Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Overseas Final SPEEDWAY ; e During the race in which Billy Hamill crashed out, overall winner Gary Havelock led Jason Lyons, Martin Dugard and Hamill. (Left to right) Sam Ermolenko, Kelvin Tatum nd Mike Faria vied .for positions during the Overseas Final. American Ermolenko advanced but Faria was eliminated. In his last chance for a qualifying spot to the semi-finals, America's Rick Miller (right) won this race over (left to right) Simon Wigg, Tatum and Jason Lyons. Ermolenko, Miller, Correy advance in Overseas Final By John Hipkiss COVENTRY, ENGLAND,JUNE 14 merican hope Billy Hamill crashed out of the World Speedway Championship with a dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist when he locked up and was hurled over the handlebars in the unlucky 13th heat of the overseas round at Coventry. Hamill had taken four points from his first three rides and was chasing the evenutal winner, Gary Havelock of England, when he lost control. A little more patience might have seen him through to the semi-finals but he was not content to sit on Havelock's tail. The 22-year-old Hamill, who rides for Cradley Heath in the British League, is now expected to be out of action for at least six weeks. But while Hamill was eliminated, along with U.S. Champion Mike Faria, the States will still have a threeman representation in the semis. Sam Ermolenko, one of the leading favorites for the World title this year, eased through with a cool and calculated performance which earned him 10 points and fourth place among the nine qualifiers. Also through are Ermolenko's teammate at Wolver- A hampton, Ronnie Correy, and 1990 finalist Rick Miller who had the advantage of riding on his home track. Correy and Miller each scored eight points, sharing bottom place in the qualifyingg list. The main objective was to make sure of finishing among the top nine scorers and Ermolenko got it right. He was taking no risks on a wet and 'heavy track which caused problems for several riders in the early stages. Ermolenko learned a lesson in his opening ride when he finished a poor third behind Australian Jason Lyons and New Zealand's Mitch Shirra. He left Hamill and Miller behind in winning his next race and then ran second to Havelock in his third outing. Another third place left Ermolenko still needing points but he made no mistake in his final outing, racing clear from the tapes and leading all the way. Correy made a disastrous start, falling in his opening race when he was, comfortably set to take second place. With only three points to show for his next two races he was under pressure, but he came through after the interval, rounding off with animpressive win - his only success of the meeting. ' Miller was even more erratic. He shed a chain in his opening ride, finished second to Ermolenko next time out and then scored a fine win over leading challenger Martin Dugard. When he missed the gate in his fourth race and finished last he had to win his final heat to make'sure of getting through. He obliged by beating his former Coventry clubman Kelvin Tatum. The meeting proved a big disappointment for Faria. He made a brilliant start, looking really confident when he led Hamill home in his opening heat, but then things began to go wrong. He was badly shaken in a crash with Lyons in his second race and could finish only third in the rerun. ' Another third place left him struggling for points and clearly feeling the effects of his fall. He failed to score - in his two remaining rides. Havelock, who had won the British title on the same track four weeks earlier and had led England to victory in the World Pairs' semi-finals, was always among the leaders. When it came to the final round the only rider in a position to beat him was Shirra. They clashed in heat 17 and Havelock won in style. The biggest surprise was the elimination of England's Simon Wigg, runner-up in the 1989 World final. He finished at the bottom of the score chart with only one point from five rides. There was an even bigger shock in the Scandinavian final held on the same day in Norway. Three-time World Champion Hans Nielsen, who was expected to be one of the leading contenders for the title now that the reigning champion Jan Pedersen is out with a broken back, collected only six points and failed to get a qualifying spot. Swedish rider Tony Rickardsson, who was second in last year's final, headed the qualifiers with 12 points. CN Results QUAUFIER: I. Gary HavelOck (13 pts);2, Mitch Shirra (12); 3. Kelvin Tatum (11); 4. (TlE) Sam Ermolenko/Andy Smith (10); 6. (TIE) Martin Dugard/jason Lyons (9); 8, (TIE) Rick Miller/ Ronnie CoTTey (8); 10. Marvyn Cox (7), 21

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