Ward makes promising full-time debut

Australia’s Darcy Ward was more than happy with his full-time Speedway World Championship debut in New Zealand on March 23, but admits inexperience cost him a final berth in Auckland.

The event was won by Jaroslaw Hampel, ahead of countryman Tomasz Gollob, followed by Nicki Pedersen and 2012 Auckland winner Greg Hancock.

The 20-year-old showed astonishing speed in all of his heats, leaving his competition for dead in races three and seven, and winning an early contender for race of the season with Emil Sayfutdinov in heat 20.

But he couldn’t produce a jump from gate one to rival that of wily campaigner Pedersen, who clamped him on the kerb, allowing Hampel to round them for the win.

Ward threw everything at the Dane and, despite the Poole man having the power to get by, Pedersen blocked him brilliantly.

The Queenslander is fourth in the world championship – level with Pedersen in third – on 12pts. Australia’s reigning world champion Chris Holder is eighth on 9pts.

Ward said: “That was just inexperience to be honest. There were a few nerves and it happens. I’m still happy with everything.

“I didn’t have the experience to capitalise on gate one. But I’m still pumped about how it went. I had some good races and showed what I’ve got. I’m looking forward to what’s to come.

“Nothing bad has come from this weekend. It has been a good one. I’m just pumped to get the season going and continue on.

“I’ve been trying to prepare myself for the last four months. Mentally, it was hard enough preparing for the one round. Now I’ve got to do another 11! My confidence is back where it was, though.”

Meanwhile, Hampel has made no secret of how hard he worked over the winter to get back into peak condition and he was delighted to see his efforts bear fruit. He said:
“It’s quite a trip to come back from two zeros, but I didn’t want to end up last and knew I had to pull something out. I’m happy. I was third here last year as well and last season ended up quite well.”

Round two will be held in Poland on April 20.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1 Tomasz Gollob 15, 2 Jaroslaw Hampel 15, 3 Nicki Pedersen 12, 4 Darcy Ward 12, 5 Greg Hancock 11, 6 Andreas Jonsson 11, 7 Chris Holder 9, 8 Tai Woffinden 9, 9 Fredrik Lindgren 8, 10 Niels-Kristian Iversen 7, 11 Emil Sayfutdinov 6, 12 Antonio Lindback 6, 13 Krzysztof Kasprzak 6, 14 Martin Vaculik 5, 15 Matej Zagar 5, 16 Jason Bunyan 1.

AUCKLAND SCORES
1 Jaroslaw Hampel 15, 2 Tomasz Gollob 15, 3 Nicki Pedersen 12, 4 Greg Hancock 11, 5 Darcy Ward 12, 6 Andreas Jonsson 11, 7 Tai Woffinden 9, 8 Chris Holder 9, 9 Fredrik Lindgren 8, 10 Niels-Kristian Iversen 7, 11 Emil Sayfutdinov 6, 12 Antonio Lindback 6, 13 Krzysztof Kasprzak 6, 14 Matej Zagar 5, 15 Martin Vaculik 5, 16 Jason Bunyan 1, 17 Sean Mason DNR, 18 Dale Finch DNR.