Saturday 17th August 2019 - European Speedway Cup 250cc 2019
Semi Finals 1 and 2 at Pardubice 14:00 and 17:00

Another week and another meeting at Pardubice.  I'm not getting too much variation in track of late but quite a bit of variation in field.

Today's journey was Podebrady via Kolin to Pardubice Hlavni Nadrazi.  Arriving in time to catch the 88 bus (at 1304 - they seem to run 4 minutes and 34 minutes past the hour) from stance 3 just outside the main train station.  Very handy.  Equally handy is the method of purchasing a ticket via your phone.  Send a message 'DPMP' to number 90206 and a couple of minutes later you get sent a message indicating you have purchased a 25 crown (kc) single ticket.  Which is valid for an hour within Pardubice.  Of course you can also buy it on the bus.

The bus takes you to the Svitkov part of Pardubice (which is the area in which the stadium is located).  We jumped off when the bus turned off the main road (on the edge of the wooded area near the track), as we knew we can walk through the trees to get towards the track.

Today's meetings were both semi finals of the 250cc European Championship.
70 kc for entrance and 30 kc, so 100 kc (or 3 or 4 quid depending on exchange rate) for 40 plus heats of racing.

Semi Final 1
Line-up
1. LILL, Markus Maximus (Estonia) (2,1,0,1,0 = 4) 12th
2. JENICEK, Jan (Czech Rep) (1,0,1,1,0 = 3) 13th
3. RAGUS, Fabian (Poland) (3,1,1,0,2 = 7) 10th
4. KOSSLER, Sebastian (Austria) - Did not arrive (16th)
5. PEDERSEN, Rasmus (Denmark) (2,3,2,2,1 = 10) 6th
6. LAPPI, Viljam (Finland) (1,1,1,2,3 = 8) 8th (after run off)
7. BACHHUBER, Erik (Germany) (3,3,2,3,3 = 14) 1st (after run off
8. HAGON, Sam (UK) (0,3,2,2,1 = 8) 9th (after run off)
9. HEGENER, Marlon (Germany) (1,2,0,1,1 = 5) 11th
10. POLLESTAD, Mathias (Norway) (3,3,3,3,2 = 14) 2nd (after run off)
11. WAHLQVIST, Noel (Sweden) (2,2,3,3,2 = 12) 5th (after run off)
12. JOHANSEN, Jacob (Denmark) (R,1,0,0,1 = 2) 14th
13. BASTECKY, Michal (Czech Rep) (0,0,Ex,N,N = 0) 15th
14. KNUDSEN, Jesper (Denmark) (2,2,3,2,3 = 12) 4th (after run off)
15. PALUCH, Oskar (Poland) (3,Fx,3,3,3 = 12) 3rd (after run off)
16. SELVIN, Ludvig (Sweden) (1,2,2,1,2 = 8) 7th (after run off)

A few well known speedway names in the above line-up and I'd also seen many race and was anticipating Knudsen, Pedersen and Pollestad to feature.  They did but were joined by two new names (to me) Bachhuber and Paluch who were very impressive.

Heat 1
Result - RAGUS, LILL, JENICEK, KOSSLER (non-starter) 76.94
Lill led all the way until the last bend only for an engine issue (perhaps fuel) to cause him to slow and almost halt still managing to get over the line in 2nd place.

Heat 2
Result - BACHHUBER, PEDERSEN, LAPPI, HAGON 77.40
Bachhuber gated, had good style and won comfortably.

Link to Video Clip of Semi Final Heat 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EhSg10h7lQ&t=15s

Heat 3
Result - POLLESTAD, WAHLQVIST, HEGENER, JOHANSEN (retired) 73.08
Pollestad gated and rode a nice line for a good win

Link to Video Clip of Semi Final Heat 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoJ_fMQGUZI

Heat 4
Result - PALUCH, KNUDSEN, SELVIN, BASTECKY 71.62 !!
Paluch made a good start and Knudsen (the World Champion) couldn't lay a glove on him

Link to Video of Semi Final Heat 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3UPgXti-kw&t=17s

Heat 5
Result - PEDERSEN, HEGENER, LILL, BASTECKY 73.75
Comfortable win for Pedersen

Heat 6
Result - POLLESTAD, KNUDSEN, LAPPI, JENICEK 72.78
Knudsen from the gate but a neat pass by Pollestad on turn 4 lap 1 takes him to the win.

