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/127672
';,OverseasE WY,:'' Coventry's Brandon Stadium S Efmal ' ,:A' ', P D :;,, rmo tn 0 r • s rtn s • ts, rln By John Hipklss COVENTRY ENGLAND, JUNE 12 , o rl d Champ ion " Su d d e n" Sam Ermolenko hit the 1994 title trail in perfect style by taking the Overseas Championship at Coventry's Brandon Stadium in an event that saw no less than four Americans q ualify for the World Championship Semifinals to be held on July 3D, Questions have been asked about Ermolenko's level of fitness in the British League, but the GM-mounted rider made no mistakes and answered his critics superbly. If he can continue this form through to the World Championship in Vojens - and there is no reason to suggest that he should not his chances of a second successive world title will be great. "In the" last w eek, all I've been th inking about is th is meeting," said Ermolenko. "I'm glad it' s over and I'm glad to win it." On a good da y fo r the American boys, Greg Hancock , of the Cradley Heath Heathens team in England, captured the runner-up spo t with a confident display. He was helped by Danish mechanic Hen rik Han sen, who was in Jan O . Pederson's corner at th e ' 91 World Final in Gothenburg, Sweden, when he won the sport's ultimate prize. " N ow I'd like to win it with Greg," said Hansen. Third place went to Aussie Craig Boyce, who looks set to make it through to his first-ever World Final on this form . Bill y Ha mill, Hancock's Cradley tea mmate, made hard wo rk of it. At one stage he looked certain to miss out as he struggled to make the start in the one tha t mattered, but then passed Craig Boyce in one of the best races of the afternoon. It took sheer courage and determination from Hamill to make it through, but he realizes he needs to get th ings right if he is to make it to Vojens. Josh Larsen, despite not riding regularly in the British League this season, continued the sort of form which go t h im a plac e on th e rostrum at the American Final in Ventura, California, by going through with nine points. Heat 19 saw Larsen beat the World Champion, but the En glish crowd hardly approved as they accused the American team of help ing each other through. But perhaps if the Brits had displayed similar team sp i rit, they would have more than just two riders go ing into the World Championship Semifinals. There was d isappointment fo r Charles "Dukie" Ermolenko and Mike Faria, both of whom found the going W 42 (Top left) Reigning World Champ ion Sam Ermo lenko (center) easily qua lified fo r th e World Championship Semifinals by po sti ng 14 po ints . the top score of the meeting. (Left) Greg Hancock (left) scored 12 points to tie Au stra lian Craig Boyce. Hancock defeated Boyce In a run-off to eam second place at the event.