Classic Stancl
(Posted 22/10/07)

George Stancl was the worthy winner of an entertaining Ashfield Classic after a near flawless display although for many the talking point on leaving the stadium was the display of his fellow countryman, Filip Sitera.

There were quite a few riders in with a realistic chance of winning before the meeting started and Kauko Nieminen stated his intentions with a comfortable win form the gate in a well spread out opening heat. We were treated to two races in one in heat two with Lee Dicken and Chris Kerr doing battle at the back, Lee getting the better of the Redcar rider thanks to an inside pass at the end of lap three. Meantime, up front Stancl and Lyons were having an excellent battle. Lyons had made an excellent gate but Stancl went round the outside of him on bend 2. The two rode in close contention for three laps, swapping positions, before Lyons got the drive out of bend two on the final lap that saw him pull clear and inflict what was to be the only victory over Stancl all afternoon.

The respectable crowd got their first glimpse of Sitera in heat 3, a heat he won comfortably after being outgated by Ksiezak. He tried a few different lines as he got his first look at the track. It was followed by a win from the gate by Sneddon in heat 4 although James Wright was all over his back wheel but although he came close on the final lap, he was unable to find a way through.

Gary Beaton and Lee Dicken made the gate in heat 5 and although Nieminen was able to pass Beaton on the opening bends, Dicken held him off with some excellent tactical riding until the very final bend when Kauko cut inside. Lee did not give up and very nearly got back on the line but the victory was Kauko’s.

A good hard opening bend between Wright and Franc was followed by an opening lap in which Wright eventually came out on top after taking Franc wide on the third bend. Lyons slipped through the inside into second at this point but Franc hit back right away off the fourth bend to reclaim second. Wright meantime had pulled well clear and went on to win. Stancl won a well spread out heat 7 comfortably from the gate, Leverington claiming second spot with Sneddon falling off on his own at the back. It was followed by a well spread out heat 8 win for Sitera, despite Adam Roynon outgating him. Heat 9 was similar, Lyons gating but being passed by Nieminen on the opening bends, Kauko winning easily.

Sitera badly missed the gate in heat 10 but showed masterly control on bend three of the opening lap as he powered past Lee Dicken on the outside. One lap later and he went round the outside of Sneddon as if he wasn’t there. At this stage it looked as if Franc was well clear but Sitera caught up with him on the third lap and after pressuring hard on the final lap he was only just held off by Franc on the run to the line.

James Wright won heat 11 from the gate but all eyes were on a close battle for second place between Trent Leverington and Chris Kerr, Trent holding on for second.

Robert Ksiezak took George Stancl wide on the opening bends of heat 12, but was only able to hold off his challenge for a lap, Stancl passing on the outside on heat 2 and going on to win the race comfortably.

Heat 13 was eagerly awaited with many feeling that it could well be the same line up as the final with Stancl Nieminen Wright and Sitera coming up against each other. Sitera once again missed the gate and was unable to make up the ground, finally retiring when his bike made a popping sound on the final lap. Stancl, Wright and Nieminen were close fro all four laps although there was no passing, Stancl just winning ahead of Kauko.

There was another good tussle in 14 between Franc and Chris Kerr, the two constantly switching position for three laps before Franc got the upper hand. It was followed by a good battle between Lee Dicken and Adam Roynon in the next heat. Roynon was rolling at the start but got no advantage so the referee allowed it to go. Lee used the outside line off bend 2 to hit the front with Roynon close behind. Lee held him off until the final lap. He appeared to have problems with his bike going down the backstraight, Roynon took full advantage to pull level then passed inside him coming off the final bend.

Sneddon won a mundane heat 16 from the gate but was thwarted in the next one by a super outside pass by Kauko Nieminen at the end of lap 3. Stancl then made a good gate and rode the wide line in the opening bends to give himself an unassailable lead in heat 18 and although Roynon and Franc were never far behind they were unable to mount a challenge.

Possibly the best race of the afternoon was for second place in heat 19 between Leverington and Sitera. Lyons won the heat from the gate but this was almost overlooked as the crowd watched the two ride at times barely inches apart. Leverington had the advantage early on as Sitera again failed to gate but when Sitera went very wide outside Trent at the end of the third lap Trent was not for giving up and came back inside the young Czech off bend two of the final lap. The two came out of bend four more or less level and Sitera on the outside line just beat Trent on the run to the line by the narrowest of margins.

Lee Dicken had actually come out at the start of heat 119, one heat early, and when he finally came to tapes for heat 20 he again showed the others a clean pair of heels winning from the gate with Wright in second unable to mount any serious challenge.

The heats over, Stancl and Nieminen were straight through to the final and Lyons, Wright, Franc and Sitera came out for the semi. Lyons won comfortably from the gate, Sitera again missed the gate but slipped through in between Wright and Franc coming out of bend two and into the important second place. Franc challenged hard but was unable to find a way past.

The final was delayed to allow Sitera to set up his other bike after he had bike problems. When the tapes went up however George just flew from the gate to tapes to retain his title and he made it quite clear how much it meant to him. Sitera, again from the back, found another miniscule gap this time between Nieminen and Lyons to come through into second and although Kauko never gave up and indeed came very close to passing him, the youngster held on to make it a Czech 1-2.

It was a good afternoon’s entertainment, George Stancl united the divide between East and West with many from both sides shouting him on and was a thoroughly deserving winner. Sitera showed just why his name will be on the lips of speedway fans throughout the country next season if he secures a place in the UK and it will be a surprise if teams aren’t queuing up to sign him. Final special mention has to go to a rider who didn’t even make the semi however. Lee Dicken once again showed the drive and enthusiasm that has endeared him to the Glasgow fans and was undoubtedly the best of the current Tigers riders on the day.

To all riders though, credit should be given for providing an afternoon of good entertainment at a time when others are winding down for a close season.

Congratulations George Stancl, an impressive and deserving winner of the Ashfield Classic 2007.

.