Link to Video of Semi Final Heat 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1BIWAsjJQw&t=11s

Heat 7
Result after re-run - BACHHUBER, WAHLQVIST, RAGUS, PALUCH (fell excluded) 73.69
In the first running of this one Paluch missed the gate and made a move from third trying to get into 2nd but was too quick into the bend (3rd bend lap 2 - I think) and brought down Wahlqvist.
Re-run Bachhuber made the gate for a comfortable win.

Heat 8
Result - HAGON, SELVIN, JOHANSEN, KOSSLER (non starter) 73.91
Fine gate from Hagon with a smooth line taking him to the win.

Heat 9
Result - WAHLQVIST, SELVIN, LAPPI, LILL 74.37
Wahlqvist with the win but Lappi tried very hard to challenge for second.

Heat 10
Result - PALUCH, PEDERSEN, JENICEK, JOHANSEN 72.59
Pedersen made the gate but the little Pole was soon by him with a fine first turn.  Johansen had an engine failure whilst sitting in third.

Heat 11
Result - KNUDSEN, HAGON, RAGUS, HEGENER 74.16
Great race.  Hagon with a fine gate from the inside trap, Knudsen chases and hounds Hagon, often getting alongside but Hagon rides a nice line, only to succumb when Knudsen chops across Hagon on turn 1 of the last lap.  Brutal move.  Great race from both.

Heat 12
Result - POLLESTAD, BACHHUBER, BASTECKY (fell excluded - from first running), KOSSLER (NON STARTER) 73.82
Another fine race.  Bachhuber with the gate and Pollestad chasing him using a slightly tighter line all around the circuit.  The tighter line paying off with a lap long challenge, on the final lap, to take Pollestad into the lead and win.  Super race.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMHubnMOups

Heat 13
Result - BACHHUBER, KNUDSEN, LILL, JOHANSEN 73.85
Bachhuber from the gate riding a smooth fast line not allowing Knudsen to lay a glove on him.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY8NwZwwjk0

Heat 14
Result - WAHLQVIST, HAGON, JENICEK, BASTECKY (non starter - injury) 74.40
Hagon with another fine gate and it took until 2nd lap 3rd bend before Wahlqvist could work his way into the lead.

Heat 15
Result - POLLESTAD, PEDERSEN, SELVIN, RAGUS 73.72
Pollestad with a nice gate and a tapes to flag win.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGfHbPv85IA

Heat 16
Result - PALUCH, LAPPI, HEGENER, KOSSLER (non starter) 73.38
Another fine gate and first bend from Paluch.

Heat 17
Result - PALUCH, POLLESTAD, HAGON, LILL 72.62
Paluch led from the gate with Pollestad not really getting close enough to the Pole and in fact coming under pressure from Hagon until making certain of second place.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-HpvlEgxcw

Heat 18
Result - BACHHUBER, SELVIN, HEGENER, JENICEK 71.69 !!
Bachhuber with a fast tapes to flag win.

Heat 19
Result - LAPPI, RAGUS, JOHANSEN, BASTECKY (non starter) 74.87
Lappi winning this one in fine style.  The win taking him into a run off for a qualification place.

Heat 20
Result - KNUDSEN, WAHLQVST, PEDERSEN, KOSSLER (non starter) 73.78
Knudsen with a fine gate and an untroubled win with Pedersen initially in second until Wahlqvist worked his way by.

