SWINDON Robins skipper Jason Doyle saw his season end in disappointing style with Australia at the weekend, writes NIGEL PEARSON.

Doyle, leading his country in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations in Poland, was excluded from one race after touching the tapes and managed only five points as Australia finished fifth in the meeting – won by Russia for the third successive year.

And the night was even more tough for Great Britain skipper Robert Lambert who touched the tapes twice as the youngsters finished one place below Australia.

Russian racer Emil Sayfutdinov showed his steel to seal gold once again on a soggy and miserable night in Lublin.

Racing was halted after 15 heats due to track conditions, but the scores were counted at the conclusion of race 14, when all seven countries had contested four heats apiece.

While Russia tied on 23 with hosts Poland, the defending champions got the gold medals after winning their head-to-head battle in heat eight, when Artem Laguta rounded Polish star Szymon Wozniak to seal a Russian 5-4 advantage.

That ride wasn’t the only decisive moment though, as Sayfutdinov roared to the front in heat three to restrict Australia to a 5-4 race win.

The Leszno star breathed in and squeezed through a seemingly impossible gap between Doyle and the fast-approaching fence to take the lead.

It was a golden moment for Sayfutdinov, who scored 15 points, but he admits he didn’t have the best view of the action.

He said: “I couldn’t see where I was going coming into the corner. The rain was coming into my goggles.

“There was a lot of material on the outside, but I got speed there and I just saw Doyle going straight to the fence. I found a little room and I passed him.

“I am really happy to have done it, stayed safe and got some good points.”

FIM Speedway Grand Prix world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik starred on 15 points from a possible 16 for Poland as they fell agonisingly short of their first Monster Energy SON win.

They were forced to settle for silver for the second straight season in what was legendary coach Marek Cieslak’s last event as national boss following a career that saw him clinch seven FIM Speedway World Cup wins.

Denmark took third place on 19 points for their first world championship medal since they won SWC silver in 2015.

The Danes tied with Sweden, but claimed the last spot on the podium after winning their head-to-head battle in race 10.