The first Semi-Final of the Individual Speedway European Championship was held today in Dougavpils (Latvia). Michael Jepsen Jensen was flying to the victory in the semifinal 1 in Daugavpils, finishing on 14 points, the victory was almost secured before his last heat, only needing 1 point to take first place.
More exciting was the result for the next places, before the last 4 heats, 8 riders was in play for the last 4 qualification places. After finishing the last 4 heats it was clear that 4 riders was equal on 11 point, but all riders was through to the ECC. Two riders was also equal on 10 points for reserve place. In first run-off Russian Renat Gafurov took a victory against Josef Franc and securing the reserve place. Final heat was a run off for 2-3-4 and 5 position. Local hero Andzejs Lebedevs took the victory in the run-off, finishing on 11 points after being excluded for causing a crash in heat 14. Patryk Dudek took second place in run-off, after finishing last in heat 6. Third place went also to Poland, Maciej Janowski, finishing fourth in total. Last man in run off Kasts Poudzuks finished 5 in total, after finishing last in his first ride. The almost 5000 spectators saw a very exciting meeting, with the riders going very wide in the bends some-times and almost riding on the fence. A lot of overtakings during the meeting, made the meeting very hard and tough for the riders. The spectators must have left the meeting with big smiles on their faces, after seeing Andzejs Lebedevs winning the run-off after overtaking both Maciej Janowski and Patryk Dudek after he made a very bad start.
Next Semi-Final round is scheduled on the 24th of May in Zarnovica (Slovakia).
Download here FIM Europe Press Release 052/2014