Race Off 1 - For 7th, 8th and 9th
Result - SELVIN, LAPPI, HAGON

Link to Video Semi Final 1 Race Off 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWdzdp3cO_c

Race Off 2 - For 3rd, 4th and 5th
Result - PALUCH, KNUDSEN, WAHLQVIST

Link to Video Semi Final 1 Race Off 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJtwwEsgK7Q

Race Off 3 - For 1st and 2nd
Result - BACHHUBER, POLLESTAD

Link to Video Semi Final 1 Race Off 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9b9YzrVsGM

In summary a superb meeting with a surprise (to me) winner.

Erik Bachhuber is definitely in the category to keep an eye on.  Smart from the gate and a very smooth and solid style.

Others that impressed were Knudsen, Wahlqvist and Pedersen although the latter not as much as the first two.

The stand out name though is Oskar Paluch, who but for a 2nd heat rush of blood would have been in with a great shout of winning the meeting.  Super fast (very small so will benefit from this on the 250cc - as others are heavier than he) and definitely one to watch.


Semi Final 2
No parade prior to second semi final due to potential rain later (it did rain but approximately 3 drops)
Line up
FINGER, Tom (Germany) (0,1,1,0,0 = 2) 14th
GUSTS, Francis (Latvia) (3,2,3,2,2 = 12) 3rd
RATAJCZAK, Damian (Poland) (2,3,0,3,3 = 11) 6th
BOUIN, Tino (France) (1,F,1,0,0 = 2) 15th
DOBIAS, Milan (Czech Rep) (0,2,0,2,1 = 5) 11th
SKAARUP, Patrick (Denmark) (1,1,2,2,1 = 7) 9th
MCGURK, Sam (UK) (3,0,3,1,1 = 8) 8th
WYNANT, Jonny (Germany) (2,1,3,3,3  = 12) 2nd
PANICZ, Mateusz (Poland) (2,3,1,3,3 = 12) 5th
MOOS, Noah (Denmark) (0,0,2,R,1 = 3) 13th
ERNST, Ben (Germany) (3,2,3,1,3) = 4th
GRAHN, Gustav (Sweden) (1,3,2,2,2 = 10) = 7th
VALAND, Jesper (Norway) (0,0,0,0,0 = 0) = 16th
HENRIKSSON, Casper (Sweden) (3,3,2,3,2 = 13) 1st
KARLSEN, Mathias (Denmark) (2,1,1,1,2 = 7) 10th
HEINVEE, Gert (Estonia) (1,2,0,1,0 = 4) 12th

Heat 1
Result - GUSTS, RATAJCZAK, BOUIN, FINGER 75.50
Gusts from the gate and smooth nice style.

Heat 2
Result - MCGURK, WYNANT, SKAARUP, DOBIA 74.75
McGurk from the gate and smooth untroubled.

Heat 3
Result - ERNST, PANICZ, GRAHN, MOOS 74.94
Ernst took the win but wasn't as dominant as I thought he'd be (too heavy for 250cc now?)

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCTU8Hkwujo

Heat 4
Result - HENRIKSSON, KARLSEN, HEINVEE, VALAND 75.47
Henriksson from Karlsen from the gate the other two were well tailed off.

Heat 5
Result - PANICZ, DOBIAS, FINGER, VALAND 74.68
Comfortable for Panicz, won by a distance.

Heat 6
Result - HENRIKSSON, GUSTS, SKAARUP, MOOS 75.12
Henriksson passes Gusts on the last bend.

Heat 7
Result - RATAJCZAK, ERNST, KARLSEN, MCGURK 74.79
Ernst leads from tapes but Ratajczak chases and eventually rewarded with a fine pass on the last bend.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWwOB2rt-rc

Heat 8
Result - GRAHN, HEINVEE, WYNANT, BOUIN (fell) 74.16
Wynant led all the way until last bend engine failure.  Looked fast to that point.

Heat 9
Result - ERNST, SKAARUP, FINGER, HEINVEE 75.87
Skaarup with a fine gate and big lead in the early stages.  However, Ernst slowly reeled him in and passed 3rd lap 3rd bend.  But didn't look super fast.

