Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

&' Hancock, but the latter was most insistent that he was squeezed back by both Screen and his teammate. Ermolenko was the first to head off Rickardsson in the same heat as Boyce dropped valuable points, trailing in fourth. Hancock got back into winning ways one heat later. Protasiewicz produced a tremendous ride in heatll, taking an extremely wide line and holding off Nielsen. The Pole kept on the fence, but as he came off the last turn on the first lap he shed a chain as he clipped the boards, and that was the end of his challenge and the catalyst of his fading. But more significantly it set Nielsen back on course for the series. The odds on Nielsen retaining his title were shortening all the time, despite Hamill making it win number three in the next heat. England's Chris Louis was in real trouble in his third ride as he cla ttered the fence wide on turn two. Few realized that the best British hope was about to suffer a severe asthma attack, which was expertly treated by Hamill, who .himself suffers from the illness. Despite his lack of breath, Louis showed no lack of pace as he stormed to victory in the heat immediately after the break while Hancock dropped anothe1' point. Adams, too, looked more alert in his fourth ride, but had no answer to Ermolenko, who must have been wishing that he had discovered this form three months ago. Loram, too, was determined to avoid the GP Challenge meeting at Prague, and he rode a brilliant heat 15, coming from third to first, but the whole series opened right up as the top three riders in the series (and on the night at this stage) came together. Hamill stormed to a psychological victory, and as he checked momentarily on his opponents, he must have felt more than a little satisfied that it was the Swedish pairing of Gustafsson and Rickardsson filling the void between him and Nielsen. Boyce left the door wide open for Gustafsson to come through in heat 17,' Crump needing to be a little more physical on Marvyn Cox for a desperate third place. Nielsen kept a flicker of hope going (Top) No helping Hans: Reigning World Champion Hans Nielsen (1) lost his chance to lock up the title by finishing last In heat 16, a race which Hamill won. (Above) Hamill was spectacular all night. Here he runs In front of Polish upstart Plor Protaslewlcz in a qualifyng heat. Hamill won four of five qualfylng races to finish with 13 points and take his place in the A Final. (Left) Nielsen (right) did everything In his power to retain the title by winning the B Final, which forced Hamill to do the same In the A Final In order to become the champion. Former World Champion Tony Rickardsson (left) had a down day, finishing fourth In the B Final. for an A Final appearance as he headed Adams and Screen, both of whom at one time had been behind Lewis, who made another good start. But by now the computing was beginning. Hancock assured himself of an A Final berth while. Rickardsson's last place cost ielsen dearly, as it meant that Ermolenko would need just one point to ensure that the series leader would only make the B Final. Equally as important for former World Champion Ermolenko was that he also could boost his chances of qualifying for the 1997 Grand Prix series without having to go to the tough Grand Prix Challenge meeting in Prague, from which only two riders will transfer. Loram, too, could see an avenue for avoiding the Prague trip, and he produced an all-important ride to beat the \0 0\ two Americans (Hamill and Ermolenko) 0\ and set up an encounter with them ,-I again in four heats' time. Hamill knew 0\ before he reached the start that he could l-< well afford to drop points in this heat, Q) and in fact would be better off by not winning. ..... u But Nielsen was feeling uncomfortable by now. He knew that a win, a second or third in the B Final still would require Hamill to win the· A FinaJ, but .g o 15

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