NEWPORT Hornets quartet Todd Kurtz, Jay Herne, Brendan Johnson and Matt Bates all failed to get on the podium at tonight's WPA Open Championship on the Isle of Wight.

In the 12-heat qualifying tournament, Herne won all his four races for a brilliant 12-point maximum with Rob Smith (10), Kurtz (9), Nick Simmons and Lewis Kerr (both 8), Danny Warwick and Paul Starke (both 6) plus Marc Owen (5) all reaching the semi finals.

In race one, Herne lined up against Kurtz, Starke but Warwick was a non-starter - and it was Kurtz who got the chequered flag with Starke second.

In the second race, Smith won it ahead of Simmons with Kerr third and Owen last.

So the final consisted of Kurtz and three home riders in Starke, Smith and former Newport rider Simmons.

From the start Kurtz got a flier, but it was deemed an unsatisfactory start and a re-run was ordered with with all four back to the gate.

Kurtz again got away, followed by Smith before Simmons over-took his team-mate and into second position.

However Lady Luck kicked Kurtz where it hurts most - in the engine department and his chance of silverware disappeared on bend four of lap two.

Simmons went on to win the race with Starke eventually passing Smith to come third.

Bates could only score three points from a trio of third-place finishes while Johnson, was forced to retire from the competition before a wheel had been turned because of a blown engine.

* The Hornets are next in action on Saturday, when they continue their National League campaign by entertaining Mildenhall Fen Tigers at Queensway Meadows Stadium - tapes up at 7.30pm.