Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

QUALIFYING HEATS Rain hardly helped, but there was little passing to excite the 11,000 who attended the Hackney round, although the riders tried hard to put on a good show. Wild Card entry Jason Crump of England was a big success on his Grand Prix debut, winning heat one in fine style, and Ermolenko was forced to go wide and cut back in to get the better of Marvyn Cox. It was not a good start for Louis, who stalled at the start and never got going. Nielsen and Rickardsson met in heat three, but it was an anticlimax for the fans as Nielsen fell when leading. He later expressed concern that the wet conditions were starting to make life difficult for the riders, and he seemed to be spot-on in his concern when Rickardsson fell in the rerun and sustained a broken collarbone while chasing England's Mark Loram. Rickardsson bravely carried on to secure his status as the world number-two. Hancock and Hamill were drawn together in heat four and it was Hancock who made a dream start from gate three. Hamill worked hard to pass Gary Havelock of England for second place, not an easy thing to do as the rain was getting heavier. Hamill was out again in heat five, and he may have been starting to feel that it was not going to be his night when the tapes caught him around the neck. Normally, the tapes should break in such a circumstance, but Hamill was pulled off the machine in what appeared to be a nasty-looking crash. He was not badly hurt and was able to take his place in the rerun only after pleading with race director Ole Olsson for more time to repair his damaged bike. In the rerun, Loram pulled off a fine ride and Hamill had to ",ork hard again, this time passing two-time GP winner Tommy Knudsen of Denmark down the back straight. Crump was out again in heat six and continued his brilliant form with a hardfought win over Gustafsson, and Rickardsson, who held on well despite being in obvious pain. Ennolenko was one of the most spectacular riders on show as he displayed great control of the bike in difficult conditions, and his pass on Tomasz Collob was simply brilliant. He went around the outside of the Pole in the early stages of the race while Nielsen could only watch back in third place. Hancock made it two wins out of two with a victory in heat eight, taking advantage of the outside gate position £0 edge out Boyce and Sweden's Mikael Karlsson while Louis finished a dreadful last. But Hancock was brought back down to earth by the master himself, Nielsen, in heat nine when the Dane swept around him on the outside of the first two turns. Nielsen was on gate four, and the fact that Hancock got close to him from gate two made it a good effort. Crump went three-for-three with a win in· heat 10 as once again the winner came from gate four over Knudsen, Boyce and England's Andy Smith, who ran in last place in six events. Ermolenko was surprised by Havelock in heat 11, but Havelock was on the outside and made no mistakes as he swept around Ermolenko, who rode a steady pace to pick up another couple of points over Loram with Karlsson running at the back of the field. Hamill had another scare in heat 12 when he fell in the first turn after clashing with Louis. Some experts claimed Hamill was at fault and was lucky to be allowed back for the rerun, but others In the B Final, Hamill drew gate four, which was the favored gate of the night and got the trap on Nielsen to lead the race from the start to finish. But ielsen's performance in the B Final still proved him worthy of the crown. "When I came into the meeting, I knew that my chances were very good of winning the title," Nielsen said. "But I was still relieved it was allover." (Above) Eight, nlne,10...you're outl: Poland's Tomasz Gollob lies on the track after literally being punched out by Australia's Craig Boyce, who blamed the Pole for an accident involving the two in the C Final. (Right - left to right) Ermolenko, Hancock and Loram share a smile on the victory podium. (Below) Nielsen (center) Is all smiles after being crowned with the first GP title. Former champion Tony Rlckardsson (left) stili managed second overall for the year while Ermolenko (right) charged to third place after poor early showings In the serle•• felt it was nothing more than first-turn bunching. The worrying part was that Hamill took his time to get up, but he did so and gained