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/126929
~ 00 .... (1,) ..0 o .... u o Champion Erik Gundersen lies on his bike as he leads Bernd Diener and Kei Niemi down the back straight; Gundersen scored a 25-point maximum. Shawn Moran leads Bernd Diener. sec.ond-place finisher Peter Collins. Pavel Karnas and Marcel Gerhard. who finished the event in third. Erik Gundersen celebrates his victory atop the podium while Peter Collins (left) and Marcel Gerhard (right) look on. World Championship Long Track SReedwaY.. Final won his first race by a quarter of a lap on the IOOO-meter circuit with great ease and looked to be one of the favori tes along with Gundersen and N ielsen who also won their first rides. Moran, riding a Zierk-tuned Godden loaned to him by multi-time World Champi.on Ivan Mauger, faced the IWO Danes in a crucial heat six and also in the heat for good measure was Peter Collins. After a great deal of start line gamesmanship, the tension was really teIling, with only Collins keeping calm. Nielsen put his front wheel over the tapes and although they didn't break, the referee sent him back to the pits, excluding him for delaying the start. The World Champion was understandably unhappy about the decision, but despite protests-including leav'ing his machine on the trackthe English referee, Graham Brodie, refused to alter his decision and Nielsen was effectivel y Out of the title runnmg. He could only watch in dismay as Gundersen won the race ahead of Collins and Moran. The popular American had his share of bad luck. pulling up while leading in his final qualifier when his fronl mudguard snapped which made his steering lock. although he Gundersen wins in West Germany By John Hipkiss Photos by Mike Patrick PFARRKlRCHEN. W. GERMANY, SEPT. 14 Deposed speedway champ Erik Gundersen regained the coveted long track title in brilliant fashion deep in the rural area of Bavaria with a superb maximum 25-point performance. Sweet revenge :indeed over fellow Dane Hans Nielsen who took the solo speedway crown from Gundersen a few weeks earlier in Poland. Second, riding in superb style, wa England's Peter Collins with 18 points. while third went to Switzerland's Marcel Gerhard, also on 18 points, but losing the runoff to the flying Collins. America's sale representative was Shawn Moran. He finished way down ill 10th position with eight points which didn't do himjusticeatall. He had amassed enough point from his first two races to make the semi. The ride with no points ended Moran's hopes for the title which he last held three years ago, but he still wanted to do well in the semi so he couId finish with a score which would reflect his talent. Moran lined up against Nielsen in the semi but suffered again when his engine seized when making a dive under the Dane, which meanl it was the end of the road for the Californian. But Gundersen had no such problems, winning his semi and then the final witb ease as he streaked past Collins and Gebhard LO regain his long track crown. The- winner of the meeting was never really in doubt, in fact, Gundersen went into the final knowing he had won the title-he was that far ahead. The best race of the day was the runoff for second place between Collins and Gerhard and it was JawamOllnted Collins finishing in front of Gerhard for his highest placing ever in a long track final. • Results 1. Erik Gundersen (25); 2. Peter Collins (18); 3. Marcel Gerhard (18); 4. Gerd Riss (17): 5. Hahs Nielsen (141; 6. Karl Mair (11); 7. (TIEl Bernd Die· ner/Kai Niemi (10); 9. Perr Vandirek (9); 10. (TIEl Shawn Moran/Han-Ono Pingel/Emil Soya (81. 29