Australian Speedway star Jason Doyle has clinched his first SGP victory at the Marketa Stadium in the MITAS FIM Speedway Grand Prix on Saturday night.
The 2015 Australian Champion and World Number Five had a slow start to the meeting before kicking things off in his second ride. Two heat wins and two second places took Doyle to 11 points at the conclusion of the heats.
An easy semi-final victory rocketed Doyle into the final where he met American Greg Hancock, Dane Niels-Kristian Iversen and Great Britain’s Chris Harris.
Doyle arguably saved his worst start for the final where all four riders met in a tightly contested first corner. With Hancock making a break down the back straight Doyle too went with him carrying super speed to go underneath the triple World Champion heading into lap two. As Hancock threatened, Doyle held his nerve to take the chequered flag.
“I can’t believe what has happened. On the last lap I was out in front, I was just thinking ‘come on, keep going’.
“I knew I wouldn’t be able to out-trap Greg off one. He’s just one of those class acts. I went wide and picked up the dirt. I had enough speed to cut back and when the bike hooked up I had the speed to pull past Greg, I couldn’t believe it,” said an ecstatic Doyle post meeting.
The popular Aussie now skips to fourth in the overall standings, achieving the victory in front of his father in the process.
“I had my Dad here, I wish my fiancée had been here, but hopefully it can happen again and she’ll be there. My family haven’t been here for 10 years. It’s really difficult for them when they’re working.
“When we’re away from home and you don’t see your family, it’s very difficult. But this is the life we chose and to have this feeling, it’s all worth it,” said the New South Welshman.
Five-time Australian Champion and current World Champion Chris Holder had a night he’d rather forget. A second, two thirds and a last left the Aussie scratching his head for the right setup.
Unfortunately for Holder he also surrendered his lead in the title. He now stands third on 44-points, with Doyle fourth on 42. The current clubhouse leader Greg Hancocks 18 barnstorming points putting the American 8 clear of reigning World Champion Tai Woffinden on 56 and 48 respectively.
The SGP series makes it’s way to Cardiff in Wales for the 2016 Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix on July the 9th.
World Championship Standings:
1 Greg Hancock 56
2 Tai Woffinden 48
3 Chris Holder 44
4 Jason Doyle 42
5 Maciej Janowski 41
6 Bartosz Zmarzlik 38
7 Antonio Lindback 35
8 Peter Kildemand 34
9 Nicki Pedersen 32
10 Fredrik Lindgren 32
11 Matez Zagar 31
12 Niels-Kristian Iversen 30
13 Andreas Jonsson 28
14 Piotr Lawlicki 23
15 Chris Harris 20