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.
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.
