PIRATES skipper Maciej Janowski shook up the Speedway Grand Prix's established order as he grabbed the bronze medal in Prague.

The former world under-21 champion, who has struggled with a knee injury of late, secured maximum points from his five qualifying rides.

And after finishing second in the first semi-final, Janowski took third behind Great Britain’s Tai Woffinden and countryman Jaroslaw Hampel, despite an early coming-together with Nicki Pedersen.

World championship new boy Janowski, who had only scored five points in the opening two rounds, totalled 18 on the night which made him the joint-highest scorer alongside Woffinden, who recorded his third straight victory in the Czech Republic.

After a promising early win, Janowski’s Poole team-mate Chris Holder failed to make the semi-finals on six points.

Janowski produced a series of fine displays in the qualifying races as he easily rubber-stamped his semi-final place.

The 23-year-old swooped in off gate four to win heat two and unleashed another jet-propelled start in heat eight to grab a second victory.

Janowski edged a thrilling battle with Hampel in heat 11 before a heart-stopping cut-back on reigning world champion and mentor Greg Hancock won the Pole heat 13.

He continued his fine form in heat 17 by leaving Woffinden and Troy Batchelor in the dust to make it 15 points from five rides.

And the Wimborne Road star held his nerve to cling on to second place ahead of Matej Zagar in the first semi-final as Pedersen took the chequered flag.

Woffinden gated in the final and after an early knock from Pedersen, Janowski retained second until he was overhauled by Hampel at the start of the final lap.