Heat 10
Result - GUSTS, GRAHN, KARLSEN, DOBIAS 76.29
Gusts from Karlsen for the entire race with little between them, Karlsen passed Dobias early in the heat and was never far off second.

Heat 11
Result - WYNANT, HENRIKSSON, PANICZ, RATAJCZAK 75.03
Strong heat with Wynant taking the win from an ever close Henriksson with Panicz winning the battle of the Poles.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4VT1PblP4Q

Heat 12
Result - MCGURK, MOOS, BOUIN, VALAND 77.28
Good gate from Moos and he rode a fine line but McGurk had him under pressure and it paid off with an inside pass on the 3rd bend 3rd lap.

Heat 13
Result - HENRIKSSON, GRAHN, MCGURK, FINGER 74.97
Gate from Henriksson with little pressure from Grahn.  McGurk passing Finger for third.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87WGTUK-lC8

Heat 14
Result - WYNANT, GUSTS, ERNST, VALAND 74.37
Fine win for Wynant in a tough heat.  Ernst surprisingly remained in third but challenged hard but Gusts defended well.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXY453HQBtk

Heat 15
Result - RATAJCZAK, DOBIAS, HEINVEE, MOOS (retired)
Ratajczak from the gate with Moos comfortably in second until his engine let go.

Heat 16
Result - PANICZ, SKAARUP, KARLSEN, BOUIN 75.03
Comfortable for Panicz.  Bouin tailed off.

Heat 17
Result - WYNANT, KARLSEN, MOOS, FINGER 74.66
Impressively comfortable for the stylish Wynant.

Heat 18
Result - PANICZ, GUSTS, MCGURK, HEINVEE 75.18
Panicz from the gate but good early challenge from Gusts.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5v5FrADPTw

Heat 19
Result - RATAJCZAK, GRAHN, SKAARUP, VALAND 75.09
Comfortable for Ratajczak with Grahn passing Skaarup lap 2 bend 3.

Heat 20
Result - ERNST, HENRIKSSON, DOBIAS, BOUIN 74.72
Ernst from the gate but Henriksson tried hard to pass even though he just required second to win the meeting.

Link to Video Semi Final Heat 20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL7HsnHZk5s

Race Off 1 for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th
Result - WYNANT, GUSTS, ERNST, PANICZ 74.90

Link to Video Semi Final Run Off 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2nSVUrhSUg

In summary.  Whilst Henriksson winning was not a huge surprise, Ernst didn't seem his usual dominant self.  Other impressive efforts came from Panicz, Gusts and the very impressive Wynant.  A few names to keep an eye on there.

Friday 9th August 2019 - European U19 Individual Speedway Cup Semi-Final 1
Pardubice

Mads Masterclass

Another balmy summer's evening in the Czech Republic and another trip to my local track.

Prior to the meeting the line up looked quite interesting.  A smattering of known names for example Jan Kvech, Mads Hansen, Hellstrom-Bangs, Cierniak, Levishyn; with one or two names that were new to me for example Kaibushev, Kolodinskis, Hyyrylainen.

Heat 1
Mads Hansen made his intentions clear with a fine leap from gate 4 and powerful first turn to get around the fast starting Edwards (red).  With the 16 year old Hellstrom-Bangs 3rd and Levishyn fourth after the first lap.  Levishyn didn't look his speedy self but still managed to battle through on the inside of Hellstrom-Bangs at the end of lap 2 (his usual inside burst on turn 3 moving Hellstrom-Bangs aside).  Young Edwards whilst not looking like catching Hansen looked very comfortable in second with no mistakes.

Heat 2
It didn't take the meeting long to throw up a surprise packet.  Step forward Aleksandr Kaibushev.  Kvech made the jump from the inside trap however, Kaibushev had also started well and had ridden a good second turn to gather momentum down the back-straight.  So much so, that he looked to be carrying enough speed to round Kvech.  The young Czech probably saw that coming and made it impossible for the Russian to get by with the latter tasting the back straight safety fence, losing control and falling back to third behind Pole Cierniak.  However, the speedy Russian showed his intentions for the evening and was quickly under the Pole to re-take second.  Whilst all this was playing out Popa (Romanian) was tailed off in fourth.

