WHEN Swindon skipper Jason Doyle lined up for the final of the German GP in Teterow on Saturday he must have fancied his chances of repeating his success from last year's event – but it was not to be.

He faced Matej Zagar, Martin Vaculik and a revitalised Chris Holder –by this year's standards, not the most feared of opposition.

But Doyle was squeezed out of second place on the second bend of lap one as Zagar took the prize with Vaculik just behind, Doyle in third and Holder last.

Any disappointment on Doyle's part must have quickly disappeared as with two of his main world title rival's hopes receding he ended the night with a 10-point cushion at the head of the world series standings Maciej Janowski, who had started the GP just three points behind, was eliminated in the qualifiers and the young Pole Dudek, a point behind 'Magic', could finish only third in his semi-final.

Meanwhile other rivals Freddie Lindgren, Tai Woffinden and Bartosz Zmarslik fell by the wayside. The Swede fell in his semi-final and was excluded. Woffinden could card only a very disappointing five points and the young Pole claimed a surprising two.

So with three grand prix to go Doyle is perhaps on the verge of his first world title.

The series moves to Sweden on Saturday week and then Torun in October before concluding in Melbourne – a fitting venue for an Australian to lift the title!

IPONE German FIM Speedway Grand Prix: 1st Matej Zagar 15; 2nd Martin Vaculik 14; 3rd Jason Doyle 17; 4th Chris Holder 14; Emil Sayfutdinov 11; Patryk Dudek 11; Fredrik Lindgren 11; Peter Kildemand 10; Martin Smolinski; 8; Maciej Janowski 7; Tai Woffinden 5; Antonio Lindback 4; Piotr Pawlicki; 4; Kai Huckenbeck 4; Bartosz Zmarzlik 2; Max Fricke 1.

World Championship standings (Top 10 after round 9 of 12): Jason Doyle 114; Patryk Dudek 104; Maciej Janowski 101; Fredrik Lindgren 98; Tai Woffinden 94; Emil Sayfutdinov 90; Bartosz Zmarzlik 82; Martin Vaculik 80; Matej Zagar 73; Chris Holder 66.