Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

,:.Greg Han~ock (left) led the Ameri~an team to its first s~dway title iii a ~ecade, as they narrowly defeated the English squad. ItalIan Armando Castagna (nght) was the top scorer 10 the event, but hiS team managed only a fourth-place finish. Sam Ermolenko (left), the second-highest scoring U.S. rider, , led Sweden's Henrik Gustafsson (right) in a heat race. (Left to right) Ronnie Correy, Ermolenko, team manager John Scott and Hancock celebrated after winning the title. Red, white and blue waves in Italy By John Hipkiss LONIGO, ITALY, JULY 18 tar-spangled fireworks lit up the Italian sky over Lonigo as Greg Hancock crossed the finish line at' the end of a pulsating World Championship Pairs Final to give the U.S.A. its first speedway title since 1982. With England and the U.S. tied at the top of the scorechart with 23 points each, Hancock was the man nominated for the run-off against England skipper Gary Havelock to decide the championship. Hancock responded in S 12 style, edging ahead in the first turn and then steadily pulling away from his rival for a brilliant victory. It was a bittersweet moment for Hancock, still smarting from his rejection by the AMA s~lectors for the World Individual Championships. Following the cancelation of the American qualifying round, Hancock was one of the five riders seeded into the championships on the basis of last year's averages in the British League, . but after his' entry forms for the Overseas final had been confirmed, the AMA had second thoughts. They decided that American National Champion Mike Faria and last season's top qualifier Rick Miller should get priority and Hancock and Bobby Ott were out. Strenuous attempts by Hancock to get reinstated proved futile. Ironically, although he was not considered to be among the top five, he was good enough to get the third-place spot on the World Pairs team. Sam Ermolenko and Ronnie Correy formed the American spearhead, but after they were left behind in trackrecord time by Havelock in their opening heat and were shown the way home by three-time Wqrld Champion Hans Nielsen of Denmark the next time out, team manager John Scott decided it was time to make a change. Correy was pulled out and Hancock was given the opportunity to prove just how badly the AMA blundered with their World Championship selection. Hancock grabbed his chance with both hands, joining Ermolenko to give the U.S.A. its first major success in .their next race. Hancock led from the starting gate- to equal Havelock's track record while the hard-riding Ermolenko blasted his way past the New Zealand pairing of Mitch Shirra and Mark Thorpe tl? follow him home. The American team was back in contention and although they had to settle for the minor placings behind home favorite Armando Castagna in the fourth round, another lightning getaway by Hancock gave him the edge on ex-champ Per Jonsson in the next heat while Ermolenko tucked into third place and held off Sweden's Henrik Gustafsson. The Americans still needed full points from the final race against the Australian pairing of Leigh Adams and Craig Boyce to draw even with England, but Hancock and Ermolenko were now in full flight and in no mood to let the chance slip. Hancock shot into the lead and although Adams briefly headed Ermolenko, the American skipper was quickly through to link up with his partner. Team manager Scott had a hard decision to make when it came to making his nomination for the runoff. Although Ermolenko had ridden magnificently he was not. altogether happy with his gating and it was Hancock, who had been super from the tapes, who was handed the task of facing Havelock. The England team's captain had a slight advantage going into the first turn, but Hancock, on the inside, came out ahead and though Havelock was on his tail all the way he could not find a way through. "It was a wonderful feeling as I crossed the finish line, the sweetest moment of my career," said the delighted Hancock. "Ever since that World Championship business I have been looking for the opportunity to prove just how wrong the AMA was to act as they did and Lonigo gave me the chance. "I was really nervous before the meeting began, but when the runoff came and Scotty decided I was the man, I was ready to do it. I was so pumped up for the race there was no way I was going to lose. I just had to prove my point to the AMA. It was perfect. My one regret is that the AMA officials were not here to see it, but I'll sure . let them know. "As soon as I get back to England I'll send them a fax, giving them the results," added Hancock, who is still talking to lawyers about possible legal action against the AMA. Ermolenko shared in Hancock's glory. "I would live to have been in the runoff, but gating was so important and Greg had been going well and you have to do what's best for the team," said Ermolenko. "We were not worried when England and Sweden were setting the pace, we were going for it from the word go." It was the first U.S. victory in the Pairs Final since Dennis Sigalos and Bobby Schwaru succeeded in 1982, and it ended a seven-year domination by Denmark, who is now suffering from the backlash of losing two World Champions - Erik Gundersen and Jan Pedersen in the last three seasons, both with spinal injuries. eN Results WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRS FINAL: I. U.S.A. 23 (Greg Hancock II, Sam Ermolenko 9, Ronnie Correy 3); 2. England 23 (Gary Havelock 15, Kelvin Tatum 8); 3. Sweden 22 (Per Jonsson 14, Henrik Gusta[sson 8); 4. Italy 18 (Armando Castagna 16, Valentino Furlaneuo 2, Armando Dal Chiele 0); 5. Denmark 16 (Hans Nielsen 13, Brian Karger 2, Tommy Knudsen I); 6. 'New Zealand 14 (MitehShirra 12, David Bargh 2, Mark Thorpe 0); 7. Australia 10 (Craig Boyce 5, Leigh Adams 4, Shane Parktr It.

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