Heat 3
Chlupac looked to have made the drop on Pacalaj but the young Slovakian wriggled his way through the first turn to emerge in the lead and despite the Czech's efforts he couldn't find a way by.  Kolodinskis (Latvian) a relatively close third with De Vries (Netherlands) fourth.

Heat 4
Curzytek made the gate and was untroubled with Ethan Spiller, Hyyrylainen and Fazekas following him home.

Heat 5
Edwards again with a good gate (from blue) and again it took a big effort from Kvech to round him on the second turn to hit the front.  Kvech quite untroubled thereafter, likewise Edwards in second place with Curzytek leading De Vries home for the minor position.

Heat 6
It was Chlupac from Spiller coming out of turn 2 with the slow starting Levishyn ahead of Popa.  The young Ukrainian isn't afraid to battle and in his true style he drove under Spiller on lap 2 turn 3, a favourite move of Levishyn.

Heat 7
Cierniak from gate 3 hit the front with Pacalaj looking comfortable and attempting to make a challenge from second place.  Then almost from nowhere Hellstrom-Bangs takes a wide line around the last bend and uses it to drive alongside the Slovakian as they approach the chequered flag.  Rather bizzarely the second place was initially given to the Slovakian (on the scoreboard) but later it transpired the Swede had taken it.  This turned out to be crucial for the Swede.

Heat 8
A good gate and first bend from Kaibushev takes him ahead of Hansen.  The Dane looked very fast in his first heat and is again in this one.  He lines up a burst of speed and drives under the Russian on lap one turn 3.  The Russian moves out a little but is able to retain first position.  The Dane isn't to be denied though and looking fast rounds the Russian on bend 2 lap 2.  Kolodinskis gets a good view of this battle from third and Hyyrylainen fourth.

Standings at this stage
Hansen 6
Kvech 6
Chlupac 5
Edwards 4
Cierniak 4
Kaibushev 4
Pacalaj 4
Curzytek 4
Levishyn 3
Spiller 3
Hellstrom-Bangs 2
Kolodinskis 2
Hyyrylainen 1
Popa 0
De Vries 0
Fazekas 0

Heat 9
Another fine gate from Edwards and he leads home Pacalaj, Hyyrylainen and Popa

Heat 10
A belter of a race.
Kolodinskis rockets from the gate leading from Kvech, Levishyn and Fazekas down the back-straight.  Before Kvech can make a concerted effort to attack the Latvian, the cheeky Levishyn wriggles his way under Kvech on turn 3 with his favoured inside move, only for Kvech to calmly return the same move coming out of turn 4.  Kolodinskis quietly goes about his business at the front.  Lap 2 is almost a carbon copy of lap 1.  Kvech looking to line up a move on the Latvian only for Levishyn once again to ignore the script with a cheeky inside pass, on the third bend, of the Czech and again Kvech is back under him coming out of turn 4.  Lap 3 sees Kvech get a bit more distance out of Levishyn and close on Kolodinskis and now that he didn't have the Ukrainian nipping inside him he lines up a fine inside line coming out of turn 4 to take the lead.  The 10,000 crowd stand and applaud the efforts of all riders.  No they didn't the 100 or so crowd gave a slight smattering of applause.

Heat 11
Kaibushev with a very clean start from the inside gate takes a very deserved win from Hellstrom-Bangs, Spiller and De Vries.

Heat 12
A Hans Madsen special.
Cierniak makes the leap followed by Curzytek with Madsen third and Chlupac fourth.  However, like a hot Danish knife through Polish butter Madsen drives under Curzytek turn 3 lap 1 and around Cierniak turn 2 lap 2 to hit the front in fine style.

