Dinar Valeev brought an end to Daniil Ivanov’s winning run as temperature around minus fifteen degrees in another sunny afternoon greeted spectators in Togliatti for Final 4 of the 2020 FIM Ice Speedway World Championship on Sunday. • Full Gallery
Once again it was the Russian squad that dominated the qualifying races with all five reaching the semi-final stage along with Martin Haarahiltunen, Harald Simon and Johann Weber. Semi Final one saw both westerners eliminated although Haarahiltunen stalked Valeev for four laps before finishing close behind him in third place.
There was drama in Semi Final two after Khomitsevich retired with mechanical problems when leading the race. Kononov took first place, but a heroic effort by Johann Weber saw him pass Koltakov on the last bend to take his place in the Final. It was a fair reward for his efforts through the meeting, but his hopes of a podium place disappeared when he fell in the Final whilst chasing the Russians. Khomitsevich will be disappointed at his engine failure which cost him as many as ten possible points and is a major blow to his title hopes.
The restart of the Final, on a track which was showing the effects of the forty-five races already held, provided a close battle between Ivanov and Valeev for two laps before Valeev moved clear with Kononov trailing in third place. Despite finishing second, Ivanov increased his lead in the Intermediate Classification to fourteen points and Valeev’s win moves him into third place and Weber to eighth place after his best meeting of the season.
Finals 5 and 6 will be held next weekend in Shadrinsk.
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