narrow 47-43 victory in the first leg of their Polish Ekstraliga play-off final battle with Zielona Gora on Sunday.

But new world champion Greg Hancock and Croatian SGP winner Andreas Jonsson joined forces to make Falubaz firm favourites to lift their second title in three years after next Sunday’s second leg.

Despite becoming the oldest world No.1 in speedway history on an emotional evening at Gorican on Saturday, Hancock still had the energy to travel through the night to Poland and rack up 12 paid 13.

Jonsson was also razor-sharp after collecting his third SGP win of 2011 and starred on 13 points.

GP Challenge bronze medallist Piotr Protasiewicz put in a sterling performance for Falubaz, scoring 10 paid 12 points.

Meanwhile, out-of-form Janusz Kolodziej found some speed when he needed it most and scored a solid 11 for Leszno. Australian international Troy Batchelor picked up nine paid 10.

In the bronze medal play-off, Gorzow all but secured third place in this year’s Ekstraliga by destroying table-topping Torun 60-30 at the Edward Jancarz Stadium.

Former world champion Tomasz Gollob was in no mood to mope after handing over his title to Hancock and the Gorzow favourite dropped just two points to Ryan Sullivan on his way to 12 paid 13 points.

But the real star of the show for the home side was Gorzow SGP track reserve Bartosz Zmarzlik. The World Under-21 finalist recorded an incredible 14 paid 15-point maximum and left Torun’s seasoned internationals Sullivan, Rune Holta, Chris Holder and Adrian Miedzinski trailing in his wake.

Croatian SGP wild card Matej Zagar and Niels-Kristian Iversen added 10 paid 12, while Danish champion Nicki Pedersen scored a straight 10.

Sullivan was Torun’s top man on 12, while Miedzinski accrued eight and Holder collected seven. Holta failed to score in four rides as his wrist injuries continue to get the better of him.

In the First Division, Emil Sayfutdinov tallied 12 points as Ekstraliga-bound Bydgoszcz defeated Gniezno 52-38 at the Polonia Stadium. British rider Tai Woffinden impressed with 11 for the visitors.

And World Under-21 champion Darcy Ward piled up 13 paid 14 points from six races as Gdansk held hosts Grudziadz to a 45-45 draw.

For full details of the day’s Ekstraliga play-off action, visit http://speedwaygp.com/league_results and select the Polish league tab.

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