Heat 13
Another ding dong battle.  Kolodinskis makes another sharp start from Cierniak, Edwards (for once not sharp from the tapes) and Spiller.  Cierniak has been watching previous heats and makes a turn 3 move under the Latvian and takes the lead only for Kolodinskis to drive hard around turn 1/2 of the second lap and line up his own inside move turn 3 and thereafter rides a fast smooth line to win.

Heat 14
Kaibushev with another fine gate and ride for the win but there is a scrap behind with Levishyn finishing ahead of Pacalaj and Curzytek.

Heat 15
A bit of an upset.  Chlupac gates and despite his efforts Kvech can't make his fourth turn inside move stick.  He almost makes it at the end of each lap but can't quite get through.  Hellstrom-Bangs gets a good view from third and Hyyrylainen fourth.

Heat 16
Hansen makes light work of this one from De Vries, Fazekas and Popa.

Standings at this stage
Hansen 12
Kvech 11
Kaibushev 10
Edwards 8
Cierniak 8
Chlupac 8
Pacalaj 7
Kolodinskis 7
Levishyn 6
Hellstrom-Bangs 5
Curzytek 5
Spiller 4
De Vries 2
Hyyrylainen 2
Fazekas 1
Popa 0

Heat 17
Another gate from Kaibushev with Chlupac second from Edwards and Fazekas.

Heat 18
Cierniak gates and goes.  Levishyn has a shocker of a gate and is behind Hyyrylainen and De Vries.  It wouldn't be a Levisyhn race without a turn 3 pass and sure enough at the end of lap one he charges under De Vries and sets out after Hyyrylainen.  The Finn holds off a lap 2 third bend charge in fine style but finally relents on the next bend with the Ukrainian passing down the inside on turn 1/2.  These 2 points would have (as it turns out) taken him into a run off for qualification but an engine failure robs him of that chance.  It wasn't his night.

Heat 19
Boom.  Hellstrom-Bangs leaps from gate 1 to take a super win from Curzytek, Kolodinskis and Popa.

Heat 20
Hansen makes it look easy against Kvech, Pacalaj and Spiller.

Heat 21
Run Off for 7,8 and 9
Hellstrom-Bang makes another fine gate a wins comfortably but Pacalaj and Kolodinskis pass and re-pass throughout before the Slovakian takes the final automatic qualification place.

Heat 22
Kaibushev gates and Kvech tries for a lap or two but then wheelies for the remaining two laps.

Final Standings
Hansen 15
Kaibushev 13
Kvech 13
Cierniak 11
Chlupac 10
Edwards 9
Hellstrom-Bangs 8
Pacalaj 8
Kolodinskis 8
Curzytek 7
Levishyn 6
Spiller 4
Hyyrylanien 4
De Vries 3
Fazekas 1
Popa 0

Another really enjoyable meeting with Mads Hansen the class of the field.  The real surprise packet (to me) was Aleksandr Kaibushev with Kvech putting in a solid performance.

Philip Hellstrom-Bangs looked under-powered or had a poor set up early in the meeting but he finished very strongly.
Jason Edwards gated well in his first three races but found it more difficult when he didn't.
Mateusz Cierniak was solid if not spectacular.
Marko Levishyn looked slow but still put in his usual effort with an unlucky engine failure robbing him of a better result.
Kolodinskis also looked lively but ultimately a poor ride in his 5th heat put paid to his chances of automatic qualification.

Heat 13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KamlPhwGj0&feature=youtu.be

Prague Marketa Stadion - Czech Grand Prix

Saturday 25th May 2019 - Pardubice

World Under 21 Individual Qualifying Round 1

What's not to like about a trip to the phenomenon that is Pardubice speedway track?

Now my local track and probably one of my favourites of all time.  Add in the fact that the field in today's meeting will contain some of the world's up and coming talents, today was only going to be a good day.

It did not disappoint.

