FAVOURITE Aidan Collins kicked off the 2014 Flat Track Series with a podium finish Marianske Lazne.
The Thelwall-based rider was in supreme form in the qualifying races and headed the field alongside Emanuele Marzotto.
But Collins was surprised after a few laps and caught by Francesco Cecchini, who then set after Marzotto and gradually wore down the gap between the two Italians.
The pair raced to the chequered flag side-by-side before teenager Cecchini completed a sensational pass, while Collins settled for third place in Round One.
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