Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125822
, World Speedway Swedes's number one world . speedway championship contender, Anders Michanek, has carried off the British/Nordic Final at Coventry, England Michanek topped a class international field and won convincingly from 1971 world champion, Ole Olsen, and reigning titleholder, Ivan Mauger. Michanek scored 14 poin,ts;' Olsen and Maujler, II. The Dane, Olsen, and Kiwi, lVIauger, contested a thrilling rUn-off for the runner-up spot with Olsen winning narrowly. Pundicts predicted that Olsen's defeat of Mauger put the writing on the wall for their clash in the World Final in Poland on September 2. It is expected the world crown will go to one of these two super-stars...and at this ,stage Olsen appears to have the edge in riding zest and ability., However, neither could match Michanek's score in the British/N ordic Final. Sixteen riders contested the meeting and only eight qualified to meet eight Russians in the European Final at Abensburg, West Germany on AugUst 19. From there the top 11 point scorers will go to Poland to meet r.ve Poles in the World Final. The eigh t riders to go through from the British/Nordic Final are: Anders Michanek, Sweden Ole Olsen, Denmark Ivan Mauger, New Zealand John Boulger, Australia Tommy Jansson, Sweden John Louis, England 14 11 11 10 10 9 Peter Collins, England 9 Ray Wilson, England 9 Reserve for the European Final will be Bernt Persson, of Sweden, who finished second to Mauger in last year's World Final at Wembley. Persson scored nine points at Coventry. N on-qualifiers included: Bob Val'entine (Australia), Eric Boocock (England), Bengl Jansson (Sweden), Gote 'Nordin (Sweden), Tony Davey (England), Jan Simensen (Sweden) and Reider Eide (Norway). Luckiest rider was new English star, John Louis, who turned up for the meeting as reserve. Not expecting to race, Louis was suddenly confronted with a full' quota of qualifying rides when Rick France (England), withdrew with a shoulder injury. Louis made the most· of ,the opportunity and rattled together 10 poin ts to finish equal fourth with Aussie John Boulger and Swede Tommy Jansson. Surprise qualifiers are Jansson and Peter Collins (England). Both are the new 'white hopes' of the respective countries after slashing performances in the British League competition this year. They are both teenagers, with plenty of dash and vitality and both are tipped to become the new super-stars of world speedway when it comes time to supersede Olsen and Mauger. Collins, in particular, shows a fiery brand of riding. He is also the British 350cc track champion and because of his competition in this sphere, his speedway riding has rough edges ,and lacks finesse. However, he aims soon to forsake the grass tracks in Europe and ,concentrate on a professional speedway career. It is interesting to note that both Collins' and Jansson have hit the, top flight this year after' spending last year Down Under racing in the sun, of Australia. Obviously the experience gained on the ultra·fast Australian trac ks has vastly increased their speedway repertoire of skills. Australian Champion, John Boulger, is an in teresting qualifier. If he can progress, through the European Final to the World Fin'al in Poland he will become only the second Australian to qualify for a World Final in more than 10 years. And yet Australia is the country where speedway racmg r.rst started! England's bright boy, Ray Wilson, just managed to scrape through at the tail end of the qualifiers and will need to improve considerably if he's to make any ,impression on the Russians in the next stage in West Germany. British Lions Team Named The British Lions' test team to tour Australasia this winter (or summer, depending on which hemisphere you're talking about!) is likely to be: Nigel and Eric Boocock, Jim McMillan, Peter Collins, Chris Pusey, Malcolm Simmons and either Reg 'Wilson or Dave Jessup. The very strong line-up will be managed by former test rider and current-day big time promoter and Management Committee chairman, Reg Fearman. The Aussies will have to be on their mettle to contain this side. • Orange County International Raceway CMC speedway went into its th.ird week at Orange Coun,ty International Raceway with the racing better than ever. Tonight B ill Manley had the OCIR oval completely dialed in and swept both main events in the third week. of CMC speedway. Manley is a very versatile rider; he's spent many hours on road racerS. That doesn't seem to hinder his speedway style however, as it's 'hard to see how Bill could do much better than he did this Wednesday. . Going into the Handicap Main event all bets were with the "mighty" little guy from Fullerton. That's thirteen year old Dennis "fhe Kid" Sigalos.The 84 pounder was sitting on tfie ten yard line and when Dennis took the lead in the second lap the crowd was on their feet in anticipation of his f"rrst major victory. It wasn't to be as forty yard liner Manley worked his way through traffic, passing every rider for the victory. A hard charging Manley pushed by a tiring Sigalos in the f"mal lap. The order of finishing for the Handicap Main was as follows: Bill Manley, Dennis Sigalos, Bobby Hill, Bob Herz, Chuck Bowers and Ralph Castor. Manley wasn't satisfied with his brilliant handicap ride. He wen t on to win the Scratch Main by a sizable margin. All four ridersrode a great race but Manley was just too much to handle tonigh t. A victorious Manley was followed by Chuck Bowers, Bob Herz and Dennis Sigalos in that order. The winners in tonight's Consolation Main events were John "Handlebar" Flanders in the Scratch and Rod Sexton Ueff's brother) in the Handicap. The second Division Main was captured by Bobby Butt with Gene Ross second, Gary Gordon third, and Manuel Fimbres fourth.' All second division racing at OQIR is scratch racing. :; i l1. M S; ~ N g. « '" 1fi z w ~ > (J RESULTS SCRATCH MAIN, 1. Bill Manley. 2. Chuck Bowers. 3. Bob Herz. SCRATCH CONSOLo MAIN' 1. John Flanders. 2. Bobby HilI. 3. Rod Sexton. HANDICAP MAIN: 1. Bill Manley. 2. Dennis Sigalos. 3. BObby Hill. HANDICAP CONSOLo MAIN, 1. Rod Sexton. 2. John Flanders. 3. Jim Murphy. SECOND OIV. MAIN, 1. BobbY Bult. 2. Gene Ross. 3. Gary Gorden. • ~7~ CYCLES ONLY SPORTSMAN MAIN EVENT 125cc - 250c€-SOOcc-FEATURE MOTORCYCLES VS CARS PRO MAIN EVENT ONLY 1st AnnualRV Spectacular OCT.5-7 $50,000 GUARANTEED $100,000 IN CONTINGENCIES RIVERSIDE RACEWAY LEADING FACTORY RACING TEAMS. CYCLE CLASSES; 3-AMATEUR (SPORTSMAN)S S S 2-EXPERT (PRO)S S S PRACTICE-FRI. RACING-SAT.-SUN. • TICKETS ON SALE AT ALL TICKETRON OUTLETS WEEKEND CAMPING SEND TO SCORE INT. FOR ENTRY LIMITED ENTRIES FOR~ SCORET. 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