Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

And there was another surprise in heat 16, when previous Grand Prix winners Brian Andersen and Mark Loram went out while Adams and Kasper went through. Heat 17 saw Rickardsson survive a real scare, as he hit the fence at high speed and did well to hang on to the bike. Not only did he hola on, but amazingly, he managed to pass Jimmy Nilsen to take the checkered flag first. Danno was a surprise winner in heat 18, as he made a flying start ahead of Sullivan, with Louis and Nielsen struggling at the back. Heat 19 was another pressure race, with a last-chance situation, and Hamill took it superbly, with a great start to ease home ahead of Gollob. But there was another shock, as Nielsen went out; he was clearly not happy as he walked back to the pits. (Above) Rickardsson (4) is already gone in the A final, as the Swede has made a cracking start to lead Tomasz Gollob (3), Nilsen (foreground) and Hamill (background). Gollob wound up fourth after his motor expired. (left) Earlier in the evening, Hancock (1) exited the stage in heat 15 with a third-place finish as he trailed Gollob (3) and GP upstart terror Zoltan Adorjan (12). (Below) With his runner-up finish, Hamill has - for the moment at least - taken up residence as the leael hopefUl to bring America yet another World Speedway Championship. Heat 20 went according to plan, with Louis and Adams having the edge over Gustafsson and Adorjan . CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS Rea t 21 was the first semifinal, and Rickardsson romped home after a flying start. Hamill joined him, as the two riders were in a league of their own ahead of Adams and Sullivan, who had to settle for places in the consolation finaL Nilsen and Gollob made no mistakes in the second semifinal, and they were well clear of Louis and Danno. Thus the first championship final lineup of the new Grand Prix series was now known. CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS But before that, the B final had to be staged to determine final Grand Prix placings, and it was Louis who made the start ahead of Danno, Sullivan and Adams in a race which, yet again, was determined from the gate. In the A final, Rickardsson made a dream start to breeze home, and Hamill worked hard to finish second after starting from gate three. Nilsen and Gollob were battling for the minor placings until Gollob's bike sputtered to a halt. His hopes of a rostrum place were over. Rickardsson's relief at winning his first ever Grand Prix was .clear for all to see as he celebrated On the rostrum. "I've been so close in the past with these meetings," Rickardsson said. "I've gone into the A final knowing I have been the best rider throughout a meeting, and yet I always seem to mess it up in that last race. But I felt so good here tOnight and it's a great start for me. The meeting was tough, but [ just kept my head together, and when I went over the line for a win, I was overjoyed." But the new race format was the real talking point, and runner-up Hamill had his own views on the matter. "It's not an ideal situation but you have to have a positive attitude toward it all, and I just went out there and did my best," Hamill said. "It was interesting to see the guys in action early in the meeting, but all the time I was itching to get out there and have a go on the track. I'm happy with second place - consistency is the key throughout the series