AMERICAN speedway tourists began a second session of early July 4 celebrations yesterday, when Californian Ryan Fisher landed the Welsh Open Championship at a sun-baked Queensway Meadows Stadium.

Countryman Greg Hancock had the night before sparked much waving of Stars & Stripes flags by increasing his lead at the top of the World Championship table by winning the British Grand Prix in front of a sell-out 50,000 crowd at the Millennium Stadium.

While the size of the crowd didn’t quite match that figure, Fisher proved equally popular as a winner, and the success was his second at the venue this year.

Fisher lifted the Prince of Wales Trophy and his win yesterday made up for the disappointment he had suffered in finishing in the two previous Welsh Open Championships.

It was a truly international field that lined up for the final, with a couple of Australians in another former competition winner, Kevin Doolan, and Sam Masters, Fisher, plus Russian star Iliya Bonderenko.

As the quartet revved up at the starting gate, Doolan was hot favourite to take the coveted crown, having won all five of his heats in the 20-race qualifying tournament – including wins over the three other finalists.

Up went the tapes and off they roared; first to show was Fisher, and as he sped out of turn two of the first lap he appeared to punch the air in delight at his magnificent start to the race.

By the end of the opening lap Fisher had Masters behind him, with Doolan in third and Bonderenko trailing in last position.

But when Doolan squeezed past Masters he set off with Fisher now his intended target.

But Fisher remained calm and it made his life easier when Doolan was challenged by Masters, who came to grief on bend three of the final lap.

Fisher sped past the chequered flag with a final flourish as the large-sized crowd cheered him home, and then more as he stepped up to the top of the podium to take the glittering prize.

In total there were four riders from home outfit Newport Mike Manning Wasps, but all had little or no luck, with Justin Sedgmen and skipper Leigh Lanham both gaining eight points from five rides.

However, Sedgmen nicked ninth spot from his club skipper as a result of winning two heats, while Lanham finished second four times and also had a harsh exclusion to suffer in another.

At the Millennium Stadium second behind Hancock was Dane Nicki Pedersen, who finished ahead of Australian Chris Holder, brother of former Newport Wasps James Holder.

Twenty-heat qualifiers: 1 – Kevin Doolan (Australia), 15 points; 2 – Sam Masters (Aust), 11 pts (on countback); 3 – Ryan Fisher (USA), 11pts; 4 – Iliya Bonderenko (Russia), 10pts; 5 – James Wright (GB), 9 pts (on countback); 6 – Richard Sweetman (Aust), 9pts (on countback); 7 – Nick Morris (Aust), 9pts; 8 – Justin Sedgmen (Aust) 8pts (on countback); 9 – Andrew Tully (GB) 8pts; 10 – Leigh Lanham (GB), 8pts; 11 – Tyson Burmeister (USA), 7pts; 12 – Mark Jones (Aust), 6pts; 13 – Mikey Buman (USA), 5pts; 14 – James White-Williams (GB), 2pts; 15 – Craig Cook (GB), 1pt; 16 – Ben Wilson (GB) 1pt.

Final: 1st – Fisher, 62.43 seconds; 2nd – Doolan; 3rd – Bonderenko; 4th – Masters (fell).