Racing: Aussie wins world junior speedway

Australian hotshot Darcy Ward has joined compatriots Leigh Adams and Jason Crump in winning a world junior speedway title.

In a major upset, the 17-year-old, who won the Aussie junior title earlier this year, bagged 13pts from his five heats to clinch top spot on the podium in Gorican, Croatia.

It's a remarkable achievement by the former dirt track star, who is only in his first season of speedway competition in Europe.

Local rider Jurica Pavlic clinched second place on his home track by winning a run-off ahead of Patrick Hougaard and Tai Woffinden, after all three riders finished on 12pts.

Ward faced a tense finish to the meeting after being pitted against Woffinden and Denmark's Nicolai Klindt in heat 18. Despite the Brit claiming victory, Ward held on for the second spot he needed to secure his place in the history books.

Adams won the junior title in 2002, with Crump following three years later.

Another Aussie, Chris Holder, has finished runner-up in the last two world junior titles behind Russian star Emil Sayfutdinov.

Meanwhile, in other speedway news, Adams has won his first ever Elite League Riders Championship in the UK domestic league with a battling victory at Coventry.

The Swindon skipper topped the rostrum ahead of home track hero Chris Harris and Holder, while Freddie Lindgren finished fourth following mechanical problems in the final.

Having been one of the British Elite League's leading stars for two decades, Adams was delighted to finally scoop top honours in the division's individual showpiece.

"That's my first one and I'm pretty pumped about that. I've had a few opportunities to win it before and it has never happened, but it was nice to do it here," said Adams.

"I was lucky because I didn't make a good start and first corner in the final, but I managed to make it work.

"The bike was working well and I had quite a lot of pace all night. We were all pretty close down the back straight but I managed to get some fresh air."