Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Cycle News 1995 09 27

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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dent. Hamill had four points after a couple of second places, but surprisingly Nielsen was struggling with just two points. Heat 10 was more like an American Final as Ermolonko made the start and showed young Hamill, Hancock and Larsen the fastest way around Vojens. The win took the 1993 World Champion to eight points. Knudsen suffered his first defeat in heat 11 when he missed the start and followed Chris Louis home. Louis came under pressure from Knudsen but built up some good speed on the back straight, and there was no catching him. Nielsen got back to his winning ways in emphatic style in heat 12 as he eased home ahead of Loram, Wild Card rider Lars Gunnestad and Gustafsson. It . would mark the start of the Nielsen revival. Ermolenko was out again in ·heat 14, and he knew a win would most certainly be good enough to secure a place in the A Final. But he had the small matter of Rickardsson to worry about, along with Gunnestad and Smith. Ermolenko made another immaculate start and was a clear winner at the end after Gunnestad WOn his own private battle with Rickardsson. At this stage, Ermolenko could concentrate his thoughts on trying to secure top spot. It was important for the English-based rider to enjoy a good GP in Denmark, and it looked as though he was doing just that - enjoying himsell. Heat 15 was impressive as Chris Louis got off to a fine start and built up a lead over Nielsen. Hamill was filled in with dirt and was squeezed out in the first tum. He was looking like a contender for last place before getting the better of Staechmann. Hancock pulled off a fantastic win in heat 16 and appeared to put himself right in the frame for a top-four placing. He made a great start on GoUob, and once again the Pole put him under strong pressure while trying all the lines on the. track. Loram edged out Knudsen for third place, throwing the A Final lineup into even more confusion. Hancock looked confident and smooth as he took the turns, and GoUob was obviously a frustrated man after losing to the Cradley Heath skipper. But Hancock's joy turned to disappointment in heat 17 when his machinery let him down just when it looked like he would have another double-figure haul to follow up his great display in Sweden. Nielsen was a clear leader and Hancock was hopeful of beating both Marvyn Cox and Andy Smith - but it wasn't to be, and his disappointment was obvious when he returned to the pits. He would have to pick himself up for the B Final to try and secure as many GP points as possible with just one round remaining in England. It was celebration time for Ermolenko in heat 18 when he completed four wins out of five with a great performance to beat Knudson. The "Sud- (Left) Americans Greg Hancock (4) and (below) Billy Hamill powered to secondand third-place finishes In the B Flnal at Volens further cementing their status In the 1996 Grands Prix. (Below) Josh Larsen suffered more disappointment In his GP debut at Vojens, managing only four points. trailed in last to complete five rides without a single point. Hamill came out in heat 20 knowing that he needed a win to put himself in the frame for the top-two finals, and he responded in style with a breathtaking win ahead of Rickardsson and Boyce with Loram trailing in last. den" One was obviously a happy man as he celebrated with a wheelie display down the back. Gollob secured his place in the A Final with a vital victory in heat 19 over Louis and Gunnestad while Larsen GRAND PRIX HEATS Gustafsson made up for lost time in the 0 Final with a win which was all his from the start against Staechmann, Larsen and Smith. Larsen's finish allowed him the consola tion of four Grand Prix points from the race. Like Gustafsson, Loram made up for previous disappointments with an impressive win over Boyce, Gunnestad and Cox in the C Final, and this enabled the Englishman to hang on to eighth place - the final direct seeding to the 1996 Grands Prix - in the overall GP standings. . Hancock and Hamill were paired together in the B Final, but they were up against Knudsen and Louis who were both capable of taking the win. It was Louis who led from the start as Hancock had to work hard to hold off the challenge of Hamill. Knudsen was forced to settle for eighth place on the night, a disappointment after starting the meeting so well. Then came the A Final and more drama. Gollob fell while in close contention with Ermolenko, and it was the ' Pole who was excluded from the rerun. Nielsen was there again when it mattered most and Sudden Sam tucked in behind him for second place with Rickardsson battling hard for third. Ermolenko was still a happy man after the meeting, claiming he was delighted. "This has always been a bogey track for me, but it has gone well tonight," Ermolenko said. "I'm happy with four wins and two second places in a meeting of this quality. There was a lot of pressure on me to get some big points tonight because you need to stay in the top eight. Thankfully. my 18 points have sent me up the GP ladder, and I have to be happy with that." {N Vojens Speedway Volens, Denmark Results: September 9, 1995 (Round 5 of 6) Grand Prix Heats o FINAL: 1. Henka Gustafsson; 2. Jan Staech.man; 3. Josh Larsen; 4. Andy Smith. e FINAL: 1. Mark Loram; 2. Craig Boyce; 3. Lars Gunnestad; 4. Marvyn'Cox. B FINAI" 1. Chris Louis; 2. Greg Hancock; 3. Bmy Hamill; 4. Tommy Knudsen. A FINAL: 1. Hans Nielsen; 2. Sam Ermolenko; 3. Tony Rickardsson; 4. Tomasz GoUoh. . WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP SPEED· WAY SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 6 rounds): 1. Hans Nielsen (89 points); 2. Tony Rickardsson (80); 3. Ch.ris Louis (70); 4. (TIE) Billy Hamill/Sam Ermolenko (65); 6. Tomasz GoUob (64); 7. Greg Hancock (62); 8. Mark Loram (60); 9. Henka Gustafsson (S7); 10. Tommy Knudsen (56); 11. Craig Boyce (SO); 12 Marvyn Cox (48). 23

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