A short train journey from Podebrady to Kolin changing onto the train to Pardubice.  NB there is also a stop at Pardubice-Svitkov which is much closer to the track.  However, I fancied a walk out to the track.  In the map below I came out of the main train station headed north up the road towards the river Elbe and took the route alongside the river.  Eventually coming out at approximately the Pardubice-Svitkov station and from there it is a 10 minute walk down the hill to the track.  Incidentally the number 15 bus from outside the main train station will also get you to the track (although it is year's since I've ridden on the bus to the track), as of course will a taxi (taxi rank to the side of the train station).

For the Golden Helmet meeting tickets are usually purchased through the window into the speedway office (that attaches itself to the pits) but on inquiring for a ticket I was given instructions (aka lots of pointing) that the tickets were going to be able to be purchased closer to the stadium.  Normally you can't get into the pub and restaurant area without a ticket but today the big blue gates were open.  So in I went for a nice lunch and cheeky wee drink.

As 2pm approached out came two ladies with a table, programmes and what appeared to be ticket wrist bands.  So 120 Czech crowns got me my wrist band (so I could stay outside the stadium and drink some more if I wanted and enter with ease into the stadium) and 30 crowns a programme.

Out-with the Golden Helmet weekend crowds are not usually very large at Pardubice.  However, I wandered in early to watch the track preparation and find a suitable seat.  For those that know the stadium I got a seat on the back row of section Y (just over from section Z).  This gives a nice view of the start line and first turn whilst also ensuring you can read the large scoreboard.

On to the meeting.

This type of meeting is always of great interest to me.  There are known names for example Maksym Drabik (WU21 champ in 2017), Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley.  Plus those that are just beginning to make a name for themselves for example Jaimon Lidsey, Jan Kvech, and others.

I was particularly keen to see Drabik, again, to see if he could exorcise his 2018 Pardubice demon where he had a nightmare last round of the World Under 21 championship that resulted in him finishing second overall.  The performances of Lidsey, Kvech, Chlupac, Bewley and Pacalaj also interested me.

Heat 1 - Drabik's nightmare continued with a 3rd place behind Latvian Artjoms Trofimovs and German Sandro Wasserman with Frenchman Goret fourth.

Heat 2 - Swede Woentin won from Czech Chlupac and Aussie Lidsey passing Bewley to take third.

Heat 3 - Young Czech Kvech gated well a drove hard to the first turn to win this one in good style from German Baumann (with a slight leg trailing style), Russian Faisulin and Slovenian Hribersek quite tailed off.

Kvech had a very decent 2018 Golden Helmet meeting and I'm sure many clubs around Europe will have eyes on him.  Once he decides he is ready for full time racing it'll be interesting to see how he progresses.

Heat 4 - Ukranian Levishyn made the gate and was eventually overhauled firstly by surprise packet Dane Jeppesen and Lambert with Slovakian Pacalaj tailed off.

Marko Levishyn has appeared a few times on my RADAR and does seem to have nice ability.  It is questionable how good his engines etc. are but he does have good gating ability and a reasonably aggressive style.  Definitely on the list of ones to keep an eye on.

Heat 5 - Jeppesen leapt from the gate and pulled away with ease with Woentin second, Hribersek gaining a gift third after Wasserman retired with engine failure whilst in second.

Heat 6 - A win for Lambert, with Bewley passing Baumann to get second and Goret in fourth.

Heat 7 - Another fine win for Kvech this time from Levishyn, Trofimovs passing Chlupac for third.

Heat 8 - Lidsey made a super gate a drove hard to a fine win from Drabik, Faisulin and Pacalaj.

Heat 9 - Kvech made a poor gate from gate 4 but an intelligent first bend move saw him move into 2nd place later to make a inside pass on Bewley (3rd/4th turn) to win, with Wasserman 3rd and Pacalaj fourth.

Heat 10 - Faisulin from Woentin, Levishyn and Goret.

Heat 11 - Lidsey leading most of the way with Lambert exerting pressure throughout, resulting in Lidsey hitting some unexpected drive on the last turn taking him into the fence meaning Trofimovs took second and another gift for Hribersek.

