Częstochowa, Poland-A tumultuous PGE Ekstraliga speedway match between Krono-Plast Włókniarz Częstochowa adn Betard Sparta Wrocław concluded with a 46-31 victory for the home team.The event, marred by rain delays, multiple crashes, and controversial referee decisions, was far from a showcase of the sport’s finest qualities.

The start of the 8th queue was delayed by 45 minutes due to rainfall that swept through Częstochowa approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled first gear.After the rain subsided, a track test was conducted. Wiktor Lampart and Philip Hellstroem-Baengs represented Włókniarz,while Artiom Łaguta and Zach Cook,the younger brother of Ben Cook,tested the surface for Sparta.

Weakened Teams Face Off

Both teams entered the match with critically important absences. Włókniarz was without Jason Doyle, while Sparta missed Brady Kurtz. Despite not competing, Kurtz was present in częstochowa, and his motorcycles were used by Zach Cook.

Three Debutants Take the Stage

The match saw three riders making their PGE Ekstraliga debuts. Zach Cook and 16-year-old Krystian Gręda, given an opportunity due to injuries to Jakub Krawczyk and Marcel Kowolik, represented Sparta. Philip Hellstroem-Baengs also debuted for Włókniarz.

Both Cook and Hellstroem-Baengs had memorable first runs. Cook,along with Łaguta,twice defeated Piotr Pawlicki and Mads Hansen in the opening race. Hellstroem-baengs mirrored this achievement, finishing ahead of Kacper Woryna, Maciej Janowski, and Daniel Bewley.

Red Card Controversy

The fourth race brought significant controversy. Bartłomiej Kowalski,riding in third place,crashed after an uncertain entry into the second arch. The referee issued a red card for what was deemed uninteresting behavior, as Kowalski was slow to rise from the track.

Referee’s Decision Impacts Sparta

The red card severely hampered Sparta’s strategy, as coach Dariusz Śledź was unable to replace Kowalski, who was excluded from all subsequent runs. This substantially complicated matters for the Wrocław team, which struggled to keep pace with Włókniarz. By the halfway point, Częstochowa led 25-17.

Falls and Track Conditions

The match was marred by numerous falls, highlighting the challenging track conditions. Some falls occurred even after riders crossed the finish line. The track was not leveled during the competition, further exacerbating the difficulties.

Sparta’s Troubles Compound

The third series saw another incident when Kacper Woryna crashed, damaging an inflatable gang. Repairs took over 20 minutes. In the restart, Artiom Łaguta, who initially led, crashed after running wide and losing control. He remained on the track for some time before returning to the pits.

adding to Sparta’s woes, Nikodem Mikołajczyk withdrew after feeling the effects of a previous fall, and Łaguta also did not return to the track. Considering these issues, along with the absences of Marcel Kowolik, Jakub Krawczyk, and Brady Kurtz, Włókniarz’s victory was almost inevitable.

the track conditions were so poor that riders could only safely use about half its width. Exceeding this invisible line often resulted in a loss of control. As the meeting progressed, the conditions worsened due to the lack of track maintenance.

Janowski’s Frustration Boils Over

A significant incident occurred in the penultimate run when Hellstroem-Baengs and Janowski crashed. Hellstroem-Baengs lost control and collided with Janowski,resulting in Hellstroem-Baengs’ exclusion and a yellow card for Janowski.

Following the crash, Janowski engaged in a heated exchange with track commissioner Tomasz Walczak, reportedly throwing something at the official. The referee responded by issuing a red card to janowski, ending his participation and effectively concluding the meeting. Some observers felt this decision was overdue.

the meeting itself was not the best advertisement of PGE Ekstraliga. On the track you could practically go to a maximum of half its width – exceeding this invisible line usually ended in a loss of control over a motorcycle.

An observer at the krono-Plast Arena

Match Summary

PGE Ekstraliga – 8th queue

Krono-Plast Włókniarz częstochowa – Betard Sparta Wrocław 46:31

• Włókniarz: Piotr Pawlicki 6, Wiktor lampart 7+1, Mads Hansen 7, Philip Hellstroem-bangs 7+2, Kacper Woryna 10, Kacper Halkiewicz 5+1, Franciszek Karczewski 4, Bartosz Śmigielski Ns. coach: Mariusz Staszewski.
• Sparta: Zach Cook 6+2, daniel Bewley 8, Artiom Łaguta 5, Bartłomiej Kowalski 0, Maciej Janowski 9, Nikodem Mikołajczyk 3, Krystian Gręda 0.Coach: Dariusz Śledź.

judged: Bartosz Ignaszewski.

Best time: Maciej Janowski – 63.90 (13th gear). Viewers: 6000.

Run after the run: 1: 5, 4: 2 (5: 7), 5: 1 (10: 8), 5: 1 (15: 9), 4: 2 (19:11), 2: 4 (21:15), 4: 2 (25:17), 5: 0 (30:17), 3: 3 (33:20), 3: 3 (36:23), 4: 2 (40:25), 3: 3 (43:28), 3: 3: 3: 3: 3: 3 (46:31)

1. Łaguta, Cook, Pawlicki, Hansen 1: 5
2. Karczewski, Mikołajczyk, Halkiewicz, Gręda 4: 2 (5: 7)
3. Woryna, Hellstroem-Bangegs, Janowski, Bewley 5: 1 (10: 8)
4. Lampart, Halkiewicz, Mikołajczyk, Kowalski (W) 5: 1 (15: 9)
5. Hansen, Łaguta, Hellstroem-Baengs, Kowalski (W) 4: 2 (19:11)
6. bewley, Woryna, Cook, Karczewski (W/U) 2: 4 (21:15)
7. Lampart, Janowski, Pawlicki, Gręda 4: 2 (25:17)
8. Woryna, Halkiewicz, Łaguta (U1), Kowalski (W) 5: 0 (30:17)
9. Pawlicki, Bewley, Cook, Lampart 3: 3 (33:20)
10. Janowski, Hansen, Hellstroem-Baengs, Gręda 3: 3 (36:23)
11. Hellstroem-Baengs, Cook, Pawlicki, Kowalski (W) 4: 2 (40:25)
12. Bewley, Hansen, Karczewski, Gręda (d4) 3:3 (43:28)
13. Janowski, Woryna, Lampart, Bewley 3: 3 (46:31)
14. Janowski (W), Hellstroem-Baengs (W/su)