MATCH REPORT: Chadwick world champion after three way run off

Australia’s Joel Chadwick capped off an impressive performance across the three week long ICSF Cycle Speedway World Championships in Adelaide, South Australia, by becoming world champion after a three way tie at the top with brother Cody and 2015 world champion, Bartek Grabowski.

Team GB’s Myke Grimes and Josh Brooke tied fourth on 13 points, while Paul Heard and Zac Payne secured heat wins during the fiercely competitive final.

With the level of racing reaching a new peak in terms of pace, fitness and the high number of elite riders competing, each race was a battle. Champion in waiting, Joel Chadwick, did not get off to the best start in heat 2, running a third after an intense battle with GB’s Heard, while brother Cody took the race win ahead of Brooke.

Likewise, Grabowski dropped points early on, registering a third and second in his opening two rides. It was then Cody’s turn to drop his three points, coming second to Bas in his second ride and just missing out on another second to Grimes on the line in heat 11.

Meanwhile, Joel Chadwick reeled off three impressive wins to put him in the driving seat ahead of his final race. Cody Chadwick kept himself in contention with two heat wins to finish on 17, likewise Grabowski took his first two wins from his third and fourth ride, setting up a potential title showdown with Joel in their final race.

If Joel won, he was champion, but a strong gate by Grabowski kept the ever-pressing Chadwick behind, meaning both riders joined Cody on 17 points to force a three-way run off for the title.

Joel Chadwick drew grid one, with Grabowski splitting the two brothers. The title was never in doubt from the first bend, as Joel Chadwick rocketed from the tapes and pulled an unassailable first lap lead to leave Grabowski and Cody fighting for second and third.

A visibly tired Grabowski kept Chadwick behind for 3.5 laps, until Cody executed a fine pass along the line down the back straight, pushing the former champion wide on the final bend to make it a Chadwick 1-2 and a fine performance by both siblings from Salisbury, North Adelaide.

WATCH: World title run off at Findon

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With the top three delivering stand-out performances, there was so little between the rest of the field, with the final scores bunched closely together.

Results

Joel Chadwick 17, Cody Chadwick 17, Bartek Grabowski 17, Ross Priest 13, Myke Grimes 13, Marcin Kolata 13, Josh Brooke 13, Paul Heard 12, Lukas Nowacki 12, Zac Payne 12, Dawid Bas 11, Shane Bentley 11, Jack Norman 10, Mateusz Ludwiczak 9, Brandon Whetton 9, Ben Mould 8