Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2007 23:29:06 GMT
Heat Five
13 Red Ronnie Moore
1 Blue Tony Rickardsson
5 White Michael Lee
9 Yellow Peter Craven
One the track:
Before leaving the pits both Ronnie Moore and Peter Craven were seen to exchange words with each other. Lees sat there placidly as did Rickardsson neither of them betraying their emotions.
The riders rode slowly round to the tapes – none of them in a hurry to get there.
Rickardsson practices starts as does Michael Lee. The Starting Marshall waves the riders into their places.
Heads down face right green light tapes rise.
Rickardsson is smooth out of the gate. Powering ahead of Moore into the first bend. Lee is half a bike length behind Rickardsson going in over the top of Ronnie Moore. Craven drives round the boards
Exiting the second bend Rickardsson is ahead – Lee mid track with Ronnie Moore poised to come underneath him – Lee closes the door on the Kiwi – Craven driving forward alongside the fence takes advantage of Lee concentrating on Moore to shoot past him along the back straight.
Rickardsson enters bend three – Craven right on his back wheel – baulking Lee how is holding up Moore. Out of bend four T/R is still in front – with Craven close to the line right behind T/R – Lee heads wide to pick up drive and power on past Craven.
Craven realising the danger accelerated forward shutting Lee out. Moore drives on under Lee to draw level with Craven along the home straight.
Rickardsson is opening up space between himself and the other riders as he enters bend one (lap2) – Michael Lee is snapping at Ronnie Moore’s back wheel – Craven drives into bend one (lap2) picking up drive that pushes him forward to draw level with Rickardsson as they exit bend two (lap2) – T/R slips ahead as
Craven looks over his shoulder at the riders behind him
Moore is fighting to keep Michael Lee at bay – Craven cuts loose from the Kiwi chasing Rickardsson along the back straight into bend three (lap2) – head down Craven shoots out of bend four (lap2) along the home straight.
Rickardsson sticks close to his line into bend one (lap3) – drifting away from it slightly exiting bend two (lap3) Craven picks up drive pacing T/R all the way along the back straight.
Craven goes wide into bend three (lap3) forcing his bike to straighten exiting bend four (lap3) – shooting him forward ahead of Rickardsson along the home straight into lap four. Moore has mastered Lee who languishes at the back.
Rickardsson drives under Craven into bend one (lap4) in an attempt to shove the Belle Vue Ace wide of his line. Craven gives a little but displays his wizardry of balance by pulling his bike against it’s momentum to exit bend two (lap4) on level terms.
Down the back straight Craven and Rickardsson are level with each other. Moore has forced his way back into the reckoning and sits on T/R’s back wheel.
Rickardsson displaying riding skills of his own – drives forward to the line into bend three (lap4) – forcing Craven to go wide – who has now to look to Moore coming in underneath him.
Rickardsson exits bend four (lap 4) ahead of Craven – with Moore coming sharp underneath him. T/R drives to the line with Craven hard up on him but the Swede is first across the line.
Tony Rickardsson 3 – Peter Craven 2 – Ronnie Moore 1 – Michael Lee 0
‘Rickardsson was intent there on proving to everyone Peter Craven wasn’t invincible on his own track,’ said Kelvin decidedly.
‘I think he was caught between two stools at the beginning of the race,’ said
Pearson. ‘I think he was looking out for the welfare of Ronnie Moore then belatedly decided he ought to look out for his own fortunes too.’
Either way that’s one up for Tony,’ said Kelvin ‘and I expect he’ll be glad to have got that one out of the way.’
‘That’s right Kelvin,’ said Nigel. ‘We have another clash of the titans here with Nielsen and Olsen up against each other. So either one of those will drop points here. Tommy Price will want to make his mark as will Szczakiel who fell on the second lap of his race, though I doubt anyone noticed him fall.’