third place in the rerun in a race won by Gollob. Havelock, who has suffered a nightmare Grand Prix Series, was a clear winner of heat 13 when he passed Cox in the first turn and made no mistakes for another three points. Hamill was in the thick of the action again in heat 14 when he was the victim of a tough, first-bend crash, but again everyone was allowed back in, and Nielsen won the rerun. Crump edged out Hamill, who had to settle for another third place. Errnolenko produced one of the best rides of the night in he.at 15 when he passed Knudsen with a brilliant move. The Dane went from first to third, and Hancock was happy to take advantage by grabbing second place and take his place alongside Ermolenko, Gustafsson and Loram in the A Final. The final few heats were nothing special as Nielsen was already assured of the title, and the A Final was clear cut. They were, however, highlighted by another go.od ride from Havelock in heat 20 as he defeated Nielsen, who mysteriously and dramatically slowed during the race. GRAND PRIX HEATS The D Final was interesting as Louis made up for earlier disappointments with a brilliant ride to pass Marvyn Cox on the line, but again there was a question mark over this as Cox may have been trying to help his countryman through for a high finish. A most notable incident followed the C Final when Australia's Craig Boyce was excluded for violent behavior after being knocked off by Gollob in the race. Boyce was obviously an angry man, and when he was making his way back to the pits, he went over to Gollob, who was still on the starting line and staring at his own exclusion light in disbelief. The Australian caught Gollob right between the eyes with a right hook that sent the Pole crashing to the ground. The act brought cheers from the fans, but the referee was not impressed nor were FlM officials, who fined Boyce approximately $800 for his actions. "He has been taking guys out aggressively all series," Boyce said. "And maybe I shouldn't have done what I did, but I was so angry with him. He needs to be stopped. You see guys getting . hurt, and yet idiots like him are allowed to get away with sticking people in the fence at high speed." Gollob was fined for his part in the incident as well, and the Pole did feel that he was harshly treated. Despite his lack of English, it was plain for all to see that Collob was angry. Wild Card entry Crump fell while trying to pass Nielsen for second and wound up fourth behind Havelock.Hancock had the most points for the first pick of the gate, and he immediately walked up to the start line and drew the yellow flag, indicating the outside gate four, and donned the yellow helmet cover. Gustaffson went next and drew gate three, while Ermolenko strangely chose the inside gate, which was the worst all night long. Loram was left with gate two. Hancock blasted into first straight across everyone else while Loram and Gustafsson were busy with ~ach other in second and third. Ermolenko tailed off last but swept under his two opponents in turn two to steal second place and attempt to chase down Hancock. But the young American was never to lose his lead in the follow-the-leader affair as he crossed the finish line some four bike lengths in front of the 1993 champion. Loram beat Gustafsson across the line for third place. "These meetings are very tough, so I was delighted to win it," Hancock said. "I knew I had to do well, and I'm so pleased it all worked out for me." ex Hackney Stadium London, England Results: September 30, 1995 (Final round) QUALIFYING HEATS OIA POINTS: 1. Greg Hancock (13 points): 2. (TIE) Henka Gustaffson/Sam Ermolenko (12~ 4. (TIE) Mark LoramlJason Crump (11); 6. Gary Havelock (10); 7: Ha.ns Nielsen (9); 8. (TIE) Billy Hamill/Tomasz GoUob/TommyKnudsen (7); 11. Craig Boyce (5); 12. (11£) Tony Rickardsson/Mikael Karlsson/Marvyn Cox (4): 15. Chris Louis (3): 16. (TIE) Andy SmithfJan Staechman/fosh Larsen (0). GRAND PRIX HEATS o FINAL: 1. Ouis Louis; 2. Marvyn Cox; 3. Mikael Karlsson: 4. Andy Smith. C FiNAL: 1. Tommy Knudsen; 2. Craig Boyce; 3. Tomasz Collob; 4. Tony Rickardsson. B FINAL: 1. Billy Hamill; 7. Hans Nielsen; 3. Jason Crump; 4. Tommy Knudsen. A FINAL: 1. Greg Hancock; 2. Sam Ermolenko; 3. Mark Loram; 4. Henka Gustaffson. WORLD INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 6 of 6 rou.nd,): 1. Hans Nielsen (103 pointsll win): 2. Tony Rid

• Cover