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/126984
~ ~ .. r- oo 0"> 1""""'1 ~ 0 ~ ~ Q.) ,.0 s .... Q.) - 0. Q.) !J) Ermolenko, Nielsen and Gundersen celebrate their status as the world's best speedway riders during closing ceremonies. , John Cook (USA) and Nielsen before Race 35 on Sunday; Cook finished eighth in the standings (second American) with 15 points. Nielsen was pitched in the air by supporters after his win. trouble and lhe overnight break gave me a chance to get my machines in order. "Everything went perfect the second day," he said. "But even lhough it was to my advantage, I don't think the two-day formula is a very good idea for the future." Ermolenko went illlo the final under tremendous pressure. Three weeks before, he was suspended from domestic competition in England after failing to.submit to a random drug test followi.J!g the England/ USA Test match at Hackney. The suspension, pending an inquiry by the Speedway Control Board, does not aHect his standing at international races or his World Final qualification, but it was hardly the right preparation for taking a shot' at the championship. "I tried to put it right out of my mind," Ermolenko said. "I guess the pressure gOt to me in the end. I agreed to take the drug test because I am not into that sort of thing, but after the meeting I could not produce the urine sample which was needed and I was told to take a shower and try again. "In all lhe confusion, I forgot all about the test and I was half way home before I remembered," he said. "I should have gone back to the stadium, but I did not bother and that was my mistake. "If I had realized the severity of the Nielsen charged into the first tum during Race 35 on Sunday, leading the way for Jimmy Nilsen of Sweden and Cook. Sweden's Nilsen collected 22 points to finish fourth in the standings behind America's Ermolenko. consequences. I would certainly not have driven away." Ermolenko said. "But it was a genuine mistake and I was not fair on mysel£. I have nothing to hide." Ermolenko hopes to convince the control board of his innocence by voicing an appeal before the tribunal, but if the decision goes against him, he could face a suspension that would shatter his speedway career. Ermolenko showed no sign of those press ures d uri ng the first day of World .Final racing in Amsterdam. The trol,lbles seemed to have the opposite effect, firing him up to even greater efforts. He was determined, sharp and won his first race in impressive style. He made his only slip in the second heat when he lined up on the outside line against Nielsen and another Dane, Jan Pedersen. Ermolenko followed them into the first turn and the two Danes simply rode away from him. Errnolenko made up for that lapse with some hard ridin~ that earned him three more victones, including a win over Gundersen in the final race of the day wben· he stormed ahead out of· that dreaded outside gate. Things were different on day two. The track had dried out overnight, leaving very little cushion, and no matter how Ermolenko tried, he could not get the drive he needed. Nielsen was the only rider who could find traction and he posted a perfect performance that none of his rivals could match. John Cook, who is concentrating more on jet skiing than speedway, was the only other American con- tender in Amsterdam and he was never in the title hum. The flat, 400meter, shale-topped track did not suit his riding style. Cook failed to post a win in any of his five races on day one and he picked up only seven points for his efforts. He did a little beuer: in the second session, winning two races, but his other three outings netted him only two points and he finished the series in eighth place with 15 points. • Results 1. Hans Nielsen (Denmark, 27); 2. Erik Gun- . dersen (Denmark. 24); 3. Sam Ermolenko (USA, 24); 4. Jimmy Nilsen (Sweden. 22); 5. Per Jonsson (Sweden, 221; 6. Jeremy Doncaster (England. 201; 7. Jan Pedersen (Denmark. 19);'8. John Cook (USA. 15); 9. Mitch Shirra (New Zealand, 12); 10. Gerd Riss (West Germany, 12)' 11. Simon Cross (England, 10); 12. P :nonin Ka"per (Czechoslovakia, 9); 13. Chris Me 'on (England.9); 14. Roman Janowski (Polan", 8); , 5. Roman Matousek (Czechoslovakia. 5); 16. Henny Kroeze (Holland. 1). 9