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/127400
GSPEEDWAY ~ ~ Jan Pederson leads Billy Hamill and Tommy Knudsen on his way to a perfect score. Sam Ennolenko, shown here in a dice with Per Jonsson, was the top U.S. finisher. Pedersen perfect in Sweden By J o h n Hipkiss GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN, AUG. 31 anish ace Jan-O Pedersen gave a superb maximum performance in Gothenburg to collect his first World Speedway title with the promise that he will be back for more. Pedersen, 28, who was born in Denmark, but now lives mainly in England near his British League track at Cradley Heath, put together five perfect starts on the 400-meter track at the Ullevi Stadium and was' never under any threat as he won each of his races in championship style. Recognized as one of the most skillful and daring riders in the world coming from behind, he did not have to think about overtaking, he was invariably in front from the first turn. It was the sixth successive final for the talented little Dane who was runner-up in Poland in 1986 and th ird in Denmark in 1988, but though he . qualified in the previous two years he was unable to ride because of jnjury. This time Pedersen was determined D • 18 to realize a boyhood dream and his rivals were left to sort out the minor placings. It was a Scandinavian take-over. Pedersen's 15-point maximum put him three points clear of the field with Sweden's Tony Rickardsson, the youngest rider in the field at 21 and the most adventurous on the long, narrow Gothenburg straights, in second place. Three-time World Champion Hans Nielsen took third spot on the presentation rostrum after beating fellow Dane Tommy Knudsen in a run-off after they had tied on II points 'each , and another Swede, Jimmy Nilsen was fifth. The failure of Per Jonsson to produce the form ' which earned him the title last year spoiled a Scandinavian clean sweep at the top of the score chart. There was little joy for the American contenders, Sam Errnolenko, Ronnie Correy and Billy Hamill. Errnolenko, who had also missed out on the previous two finals because of injuries, was hoping this would be his tear, but though he was the best of the trio he could only finish in seventh place on nine points. Ermolenko had been looking good for most of the British season, leading his Wolverhampton team to the top of the First Division, but a fall at Ipewich two weeks before the final left him with a fractured right kneecap. He did not use it as an excuse for his below-par performance but it obviously affected him. He met Pedersen in his opening race and was left behind as the Dane streaked away down the back straight and though he won the rerun of his second after being forced into the safety fence by Jonsson, he slipped again in his third race when he was overtaken by Rickardsson on the last lap. Ermolenko was so disgusted when he tailed off in his fourth ride, he did not cross the finish line, and another defeat in his final outing by Knudsen completed his misery. His confidence, and that of several other riders, was affected by the insistence of the FIM that silencers had to be changed to conform with regulations after most machines were found to be over the 102 decibels limit at the official practice session. It meant last minute adjustment to the finely tuned engines and several riders allowed it to play on their minds. They did not have full confidence in their machines. Correy, who had finished near the bottom of the score chart in his two previous finals, looked set for better things when he made a smooth get away in his first race and was a comfortable winner, but he then finished last in his next two heats and was ou t of the running. " I guess I just went to sleep ," said Correy. Billy Hamill, just three months older than Rickardsson, . was competing in his first World Championship Final and will clearly learn from the experience. He showed his pedigree by bouncing back after being excluded from his second heat for pushing the tapes. He worked hard to finish on the same. points level as Correy and is surely a champion of the future. CN Resul ts FINAL: I. Jan.Q Peders en (Denmar k) 15; 2. Tony Rickardsson (Sweden) 12; ~ . H ans Nielsen (Denmark) 11; 4. Tommy Knudsen (Denmark) 11; 5. Jimmy Nilsen (Sweden) 10; 6. (TIE) Paul Thorp (Engla nd) / Sa m Erm ol en ko (USA) 9; 8. Kelvin Tatum (England) 8; 9. Per Johnsson (Sweden ) 7; . 10. (TIE) Ronnie Correy (USA)/Bill y Hamill (USA)/ Armando Castagna (Italy) 6; 13. Mitch Shirra (New Zealand) 4; 14. (TIE) Roman Maiouseh (Czechos· lovakiaj/jeremy Doncaster (England) 2; 16. Gerd Ri ss (Germany ) I.