VACULIK DOUBLE CROWNS TARNOW

Sunday 14th October 2012, 21:07

Slovak sensation Martin Vaculik produced an astonishing turnaround for Tarnow, ending the Polish Ekstraliga play-off final with two big wins to seal Swallows the title.

The hosts defeated Gorzow 51-39 to triumph 93-86 on aggregate after going down 47-42 at the Edward Jancarz Stadium on Tuesday.

Vaculik started the meeting with just two points from three outings. But he got the better of SGP duo Tomasz Gollob and Niels-Kristian Iversen in heat 13 to put his side four points away from the gold medals.

And he returned to the track in the next race to finish the job off, as he led double world champion Greg Hancock to a 4-2 over GP Challenge top two Krzysztof Kasprzak and Matej Zagar.

Vaculik ended his afternoon on eight, but Tarnow’s real star was Leon Madsen. The Dane powered to 14 points and was only denied a full house by Zagar in heat 15.

Torun SGP wild card Maciej Janowski and former SGP regular Janusz Kolodziej contributed seven apiece, while Hancock scored six paid seven as Tarnow won 93-86.

Zagar was Gorzow’s top gun on 11, while Kasprzak collected nine, Gollob notched eight and Iversen accrued seven paid 10.

Meanwhile, Torun lead the race for the bronze medal after winning the third-place play-off, first leg 50-40 at home to Zielona Gora.

Aussie veteran Ryan Sullivan bounced back from wrist and hand injuries to bag 13 for Torun, while world champion Chris Holder, Darcy Ward and Adrian Miedzinski all contributed nine to the scoreline.

Swedish racer Andreas Jonsson flew to 15 paid 16 for Falubaz. Former SGP rider Rune Holta tallied 10 and Piotr Protasiewicz notched nine. The second leg takes place next Sunday.

Elsewhere, Polish international Grzegorz Walasek claimed the prestigious Czech Golden Helmet in Pardubice. The Rzeszow and Hammarby man ended a strong 2012 season on a high by winning the final ahead of Grand Prix duo Freddie Lindgren and Hans Andersen.

Next year’s SGP first reserve Ales Dryml was fourth, while Aussie stars Troy Batchelor and Rory Schlein were fifth and sixth respectively. World No.2 Nicki Pedersen won the consolation final.

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