THE New Year Classic produced a surprise winner for the second successive year yesterday, when Plymouth Devils’ Lee Smart lifted the trophy following an exciting final victory.

However, there was disappointment for Newport Wasps skipper Leigh Lanham, who exited the annual meeting when he could only finish third in the first semi-final.

Although Smart turned up at Queensway Meadows Stadium as the 2010 National League Riders’ champion, he was, as was defending champion Steve Boxhall a year previously, very much regarded as a dark horse for the title.

But Swindon-born Smart was a model of consistency all afternoon, positing four second-place finishes in the 12-heat qualifying competition.

And it was as a runner-up after overtaking Lanham in that first semi-final that he progressed to the four-strong final.

Smart’s task to climb to the top spot of the winners’ podium looked massive as he lined up against twice-former winners David Howe, Kevin Doolan, a previous victor at the venue of both the Prince of Wales Trophy and the Wales Open, plus Ben Barker, who came third in the 2010 event.

And when Doolan made a superb start from the gate and took Howe with him, it appeared Smart was destined for the bronze-medal position.

However, roaring down the far straight on that first lap, Smart picked up a magnificent power boost to sensationally engineer himself through the smallest of gaps to pass both Doolan and Howe. From there Smart sped away with Doolan later coming to grief, although he was able to walk away from his fall unaided.

Smart went on to take the day’s final chequered flag, much to the delight of Plymouth fans among a crowd approaching 2,500.

The winner gleefully took the trophy before saying: “I arrived here today simply looking to have some fun.

“I have certainly achieved that and I am delighted to have won what has become a very important event on the speedway calendar.”

In the qualifiers, Lanham, who will skipper the Wasps in the British Premier League for the second successive season in 2011, looked in top form in winning his first two heats – including a first-race victory over Smart.

But he could only finish third when he missed the gate in heat nine, but bounced back well to win again in race 11 – this time defeating both Barker and Doolan to the line.

However, he looked out of sorts when Smart overtook him in that opening semi-final and the Englishman went on to become a worthy competition winner.

Final: 1 – Lee Smart (Plymouth Devils), 61.22 seconds; 2 – David Howe (Scunthorpe Scorpions); 3 – Ben Barker (Plymouth); 4 – Kevin Doolan (Ipswich Witches).

A decision on whether Newport Hornets will be run in 2011 will be taken by club officials after the National League’s annual general meeting in Rugby next week.