New Zealand Grand Prix 2014 (round 1)

New Zealand Grand Prix	5 April 2014 Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand Ref- Jim Lawrence
1 2 3 4 5 SF F T 1. Jason Bunyan (W) 1 1 0 0 0 2 2. Darcy Ward 2 2 fx 1 - 5 3. Kenneth Bjerre 3 1 2 3 1 1 11 4. Chris Harris 0 0 0 x 0 0 5. Troy Batchelor 1 2 fx 0 1 4 6. Matej Zagar 0 3 1 2 0 6 7. Chris Holder 2 2 2 3 1 1 11 .8. Nicki Pedersen 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 19 2nd 9. Greg Hancock 0 0 0 3 3 6 10. Niels Kristian Iversen 3 0 1 1 1 6 11. Martin Smolinski 2 3 3 x 2 2 3 15 1st 12. Fredrik Lindgren 1 2 3 1 3 3 0 13 13. Krzysztof Kasprzak 3 3 3 2 2 3 1 17 3rd 14. Jaroslaw Hampel 1 1 1 2 3 0 8 15. Andreas Jonsson 2 0 2 1 2 0 7 16. Tai Woffinden 0 1 2 2 2 7 R1. Andrew Aldridge 0 0 R2. Grant Tregoning dnr
Heat 1. Bjerre, Ward, Bunyan, Harris Heat 2. Pedersen, Holder, Batchelor, Zagar Heat 3. Iversen, Smolinski, Lindgren, Hancock Heat 4. Kasprzak, Jonsson, Hampel, Woffinden Heat 5. Kasprzak, Batchelor, Bunyan, Hancock Heat 6. Zagar, Ward, Hampel, Iversen Heat 7. Smolinski, Holder, Bjerre, Jonsson Heat 8. Pedersen, Lindgren, Woffinden, Harris Heat 9. Smolinski, Woffinden, Zagar, Bunyan Heat 10. Lindgren, Jonsson, Batchelor (fx), Ward (fx) Heat 11. Pedersen, Bjerre, Hampel, Hancock Heat 12. Kasprzak, Holder, Iversen, Harris Heat 13. Holder, Hampel, Lindgren, Bunyan Heat 14. Pedersen, Kasprzak, Ward, Smolinski (x) Heat 15. Bjerre, Woffinden, Iversen, Batchelor Heat 16. Hancock, Zagar, Jonsson, Harris (x) Heat 17. Pedersen, Jonsson, Iversen, Bunyan Heat 18. Hancock, Woffinden, Holder, Aldridge Heat 19. Lindgren, Kasprzak, Bjerre, Zagar Heat 20. Hampel, Smolinski, Batchelor, Harris Semi Final Lindgren, Pedersen, Holder, Hampel Semi Final Kasprzak, Smolinski, Bjerre, Jonsson Final 23. Smolinski, Pedersen, Kasprzak, Lindgren
The Grand Prix season began in spectacular fashion as German international Martin Smolinski took the opening GP in New Zealand on debut. Reigning world champion Tai Woffinden failed to reach the semi-finals, although, as he was carrying injuries, he will not be too disheartened with his seven-point return, while the likes of Darcy Ward and Greg Hancock also missed out on making the latter stages. Three-time champion Nicki Pedersen looked the man to beat all evening at the Western Springs raceway Auckland, going through the knockout stages undefeated, but he was upset by Smolinksi in the final. Pole Krzysztof Kasprzak actually had the first pick in the final and he went for the favourable gate one, whilst former Wolves ace Fredrik Lindgren had second pick after defeating Pedersen in his semi-final. But neither could make their selected gates stick. Kasprzak made the gate with Lindgren missing out and the Polish star led for the opening two-and-a-half laps as he looked destined for the win - until Pedersen dived up his inside. Then, as Pedersen was defending from Kasprzak, Smolinski came from nowhere to roar through on the inside off bend two on the final lap, giving him a lead he managed to retain through to the chequered flag. "It is unbelievable, I have worked 20 years for this, we have had a lot of trouble in the pits last few years but we have shown how much pace we have," said a delighted Smolinksi. "I never give up, and my team has worked so hard - it is like boxing take a step back and then go for it." Chris Holder was the pick of the Antipodeans as he made the first semi-final, but he and Jarek Hampel failed to progress through from it. Holder's good friend Ward saw his night brought to a premature end in Heat 14, as Smolinski straightened up of the final turn and wiped out of the Poole star. It was also a night to forget for the second Brit on show, as Chris Harris failed to muster a point on his GP return.