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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127743
totally dejected and' Knudsen still
unbeaten.
But things weren't going to remain as
comfortable for the Dane, who failed to
get on terms with the pace in heat 14,
and with Rickardsson taking the honors,
it looked as though the Swede would go
through the card cheered on by the sunbaked Swedish crowd. But England's
Chris Louis, still with an outsider's
chance of causing a major shock in the
series, had different ideas in heat 18 and
rode a good race to collect his first win
of the evening, trailed home by Hancock
- still very much in contention - and
Rickardsson in third. But that was
(Lett) Amerlc:an Joah Larsen wu a victim of circumstances and did not compete In Sweden.
(Above) Billy Hamill (18), here leading Marvyn Cox (6), Henke Gustefsaon (7) and Chrla Louis (11), won the C
Rnal. louis came back and won the B final.
(Below) Hans Nielsen (2) finished fourth In the A Rnal but stili leads the S«les championship cha911 by Just six
pointe over Tony Rlckerdaaon, who finished second In the A Rnal.
enough to ensure Rickardsson a place in
the A final, where he would be joined
by Hancock, Nielsen, and Knudsen,
thanks to the Dane's hea t-20 victory
over Karlsson.
All this was happening as Larsen
looked on from the pits, disenchanted,
having prepared to be part of the meeting.
"The FIM have been sending me
papers confirming that I would be back
in the top 16 once I was fit enough. I
have traveled to Linkopping in the
belief that I would be riding, but then
was informed of their decision over
(Havelock's) appeal. To be honest, I just
can't believe it, but what can I do?"
FIM's Gunther Sorber admitted, "It
was a very difficult decision for the jury
to make, but they had to act in view of
the fact that Gary Havelock won his
appeal. Our rules allow that, and they
also say that an injured rider will be reinstated in a future round when fit to do
so. It does not actually stipulate the next
round. W.e feel very sorry for Josh
Larsen, but we had to come up with
something."
In the first of four finals, Marvyn Cox
strengthened his threatened position
with a comfortable win over Havelock,
who had not done enough to ensure that
he would be part of the Vojens lineup
and now drops to first reserve. It does
mean, however, that he will be assured
of a place in the final round in his home
country at the newly developed London
Stadium. The same cannot be said for
his British counterpart Andy Smith,
who, while avoiding the cut this time
around, finds himself desperate for a
solid performance in Vojens on September ninth.
Hamill, who experienced the delight
of winning the A final in Austria, had to
settle for success in the C final this time
around earning himself 11 more GP
points and ruing that first-time-Qut fall
that had limited his scoring potential.
But he had done enough to overtake
Henrik Gustafsson, who had been lying
in third place overall. Gustafsson
slipped to fifth place after failing to
deliver his promise "we will race if the
track will let us," by finishing last in the
C final behind Gollob and Loram.
Loram's brother-in-law Chris Louis
took the honors in the B final, scormg
enough GP points to move him into
third place overall. His win was at the
expense of Australian Craig Boyce, who
had enjoyed his best meeting of the
series and gained 14 va!uable points,
leaving him just outside the all-impor-
tant top eight placing which would give
him automatic entry into next year's
Grand Prix.
.
Boyce closed the ga p on his close
friend Ermolen1