Heat Six
14 Red Jerzy Szczakiel
10 Blue Hans Nielsen
2 White Ole Olsen
6 Yellow Tommy Price
On the track:
Szczakiel is sharp from the gate again – Olsen taking advantage comes over Nielsen clamping him to the line entering bend one – Szcakiel drifts off his line entering bend two – Olsen drives underneath him – followed by Nielsen – Price with no choice comes round the boards passing the Pole who is once more in difficulties.
Olsen drives forward down the back straight – Nielsen close behind – Price mid track shadows Nielsen – but can’t make up ground on him.
Olsen is through bends 3+4 out over the line into lap 2. Nielsen rides mid track into bend one (lap2) looking for the dirt to drive him forward round the outside of Olsen now exiting bend two (lap2) still ahead.
Along the back straight Olsen powers forward – Nielsen stalking the senior Danish Champion – Price makes no ground up on the Danish pair. Through bends 3+4 (lap2)
Olsen is still ahead with Nielsen failing to make an impression.
Down the home straight into lap three Nielsen finds drive and attacks Olsen pushing underneath him bend one (lap3) in order to pressure Olsen off his line. Olsen aware of this tactic clamps hard down on Nielsen’s attempt – forcing him to slow.
Nielsen slowing allows Price to gain ground on the Dane who has to drive wide exiting bend two (lap 3) to shut off Price’s drive forward. Olsen taking advantage
extends his lead along the back straight through bends 3+4 (lap 3) into lap 4
Nielsen refuses to give up pressing Olsen again through bends 1+2 (lap4) out onto the back straight. Into bend three (lap4) Olsen sticks hard to the line. Nielsen goes wide expecting Olsen to come off his line exiting bend 4 – which Ole does – but not enough for Nielsen to drive under him. Olsen powers to the line with Nielsen right behind him – Price two bike lengths behind Nielsen – the Pole trails in last.
Ole Olsen 3 – Hans Nielsen 2 – Tommy Price 1 – Jerzy Szczakiel 0
‘It’s tight at the top Kelvin,’ said Nigel.
‘There’s not a lot to choose from between riders of the calibre of Olsen and Nielsen,’ answered Kelvin, ‘anymore than there is anything to choose from between those other two Danes on three points apiece Gundersen and Jan O Pedersen.’
‘One or both of them are going to drop points in this one Kelvin,’ Nigel agreed.
‘I think as we get to the sharp end of this tournament it could be one simple mistake that will determine the fortunes of each one of these riders,’ responded Kelvin. ‘That’s the reason Gundersen is working as hard as he is. He needs points if he is to progress from his last meeting into the Grand Final. Eric will be working just as hard in this one.’
‘That’s right Kelvin,’ said Nigel, ‘as I am sure will be Greg Hancock and Lionel Van Praag.’
Heat Seven
11 Red Greg Hancock
15 Blue Eric Gundersen
7 White Jan O Pedersen
3 Yellow Lionel Van Praag
On the track:
Greg Hancock made light of the heavyweight Danes shooting out of the start into the first bend – Gundersen tucked in behind him – Pedersen working his way mid track –Van Praag on the boards sweeping round.
Van Praag manages to drive into mid track under Pedersen shooting ahead of the Dane coming out of bend two onto the back straight.
Hancock exited the second bend ahead – Gundersen heading outside the
American racing him down the line towards bend three – Pedersen has shrugged off Van Praag’s attack and his catching up with his fellow Dane.
Hancock is through bends three and four entering the home straight into lap 2.
Gundersen and Pedersen are level with each other along the home straight – Gundersen on the inside seeking to drive under Hancock entering bend one (lap2) – Pedersen drives mid track to go round the outside of the American.
Gundersen pushes under Hancock – who drifts slightly off his line making his turn into bend two (lap2) – Gundersen presses the issue – Hancock has to block Pedersen’s drive round the outside.
Gundersen noses ahead – but Hancock head down drives down the back straight – passing Gundersen – then cutting to the line entering bend 3(lap2) – Pedersen has gone wide again to drive round the lead pair.
