KING’S Lynn’s Jan Kvech suffered a heartbreaking end to his FIM Speedway of Nations campaign with the Czech Republic at Belle Vue on Wednesday.

Kvech crashed in the crucial race-off at the end of the second semi-final, which meant Latvia took the third qualification place for Saturday’s Final.

The combination of Kvech and ex-Star Vaclav Milik saw the Czechs finish a solid third after the regular programme of racing, with Kvech scoring 18 points and Milik 12.

They were only four behind second-placed Australia, and three ahead of Lativa who they had defeated 7-2 when they met in wet conditions in Heat 4.

But the SON regulations dictate that whilst the top two teams go straight through – in this case Denmark and Australia – third and fourth race off, and it was in this decider that disaster struck.

Kvech and Milik were holding the second and third places they needed to go through, behind leader Andzejs Lebedevs – another rider with Lynn connections - but Kvech picked up unwanted drive on turn four of lap three and could not quite save the bike.

Although he remounted quickly, Lebedevs’ team-mate Daniils Kolodinskis came through for third place to spark celebrations for the Latvians.

Stars favourite Robert Lambert will captain Great Britain in the Final, racing alongside Dan Bewley and Tom Brennan.

Kvech will be back in action at Workington on Sunday when he competes in the Ben Fund Bonanza, before lining up for the PSH Environmental Stars against Leicester at the Adrian Flux Arena on Monday.