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/126926
Denmark's Hans Nielsen hangs his front wheel off the track while dicing with Erik Gundersen (leading). Sam Ermolenko and Mitch Shirrer. World Speedway Final Nielsen wins title; Ermolenko seventh By John Hipkiss KATOWICE, POLAND, AUG. 30 Californian Sam Ermolenko's bid to become the first American to win the World Speedway Final since Bruce Penhall in 1982 ended in failure and disappointment in Poland. Ermolenko, tbe only American competing, was confident 16 I he could improve on last season's placing when he finished third in the world. But the wide track did not suit the American's spectacular style. He managed only one win in his five ra es and collected only nine points to finish a poor seventh in the scorechart. It was not until his last two races that Ermolenko su ceeded in master: ing the circuit and by that stage his chance of getting among the medals had long since disappeared. He made a bad tan. finishing third in the vital second heal which wa a repeal of last year's run-orr for the title when he was placed third behind the winner Erik Gundersen and his fellow Dane Hans ielsen. cond timeoui Ermolenko improved but he was still forced into second place by another Dane. Tommy Knudsen, and when he was again relegated to third in his next heat by Sweden's Jimmy Nilsen and thefourth Dane Jan Pedersen his hopes of getting among the top three were shattered. His only win came in his founh OUling when he picked his way past the Polish rider Ryszard Dolomisiewicz, and second place to England's Kelvin Tatum in his last race completed an unhappy meeting. Ermolenko's failure La make a greater impression was surprising but th'e biggest shock was the collapse of Danish ace Gundersen. World Champion in 1984 and 1985. After a confident display at the official practice session he was fully expected to collect his third uccessive title and equal the record set by New Zealander Ivan Mauger in 1970, but after failing to score in twO races and fini hing third in another Gundersen was relegated LO 10th place, handing over his world crown to his rival ielsen, although he beat Nielsen in his opening race. 1 Nielsen's triumph caused a split in the Danish camp after he c1asbed with Knudsen in his fourth race. Knudsen was leading when Nielsen tried to drive through at the end of the first lap. His back wheel swung out, clipping Knudsen's front wheel and Knudsen was thrown into the safety fence, while his machine bounced orr the track into the path of Italian rider Armando Castagna who carried on for another 200 yards before collapsing with a broken fool. Knudsen lay under the fence for several minutes before he was able to get shakily to hi feel and walk back LO the pits, but the storm broke out when he discovered he had been disqualified by Swedish referee Christer Bergstrom for causing the race to be SLOpped. The Dane resfused to accept the decision, claiming he was the innocent party, and came out for the rerun of the heal. When the referee insisted that Knudsen was disqualified the rider showed his disgust by driving angrily through the starting tapes only to be fined 100 Swiss francs [or his action. Knudsen later accused Nielsen of cheating his way LO success. "He drove straight across my line as I was turning. I just had nowhere LO go," declared Knudsen. "j[ was Nielsen who should have been disqualified not me. I didn't just [all. I was knocked off my bike." The aggreived Knudsen round a supporter in Gundersen. "If Nielsen wants LO ride like that he should take up stock car racing," said the exchampion. "It was blatantly dangerous riding and i[ that sort o[ thing is going to be allowed I want no part o[ i l. ,. ielsen shrugged orr the accusa-