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out a little controversy as arguments raged for more than one and a half hours when torrential rain halted racing. . While other riden struggled or rode cautiously, the 24-year-old Californian ran up an immaculate 15-point uiuimum in tricky race conditions to keep the many' hundreds of supporten from EnJtland 1h fine voice. penha1J who could become the fint American to win a world title since 1957, said afterwards, "Now we can look forward to the big one at Wembley in September. If 1 can put five good starts together, as 1 did tonight I'll be very happyl" The 1981 World Final takes place in London's Wembley Stadium on Sept. 5. At one sta~ it looked as though Penhall might be denied his triumph. The rain came down very heavily after four races and stopped the meet for one and a half houn while arguments raged as to the condition of the track. It was a 14-2 majority to -call the meeting off. The two riden who wished to continue were Denmar.k's Hans Nielsen and the promoter/rider Ole Olsen. The Polish referee refused to make ,n early decision. and eventually stadium owner Ole Olsen stormed into the referee's hox and demanded action. At one sta~. the referee had pu~ the next heat's riden on two-minute warning but the riden ignored his orden and held a ljDeeting to discuss the situation. Because of the delay, it took more than four houn to complete the meeting which had started on Saturday evening and ended in the early houn of S~y morning. There were shocks and surprises as the two other Americans competing. Dennis SigalOi and Kelly Moran, were way out of contention. Moran fell at the fint tum in his flJ'lt race when he hit a hole in the track and crashed heavily. He could make no impression in the rest of the meeting and failed even to score a point. Sigalos didn't fare much better; he scored one point and that was against Moran. There. were more surprises as former champiQn Ivan Mauger was eliminated. He had cruel luck in his 'fint ride when the referee let an obviously unsatisfactory start continue, and Ma.!~r was left at the gate expecting a restart. In fact, the referee made several mistakes as riden . took advantage of rolling starts. Ole Olsen also struggled to get through; he got the last qualifying place. But while his rivals had their problems. Penhall stayed cool and supremely confident. He was always fait from the gate and was able to control his races on a difficult surface. Only once did he look as though he would lose a point when England's Kenny Carter led him for tWo laps until he made a mistake and left Penhall a gap. Penhall admitted that he was doubtful if the meet should have carried on under such conditions and said, "Personally. I thought the track was too dangerous to race on. It's 19u9h enough at the best of times. but when you have a class of riders like this and all fighting for points on a track as dangerous as this it's possible someone could have gotten hurt." (Top) Penhelletop the winner'. podium. He wu the lone American to qualify.IBeIow lettl Moren geta up lifter hia race one apli. (Below ~htI De""" Sigeloa did ~ find the rein to h.. "king end acored but one point. Results WOIILD FINAL C1UAUFlEIlS: 1.ยท_ _ 1161 USA; 2. ErIk ~ lUI Oonnwk; 3. Hone H _ 1111 Oonnwk; 4. Kenny c.n. 1111 Erv-t; 5. 0... .-,p 11 01 EngI8nd; 8. Tommy K...- III Oonnwk; 7. M1ULM 1BI Erv-t; 8. Crto _ 1BI EnaIond; 9. ... _ _ 1BI S _ ; 10. lMry _ Tn _ -.cI; n. 010 Oloon Illl Oonnwk; 12. ~ ...-. &-.151 Donnwtl. NON-ClUAURERS: John LauIo 141 Erv-t; .... o.mio SigoIao 111 USA; Kelly ~ 141_ -.cI; _toIUSA. OTHER WORLD FINAl lllJAUFEllS IFROM CONT1NENTAI. FlNAll: Egan MuIIor IW-' ~ Alex DryrilI ~ e-d . - - . II'alondI; JirI SW1IIlC '0.... " .... _ _ 1-.cII. / 9