Michael Hartel took a major step towards a medal place in their year’s competition with a dramatic win in the Final on a perfectly prepared track at Muhldorf on Sunday. Before a crowd of around 3000 spectators and in a blistering 30C heat the 19-year-old Bavarian hero collected 23 points and is now within 3 points of championship leader Mathieu Tresarrieu.
Star of the afternoon was undoubtedly former Speedway Grand Prix winner Martin Smolinski who was in stunning form as the Wild Card and unbeaten as he went into the final race. He had decided to change his drive change before the final and ironically it was this that let him down and took away his chance of a podium place. On the final bend of the last race, leading by some 100 metres his chain dropped and he was left helplessly to watch the others pass him and rob him of a deserved maximum. Smolinski, who had decided against a full World Championship season was racing in only his second Long Track meeting of the year and showed why he would be a force in this competition had he committed to entering the series.
Tresarrieu finished behind another German contender Stephan Katt who enjoyed his best meeting of the year so far, collecting 20 points and retaining his third place overall. The Frenchman however was content to bank the same number of points on a track that he has struggled with in the past and he retains his overall lead ahead of the two remaining rounds on his favoured tracks at Eenrum and Morizes.
Two other young stars tipped for a glittering future had mixed fortunes. Dutchman Romano Hummel responded to a late call up following the withdrawal of Hynek Stichauer and scored consistently through the meeting to pick up 13 points and reach the semi final stage. Great Britain’s James Shanes struggled on his first visit to this track and was not helped by a puncture in his second race. He worked hard to take a semi final spot and retains his overall fifth place in the championship.
Another former Grand Prix star, Chris Harris suffered a long overnight drive from Leszno where he had ridden for the Great Britain team in the Speedway World Cup Final. He arrived too late for practice then, trying a new engine, seized a gearbox and only began scoring in the second half of the meeting.
Leading positions after the first round:
1. Mathieu Tresarrieu (France) 69 points
2. Michael Hartel (Germany) 66
3. Stefan Katt (Germany) 56
4. Theo Pijper (The Netherlands) 46
5. James Shanes(Great Britain)40
6. Josef Franc (Czech Republic) 37
7. Richard Hall (Great Britain) 27.
The Fourth round of the competition takes place in Eenrum, The Netherlands on August 20th
Graham Brodie