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(From left to right) Fonner Worid Champion Gary Havenlock on home turf at Poole, leads American Sam Ennolenko, who was a last-minute replacement for the Injured Josh Larsen, and Steve Johnston. earlier that I could be in the meeting and once I got the official notification I got my head into what I had to do. On the day I just wanted to stay calm and go through without too much trouble and I think I did that. As for the future, I'll just carryon enjoying my speedway and I'll take one match as it comes." eN Overseas Final Qualifying RDund Poole, England Results: June 11, 2001 SCORES: 1. JDson Lyons (Australia) 15; 2. Gary Hovelock (GB) 13: 3. Som Ermolenko (USA) 11 (after run-off); 4. Scott Nicholls (GB) 11; 5. Selin WHson (GB) 9: 6. John Cook (USA) 9: 7. Steve Johnston (Australia) 9; 8. Stuart Robson (GB) 8; 9. Chris Siebon (Canada) 7 (after run-off); 10. Paul Hurry (GB) 7: 11. Nigel Sodler (Austrolio) 6; 12. Brett Woodifield (AustraIi8) 4; 13. Billy Janniro (USA) 4: 14. Shone Porker (Austrolio) 4: 15. Poul Fry (GB) 3; 16. Bobby Hedden (USA) O. HEAT 1: 1. Lyons, 2. Sillbon, 3. Fry, 4. Wilson 59.7 Veteran American Cook saw off Paul Hurry's last-lap challenge to win three, and heat four went to home favorite Havelock. Steve Johnston led for a lap, but drifted wide on the second circuit and both Havelock and Sam Ermolenko were quick to capitalize. Two of the first four winners Lyons and Havelock - met in heat five, and it was Lyons who snapped up a second win. Havelock, left at the back on the first lap, caught Brett Woodifield for third, but Billy Janniro kept him at bay for the second spot. Heat six was a Wolverhampton 5-1 between Ermolenko and Hurry, but it by no means involved team riding. Hurry tried his utmost to pass the American, feverishly switching lines but unable to make it count. Nicholls made it two wins from two starts in seven. Wilson bounced back from his first-race disappointment to head the field in eight and Lyons then maintained the early pace with his third win in heat nine. Ermolenko stayed in the thick of the leading pack by winning heat II, and when Nicholls ruined his unblemished record by impetuously coming off on a crowded third turn in heat 12, only Lyons headed the Wolverhampton skipper with all 16 riders having completed three rides apiece. Heat 13 was therefore going to be decisive to the destiny of the title when Ermolenko and Lyons lined up against each other at the tapes. Just to add some extra spice, Nicholls was on the inside of both, but it was Lyons was kept it locked on to assert his supremacy over Nicholls with Ermolenko left at the back behind fellow Statesider Cook. Lyons made it five wins out of five in heat 17 to take the crown, and Havelock ensured he fmished runnerup by winning heat 19. Wilson, needing a point in the final race, came from fourth to second to follow Ermolenko home and qualify. Robson took the eighth and final place having barged his way under Chris Siabon in heat 18, and Siabon then pushed Hurry to the fence to win the run-off for reserve. Cook was one of the most popular qualifiers for the Intercontinental Final. The evergreen 40-something, ever the entertainer, picked his way through some traffic in his final outing to confirm his place in the intercontinental Final at Vastervik in August. Cook, still based in Sweden during the summer months, said: "It would have been nice to make the rostrum, but my main goal was to get through. The track conditions weren't really in my favor as I like a little more dirt but I had a good draw with the outside gates to start with, and then moved down low later on. But I got fortunate in my last heat to salvage second behind Gary Havelock. Someone caught some grip inside of me but I didn't feel I could lay it down for a restart. I figured I would just keep it on the wheels and keep going forward. "Everyone is so darned quick these days, and when the track is slick, there isn't much chance for overtaking, so I was happy to make up ground in that last one. It will be tougher down the road but I am in there and rode at Vastervik last week. If I can get the equipment set up, there is no reason why I can't be in there again. I must give big thanks to Greg Hancock for supplying the equipment for me. He's been like a little brother to me and I felt confident in myself on Sunday that I had some good machinery to ride. He also sent down his mechanic and that was a big, big help to me. It had a lot to do with me getting through." "Sudden" Sam Ermolenko rolled back the years with a vintage performance to stay in the hunt for a Grand Prix place. Ermolenko was only included as a late replacement for the injured Josh Larsen and took his chance with both hands. "I came here to do a job and I think I did it pretty well, I'm happy with the way it all worked out." Ermolenko said. "I'd heard a week cue I e . HEAT 2: 1. Nicholls. 2. Sodler. 3. Woodifield. 4. Hedden 60.7 HEAT 3: 1. Cook. 2. Hurry. 3. Parker. 4. Janniro 60.9 HEAT 4: 1. Havelock. 2. Ermolenko. 3. Johnston. 4. Robson 60.6 HEAT 5: 1. Lyons. 2. Jenniro. 3. Havelock. 4. Woodfield 59.9 HEAT 6: 1. Ermolenko. 2. Hurry. 3. Siobon. 4. Hedden 59.9 HEAT 7: 1. Nicholls. 2. Johnston. 3. Parker. 4. Fry 60.2 HEAT 8: I. Wilson. 2. Sodler. 3. Robson. 4. Cook 60.4 HEAT 9: 1. Lyons, 2. Robson. 3. Parker, 4. Hedden 59.9 HEAT 10: I. Cook. 2. Siaben, 3. Johnston, 4. Woodilield 60.3 HEAT II: 1. Ermolenko. 2. Sodler. 3. Fry. 4. Janniro 61.0 HEAT 12: 1. Havelock. 2. Wilson, 3. Hurry. 4. Nicholls 61.1 HEAT 13: 1. Lyon •• 2. Nicholl•• 3. Cook. 4. Ermolenko 60.6 HEAT 14: 1. Hevelock, 2. Siebon. 3, Parker. 4. Sadler 61.6 HEAT 15: 1. Robson, 2. Woodifield, 3. Hurry, 4. Fry 61.3 HEAT 16: 1. Johnston. 2. Wilson, 3. Janniro, 4. Hedden 61.7 HEAT 17: 1. Lyons, 2. Johnston, 3. Hurry, 4. Sadler 60.8 HEAT 18: 1. Nicholls, 2. Robson, 3. Janniro, 4. Siobon 61.6 HEAT 19: 1. Hovelock, 2. Cook. 3. Fry, 4. Hedden 62.1 HEAT 20: I. Ermolenko. 2. Wilson. 3. Woodfield, 4. Porker 60.9 RON OFF I: I. Siobon. 2. Hurry 62.0 RUN OFF 2: 1. Ermolenko. 2. Nicholl. 61.5 (Left to right) Winner Jason Lpns leads Billy Jannlro, second-place finisher Gary Havenloek, and Australian Brett Woodfield. n e _ S • JULY 4. 2001 31