Smolinsk takes shock win in New Zealand

Smolinsk, who impressed many with his performances in the British Elite League, trailed in last place for two laps of the final, but managed to slalom his way to the front to take the spoils from Denmark’s Nicki Pedersen, Poland’s Krzysztof Kasprzak and Fredrik Lindgren.

Tai Woffinden, the reigning world champion, failed to make it past the semi-final stage – but as Nigel Pearson, Eurosport commentator for the Speedway Grand Prix, pointed out in his rider profile’s piece, Woffinden is coming off the back of a nasty injury in a league meeting in Leicester last weekend.

Nicki Pedersen, the former three-time champion, had looked to put last year’s struggles – where he was dogged by mechanical failures and a wrist injury – behind him as he came through the heats and knockout undefeated.

And in the final, it looked like it would come down to a straight battle between the notoriously inconsistent Krzysztof Kasprzak and Pedersen for the win as they jostled for position before Smolinsk sidled up the inside to claim an astonishing win.