ICE SPEEDWAY GLADIATORS: Khomitsevich wins on Day 1 in Togliatti

The Ice Speedway Gladiators World Championship finally got under way in Togliatti today, with little to differentiate the Russian favourites in the 20 qualifying heats.

Khomitsevich leads from the start

Last year’s overall silver medalist, Dmitry Khomitsevich, has been on the podium for eight of the last ten years and won the World Championship in 2016. And the Russian started the competition’s very first heat in the best possible way, by taking 3 points against three European opponents, Aki Ala-Riihimaki (FIN), Lukas Hulta (CZE) and Andrej Divis (CZE) – the latter of whom was a last minute replacement for Germany’s Johann Weber.

Kononov – the challenger at home

The 35 year old Khomitsevich won his second heat against all European opponents and then, in his third heat, Heat 11, he beat Igor Kononov who is on home ice this weekend and came fourth in the 2020 World Championships.

But that would be the only point Kononov would drop in the qualifying rounds.

In Heat 6, he had already beaten Daniil Ivanov, raising questions as to whether the 34 year old reigning champion would be able to take his third World Championship in a row.

Valeev looking to win in Togliatti again

Going into Heat 15 Khomitsevich was the only unbeaten rider, but that streak ended when Dinar Valeev, who won Round 4 of last year’s competition at the same venue, and took first place from his compatriot.

However, last year’s silver medalist bounced back to take first place in his final heat beating none other than Ivanov, who must have felt his crown slipping from his head as the chequered flag was waived at the end of heat 19.

Favourites cruise to the final

These four Russians were the favourites before the competition started and did not disappoint, with Khomitsevich and Kononov dropping just a single point in their 5 qualifying races and Valeev and Ivanov only losing 2 points once the first 20 heats were over.

That meant that Round 1 of the 2021 championship would be decided by a single, winner-takes-all final race to the delight of the well-spread out crowd, who were carefully following Corona restrictions.

Khomitsevich takes final and Day 1

The final was worthy of the world championship as Khomitsevich and Kononov, the best two riders in qualifying, went head-to-head for the gold medal. Right from turn 2, the pair had created distance with the current silver medalist a half-a-bike ahead of the 33 year old challenger. The local used his track knowledge to try and go first inside, then outside the leader. But try as he might, he simply could not get pass and Khomitsevich took the flag, still less than a bike length ahead of his rival. Behind them Valeev had a much easier time, always about two bike lengths ahead of the reigning champion, Ivanov.

With 20 points for the winner and 18 for second, 16 for third and 14 for fourth, Khomitsevich and Kononov are now in the best possible position to win the overall title with a good performance tomorrow.

The Europeans’ Performance

The Europeans were not expected to challenge the Russians for the podium and it was vetaren Franky Zorn (AUT) who made the best of day 1, finishing in sixth place, despite not winning a heat.

The honour of being the only European to win a heat went to fellow Austrian, Harald Simon where he beat Zorn, Divis and Luca Bauer (ITA/GER). Simon will no doubt be pleased with his performance as Togliatti was the only venue where he did not get through to a final in the 2020 edition of the competition, pointing to the fact that he is one of the continent’s brightest hopes for future success.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1

Dmitry Khomitsevich (RUS) 20

Igor Kononov (RUS) 18

Dinar Valeev (RUS) 16

Daniil Ivanov (RUS) 14