and I would have settled for this before the meeting. Hancock, meanwhile, was left to reflect on what might have been, as he made an early exit from the opening round in the defense of his title. "This has been a real learning exercise for me because of the new race structure, and I'm not prepared to blame that for the night I had," Hancock said. "I always stay positive about things, and there is plenty of time for me to catch up, but I'm down about the result for sure. "I just didn't make a start, and when the pressure is On so late in the meeting you need to be sharp from the gate - that didn't happen for me," Hancock continued. "We really need to work on a few things ~efore the next round, and I'm confident I can pull it back· to be up there with the race leaders." The next round of the series is at Pocking, Germany, where Hancock will probably be hoping for better luck. 0Marketa Stadium Prague, Czech Rebublic Results: May 18, 1998 (Round 1 of 6) Qualifying Hubl HEAT 1: 1. Ryan Sullivan; 2. Craig Boyce; 3. Andy Smith; 4. Gerd Riss. HEAT 2: 1. Leigh Ada.ms; 2. 80 Brhel; 3. Ch.ris Louis; 4. Jason Crump. HEAT 3: 1. Stefan Danno; 2. Antonin Kasper; 3: Armando Castagna; 3. Henka Gustafsson. HEAT 4: L Jesper B. Jensen; 2. 20ltan Adorjan; 3. Peter Karlsson; 4.. Piotr Protasiewicz. HEAT 5: 1. Jason Crump; 2. Geed Riss; 3. Piotr Protasiewicz; 4. Armando Castagna. HEAT 6: 1. Chris louis; 2. Henka Gustafsson; 3. Andy Smith; 4. Peter Karlsson. HEAT 7: 1. Ryan Sullivan; 2. ZoltiUl Adorjan; 3. So Bthel; 4. Stefan Danno. HEAT 8: 1. Antonin Kaspex; 2. Leigh Adams; 3. Craig Boyce; 4. Jepser B. Jensen. . HEAT 9: 1. Henka Gustafsson; 2. 60 Bthel; 3. Jesper B. Jensen; 4. Jason Crump. HEAT 10: 1. Chris Louis; 2. Stefan Danno; 3. Gerd Riss; 4. Craig Boyce. Main·Event Heats HEAT 11: 1. Jimmy Nilsen; 2. Ryan Sullivan; 3. Greg Hancock; Leigh Adams. HEAT 12: 1. Hans Nielsen; 2. Billy Hamill; 3. Antonin Kasper; 4. Zoltan Adorjan. MEAT 13: 1. Henka Gusta£sson; 2. Stefan Danno; 3. Tomasz Gollob; 4. Brian Andersen. HEAT 14: 1. Chris Louis; 2. Tony Rickardsson; 3: Mark Loram; 4. 50 Bthel HEAT 15: 1.Tomasz GoUob; 2. Zoltan Adorjan; 3. Greg Hancock; 4. Bo B,h.l. HEAT 16: 1. Leigh Adams; 2. Antonio Kasper; 3. Mark Loram; 4. Brian Andersen. HEAT 17: 1. Tony Ricakrdsson; 2. Jimmy Nilsen; 3. Billy Hamill; 4. Henka Gustafsson. HEA T 18: 1. Stefan Danno; 2. Ryan Su.IJivan; 3. Chris Louis; 4. Hans Nielsen. HEAT 19: 1. Billy Hamill; 2. Tomasz Gollob; 3. Hans ielsen; 4. Antonin Kasper. HEAT 20; 1. Chris Louis; 2. Leigh Adams; 4. Henka Gustafsson; 5. Zoltan Adorjan. ChampionshiySemifinills (top two transfer to A finaJ, bottom two to B finaJ) SEMI 1: 1. Tony Rickardsson; 2. BiUy Hamill; 3. Leigh Adams; 4. Ryan Sullivan. SEMI 2: L Jimmy Nilsen; 2. Tomasz GoUob; 3. Chris Louis; 4. Stefan Danno. Championship Finals B FINAL: 1. Chris Louis; 2. Stefan Danno; 3. Ryan Sullivan; 4. Leigh Adams. A FINAL: 1. Tony Rickardsson; 2. Billy Hamill; 3. Jimmy Nilsen; 4:Tomasz GoUob. WORlD'NDIVIDUAl CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Alter 1 of 6 rounds): 1. Tony Ric.kardsson (25/1 win); 2. Billy Hamill (20); 3. Jimmy Nilsen (18); 4. Tomasz GoUob (16); 5. Chris Louis (15); 6. Stefan Danno (14); 7. Ryan Sullivan (12); 8. Leigh Adams (10); 9. (TIE) Henka Gustafsson/Hnns Nielsen (8); n. Zoltan Adorjan/ Antonin Kaspe. (7); 13. (TIE) Mark Loram/Greg Hancock (6); 15. (TIE) Brian Ande....n/Bo Brhel (5); 17. (l1E) Craig Boyce/Gel:

• Cover