Heat 12 - Drabik finds a set up and some fine drive to sweep past Jeppesen for the win, Baumann third and Chlupac fourth.

Heat 13 - Lambert third to first leading home Wasserman, Chlupac and Faisulin.

Heat 14 - Jeppesen, Lidsey, Kvech and Goret.

Heat 15 - Baumann, Trofimovs, Woentin and Pacalaj in a fine battle with 2 or 3 passes for point scoring positions.

Heat 16 - Drabik winning easy from Bewley, Levishyn and Hribersek.

Heat 17 - Lidsey fast from the gate to win from Levishyn after passing Baumann, Wasserman last.

Heat 18 - Win for Chlupac, Pacalaj and eventually Goret third from Hribersek.  Hribersek had been gifted a couple of points in the afternoon but this one was looking like a 'won' point but for a slight mistake that allowed Goret through.  The Frenchman whilst not really on the pace at all had a nice style.  It'll be interesting to see if French speedway will grow in the coming years.

Heat 19 - Jeppesen from Bewley, Trofimovs and Faisulin.

Heat 20 - Drabik from Lambert, Woentin and Kvech.

All in all a very enjoyable meeting.  A surprise winner in Jeppesen who gated well and had fine speed all afternoon, Drabik got off to a slow start but looked to find a setting and flew thereafter.  Has he found a set up for Pardubice?  Lambert was pretty sold throughout and did enough to qualify.  Kvech started like a train but when he came up against the bigger names struggled a little but did well to qualify.  Considering he doesn't compete as regularly as many of the rest and that he will undoubtedly be working with a small budget - he did very well.

Chlupac and Pacalaj were disappointing and definitely need to climb a rung or two to compete with most of this field.

Young Levishyn scored in each of his rides and looked lively at times.  Worth watching.

Jeppesen was a surprise winner of this round and definitely one for the future.  The Dane's keep churning them out.

Lidsey.  Really classy performer.  Gated very well and rode a smooth line.  Obviously not the finished article and he does currently find it more difficult to cope when the track is rutty etc.  However I'm sure he'll learn.  One to watch.

Bewley seemed a bit subdued on the day.  After his really bad injury in 2018 it's no surprise that he appears to be slightly off where he was a year ago.  Still has lots of potential.  An injury free season will do him wonders.  Still worth keeping an eye on.

Rybnik v Lodz

What a farce.

Light rain throughout the afternoon made us wonder if this would go ahead.  But in no way should the meeting have been threatened.  Meeting started after an eventful heat 1 the track record was broken by Batchelor and Tungate had taken a tumble.  I suspect the latter proved more influential on the forthcoming events.

Heat 2 a Lodz reserve throw himself at the scenery after going way too fast into turn 3 on the 2nd or 3rd lap.  Result long delay and much track grading on the 3rd turn with the eventual abandonment of the meeting!!

I shall say no more.

At last the long wait is over the season starts....

Tonight's match was a Czech Liga 1 match.  Which more or less is a combination of young and old riders in a four team format of sorts.

There were teams representing Prague, Koprivnice, Zarnovica and Pardubice.

It was a fairly miserable night on the weather front, so not many pictures to post.

The interest was definitely in seeing how the various Czech and Slovak prospects are progressing.

The short answer is very well.

Top of the list is Jan Kvech (Prague) he looks to have put more money into his set up and is pretty quick around the Marketa track.  Only beaten on the night by Stichauer.

Next on the list is Petr Chlupac (Prague).  He seems to have leapt on a few steps, not quite in the same bracket as Kvech in my opinion.  At times he his lightning from the starts and very quick in the lead but when behind he's not quite the same rider and doesn't have the same elegance on the bike in the turns.

Slovak David Pacalaj (Zarnovica) is the final one on the RADAR.  I would have said he was some way down the pecking order when I saw he in Liberec.  However, he has definitely improved a couple of levels.  Now he looks stronger on the bike and much more consistent.

All in all quite an enjoyable meeting despite the weather.  Crowd was no more than 100!!

Prague Markets Stadion