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ers recognized as American speedway ~cons - former two-tinle World Champion Bruce Penhall and World Best Pairs Champion Dennis Sigalos - in a best-ofthree match race series. TESTIMONIAL RACE Hancock tarted from the pole and pulled the holeshot in the first of the regular heat races tllat would whittle down the field for a five-rider main event. Though he had a bit of a fight on his hands as he struggled to clear Denmark's Jesper Jenson and Swedes Stefan Danna and Andreas Jonsson, Hancock was the first of the quartet to get a good bite on the wet but tacky Coventry dirt, and he pulled away for the first three of his 11 points. Heat two was a little closer, as Craig Boyce of Australia managed to slide around Tomas Topinka of the Czech Republic off the first turn, but it was England's Sean Wilson who stole the start and led the pack. Boyce and Topinka kept the heat interesting by shadowing Wilson to the line, but it was the Brit who grabbed the three-point victory. John Jorgensen of Derunark was last. American Ronnie Correy has been enjoying a revitalized career in the B'ritish League ranks lately, and it showed. Correy went straight to the ftont in heat four and was never close to being headed. As he pulled to an easy five-bike-length lead, Australia's Jason Crump fought his way into second and stayed ther'e ahead of countryman SIlane Parker and England's Ben Howe. Popular Englishman Joe Screen had his lengthy arm tassles flowing in front as he easily wan heat four allead of Sweden's Mikael Karlsson, Aussie Steve Johnston and England's Troy Pratt. Hancock and Wilson were the first two fiders to drop off the top scoring when they fell victim to a fast-gating Correy in heat five. Correy left both riders far back in his wake as he kept the throttle on and negotia ted the big Coventry quarter mile, on which he holds the current track record. Hancock dived under the second-placed Karlsson off tum two on lap two to grab the runner-up spot, but Correy was long gone_ "Ronnie does that to me every time," Hancock said. "I don't know what happened. I just have a lot on my mind that's my first excuse. That's just racing." liSa far, so good," Correy said. lII'm riding well a t the moment, but there' 5 still a long way to go." Crump saw to it that he didn't drop further down the leaderboard by screaming out of gate two in heat six and leaving Topinka to fend off Johnston and Jensen. Topinka did just that and took home second-place points. (Above) Hancock qualified for his own final by scoring 11 points in the regular heat races. Here he leads Czech rider Tomas Topinka en route to a victory. (Right) Joe Screen was the main man for most of the day, and might well have won the final. But ignition problems ended up being his undoing. Still, the popular English rider thrilled the crowd with wheelies that lasted for an entire lap of the track. Screen came up big again in heat seven, also using gate two to make a perfect start. There was no catc!ling the "flyin' lion" as he motored to a quick win ahead of Jorgenson, Jonsson and Howe to remain perfect on six points like Correy. Screen celebrated with a well-executed, one-lap wheelie to marge up the crowd even further. Heat eight was a barn-burner as all four riders appeared to have a shot at the win almost right up until the checkered flag. Danno managed to hold the lead off the gate, but he was incessantly hounded by Parker and Boyce, with Pratt bringing up the rear while staying in the h.unt for more than a goose egg. In ~ match made in heaven t was just like old times, when some of England's finest butted heads with America's best of yesteryear in a five-race test match during the Greg Hancock testimonial. The lineup read like a who's who of speedway's past, as England's Simon Cross, Chris Morton, Malcolm Simmons and Phil Collins squared off against Team USA former greats Bobby Schwartz, John Cook, Lance King and Rick Miller. was supposed to be a "fun exhibition" turned But what Hopefully I'll be able to get into the final and be happy with that.race as well:' Correy ran into trouble when his number-one motorcycle went sick while he was rolling out to take his place in heat 11. The American was forced onto his backup mac!line, and it appeared to I out to look like anything but, as all riders involved pulled out their heavy throttle hands for the match. Some of them hadn't even been on a big track in more than a decade, but that didn't matter, accord.iJlg to former Cradely rider Phil Collins. the end, though, that's just how they finished. Rain was making the track a bit more technical as the day wore on, and heat nine was telling of the slight!y more slippery conditions. Hancock roared off the third gate just slightly ahead of Topinka, Howe and Pratt,ยท but the honored American pushed wide off tum two. He was just able to gather it up and take the lead to score three valuable points ahead of Topinka, who scored two marks by remaining ahead of Howe and Pratt. Screen appeared not to be concerned by tl,e conditions, as he again dominated the start in heat 10 and made all the right moves on his way to another win. The race was a bit closer, as the Englishman flew in formation with Wilson and Parker after Jensen slid out and crashed in the second bend on lap two. But neither of his pursuers could pick up an advantage on Screen, and it was time for another full-circuit wheelstand. "I was here two weeks ago, and I got a good idea about the track," Screen said after the heat. "My bikes are running perfect, but it's early days yet. (Above) England's Malcolm Simmons (right) gets the drop on Team USA's Rick Miller (right) while Team USA's Bobby Schwartz slides in ahead of England's Phil Collins during the USA vs. England test match. Team USA won the eXhibition, 21-9. (Right) Team USA's John Cook leads England's Simon Cross and Team USA's Lance King In t!llst-match action. ~ him his perfect score. He trailed off . d behind Boyce and Jonsson after the start, and only a bit of savvy riding got him past Jonsson in the late going to salvage a second as Boyce took his first heat win of the meeting. 1t_s~ndoffunn~"CoUins~Wa~r_~."1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=~=====~_~ hadn't been on an English track in 12 years, and ['d never ridden a laydown machine before. I didn't know what to expect, so I made a practice start down the back straight. And these Iaydowns feel like they're slipping the clutch at fITst, then they really hook up and drive. I found myself going into the third tum faster than I was ready for, and I ended up bendUlg It Ul the~e and pulling a muscle in me backside! But then you come around to the front gate, and the revs come up, and It'S lIke you've never left. The tension is just there all over again." . In the end,Team' USA ".tro~ced" ~n~land's lions, 21-9. Both Schwartz and Cook topped the American scorers WIth seven pOUlts each, while Sll"nmo Sll"rll"llons scored four points to be England's high-point man. But both the Am,;ri.ca:"s and the Brits agreed that they'd had a ~alt and they ,were happy to be a part of Hancock's day. . Riding here brought back a lot of memones, ,~d R,ck Miller, who celebrated his own testimonial at the very s~e track as a Coventry Bee nearly 10 years ago. The last time I rode here, I broke my collarbone. [t was an inter, estJlIg feehng - It w~s supposed to be ju~t. an exhibition. But we never discussed it, so as far as everyone was concerned, w~ were racmg. It was really exating when the tapes went up that first time. I put my head down and went for It, and It was !ust like the old days. It was great to have this reunion with our old team. Greg sure pulled it off. It took a lot of confidence and effort to brmg us all together. It was a nice meeting for him, but he made it nice for aU of us as well." ~~~ ~ e