On Saturday in Auckland this year Grand Prix series started. In New Zealand Martin Smolinski won unexpectedly. The rider is a representative of German team in Speedway Best Pairs Cup. Darcy Ward had a bad luck that day – he was hit by Smolinski. Australian rider was taken to a hospital with suspected concussion.
In the tournament six riders, who are also participants of Speedway Best Pairs and Speedway European Championships, took part. The best from this group was Martin Smolinski who won with fifteen points. Nicki Pedersen was second but Dane scored seventeen points. Chris Holder was also close to the final but in the semi final Nicki Pedersen took this chance from him after quite acute attack next to a fence.
Andreas Jonsson took last place in the semi final. Swede this season will take part in Speedway European Championships. Niels Kristian Iversen (Denmark) and Australian rider Darcy Ward didn’t qualify to the semi finals. In one of the heats Smolinski made a mistake on the second bend of the fourth lap and as a consequence hit Ward. “Darky” was taken to a hospital with suspected concussion. Finally, Unibax Torun websitegiven the message that Ward broke his thumb
We would like to also remind that another round of Speedway Best Pairs Cup is on the 10th May in Landshut (Germany)! Tickets are available on www.etix.com
Classification of tournament in Auckland:
1. Martin Smolinski (Germany) - 15 (2,3,3,w,2,2,3) + 1st place in final
2. Nicki Pedersen (Denmark) - 19 (3,3,3,3,3,2,2) + 2nd place in final
3. Krzysztof Kasprzak (Poland) - 17 (3,3,3,2,2,3,1) + 3rd place in final
4. Fredrik Lindgren (Sweden) - 13 (1,2,3,1,3,3) + 4th place in final
5. Kenneth Bjerre (Denmark) - 11 (3,1,2,3,1,1)
6. Chris Holder (Australia) - 11 (2,2,2,3,1,1)
7. Jarosław Hampel (Poland) - 8 (1,1,1,2,3,0)
8. Andreas Jonsson (Sweden) - 7 (2,0,2,1,2,0)
9. Tai Woffinden (Great Britain) - 7 (0,1,2,2,2)
10. Greg Hancock (USA) - 6 (0,0,0,3,3)
11. Matej Zagar (Slovenia) - 6 (0,3,1,2,0)
12. Niels Kristian Iversen (Denmark) - 6 (3,0,1,1,1)
13. Darcy Ward (Australia) - 5 (2,2,w,1,-)
14. Troy Batchelor (Australia) - 4 (1,2,w,0,1)
15. Jason Bunyan (New Zealand) - 2 (1,1,0,0,0)
16. Chris Harris (Great Britain) - 0 (0,0,0,w,0)
17. Andrew Aldridge (New Zealand) - 0 (0)
18. Grant Tregoning (New Zealand) - NS
