IPSWICH Witches star Robert Miskowiak became the first-ever Polish rider to win the marathon 16-Lap Classic at Foxhall Stadium.In a dramatic finale, Miskowiak held his nerve to pass Lakeside's Adam Shields on the final bend of the twice-run final to claim the first prize.

Mike Bacon

IPSWICH Witches star Robert Miskowiak became the first-ever Polish rider to win the marathon 16-Lap Classic at Foxhall Stadium.

In a dramatic finale, Miskowiak held his nerve to pass Lakeside's Adam Shields on the final bend of the twice-run final to claim the first prize.

Up to fourth place in the first running of the race, before Olly Allen fell on lap seven, causing chaos behind him as riders fell, Miskowiak stalked Shields in the re-run of nine laps, before his final lap dive.

"I wanted to win the 16-Lap race very much," Miskowiak said.

"I was so close to winning it a couple of years ago, but I had bike problems. It was very hard, but I had a bit of luck and I thought I rode very well.

"I knew it would be mine if I passed Adam Shields and I managed to do that too. It is good for me to win and I am the first Polish rider to win it, so that makes it even better."

Allen's crash, on lap seven of the first staging of the 16-lap final, saw Coventry's Rory Schlein taken to hospital with rib injuries, Schlein unable to avoid the stricken Allen.

At that point Miskowiak was up to third, after starting on the back grid in the eight-rider final.

In the re-run, and with Miskowiak now on the front grid, he gated behind Shields, before making his final, winning pass.

Shields was caught on the finishing line by another Witch Troy Batchelor, who was right behind the duo, Batchelor finishing second overall, with Shields third.