Skornicki returns to Wolves
Fans' favourite Adam Skornicki bid a fairytale farewell to Poole and returned to Wolves – only for Ben Barker to spoil the ending.
Fans' favourite Adam Skornicki bid a fairytale farewell to Poole and returned to Wolves – only for Ben Barker to spoil the ending.
The New Year Classic gave the perfect platform for the popular Pole to say goodbye at Wimborne Road – where he helped the Pirates to the Elite League crown while on loan – before returning to parent club Wolves for 2009.
Skornicki dominated the meeting, reeled off a five-ride maximum and then led the grand final all the way to the chequered flag only to be ambushed on the line by the Cornishman.
It was a crushing blow for the "doughnut king", but the 32-year-old was his customary gracious self.
He said: "It was four laps, the winner is the one at the finish line. Ben did a very good four laps, chasing all the way, and found a gap. It was a really good race."
Skornicki had finished the qualifying heats a full four points clear of Barker, his nearest rival. But he had no complaints.
He said: "The rules were there from the beginning. The guy who wins the final wins everything. Shame. But there is still all season ahead."
Skornicki's razor-sharp performance bodes well for his 2009 back at Monmore Green. He was electric from the gate and was headed just once in the qualifiers – and then only briefly in his fourth race when he quickly powered past Lewis Bridger.
Racing was generally excellent despite a dusty strip that repeatedly saw riders enveloped in a cloud of red mist.
One rider in a red mist of his own was Bridger, whose undoubted talent is repeatedly undermined in individual meetings by his seeming inability to string together five consistent rides.
Running third in his final heat – a placing which would have seen him into the grand final on countback – he tried a needless, messy pass on Stuart Robson that brought down both, earned Bridger an exclusion and cost him a place in the shootout.
Lukas Jankowski was the man to profit, going on to finish third in the final and edge out Edward Kennett.
While Skornicki was tantalisingly close to glory, the challenge of his Wolves teammate Nicolai Klindt was over almost before it began.
Engine problems left him playing catch up, although he showed fine pace at the conclusion of the meeting, finishing with a second place before signing off with a race win.
Qualifying scores: Adam Skornicki 15, Ben Barker 11, Edward Kennett 10, Lukas Jankowski 10, Lewis Bridger 9, Tomasz Piszcz 9, Mark Lemon 7, Jordan Frampton 7, Emil Kramer 7, Mads Korneliussen 7, Stuart Robson 6, Daniel King 6, David Howe 5, Nicolai Klindt 5, Michal Hadek 4, Jan Holub 2, Karl Mason (reserve) 0.
Grand Final: 1st Barker, 2nd Skornicki, 3rd Jankowski, 4th Kennett.