Hancock holds the line into bend four (lap2) – Gundersen attempting to drive round the outside of him along the home straight into lap 3 – Pedersen is over Gundersen’s right shoulder.
Hancock pushes into bend one (lap3) with Gundersen mid track baulking Pedersen – who cuts back in on Gundersen driving under him exiting bend two (lap3) slightly ahead.
Pedersen’s momentum drives him forward mid track – arriving over Hancock’s right shoulder towards bend three (lap3). Hancock drifts off his line to counter Pedersen’s move – Gundersen seizes this opportunity to drive under Hancock into bend three (lap3) – pushing the American out – who is locking up in front of Pedersen – heading now to the boards to avoid Hancock.
Gundersen is ahead with Hancock – once more in control of his machine – in front of Pedersen who is coming round the outside of him down the home straight into lap 4.
Gundersen enters bend one (lap4) a bike length ahead of Hancock – Pedersen presses the American – forcing him to drive hard out of bend two (lap4) – shooting him forward on a par with Gundersen down the back straight.
Gundersen dives into bend three (lap4) – Hancock follows in hard underneath the Dane – hoping to force him off his line – as Pedersen is on Hancock’s shoulder – preventing him taking a wider line round Gundersen.
Gundersen exits bend four (lap 4) head of the American who has to work hard to hold out Pedersen. Gundersen crosses the line with Hancock right behind him – Pedersen is third untroubled by the out of touch Van Praag
Eric Gundersen 3 – Greg Hancock 2 - Jan O Pedersen 1 Lionel Van Praag 0
‘Greg Hancock will be very pleased with those two points Kelvin,’ said Nigel.
‘No more so than will Eric Gundersen,’ said Kelvin. ‘He’s looking on good on six points on a par with Olsen. I also think Jan O Pedersen will be reasonably content with his progress here tonight too.’
‘It’s looking more and more like a Danish night at this mystical old stadium,’ concluded Nigel.
‘Oh I don’t know,’ gasped Kelvin, ‘I think a certain six times world champion will have something to say about that one Nigel.’
‘And let’s not forget a certain Belle Vue Ace either,’ added Nigel Pearson!!!
‘It will be interesting to see what ‘Team America’ comes up with in this race,’ said Kelvin, ‘being up against another Dane not wanting to be left behind by his more illustrious compatriots.’
Heat Eight
4 Red Nicki Pedersen
8 Blue Egon Muller
12 White Sam Ermelenko
16 Yellow Billy Hamill
On the track:
There is an eagerness shared by all four riders to get to the tapes and to get on with the race. Every rider here needs points there is tension at the gate. The tapes rise.
Nicki Pedersen shoots out of tapes fails to make a turn left collects Egon Muller who is shuttled towards the fence – Ermelenko clips Muller’s back wheel falls – Hamill cuts to the inside avoiding the fallen riders.
Referees decision: First bend bunching – all four back.
‘I really thought the referee should have excluded Pedersen there,’ said Nigel. ‘He made no attempt to make a turn. He deliberately took Muller out there.’
‘A rut has appeared on the first bend there,’ said a more reflective Kelvin. ‘The referee took his time, no doubt watching the video a few times. I think it’s the right decision.’
Rerun:
Back at the tapes the riders set themselves to ride – no one was hurt in the fall
Muller not wishing to tangle with Pedersen again shoots from the tapes beyond Pedersen to the line – Hamill and Ermelenko ride the outside line passing the slow moving Dane – falling in behind Muller – with Pedersen stranded at the back.
Muller exits the second bend ahead – Hamill and Ermelenko ride side by side – shutting out Pedersen who is all over the Americans.
Muller enters and exits bends 3+4 – Hamill slips ahead of Ermelenko who blocks another run up the inside by Nicki Pedersen.
Muller enters lap two with Hamill on his trail – into bend one (lap 2) Muller locks up – Hamill drives underneath him – forcing the German mid track – Ermelenko picks up grip round the boards
Hamill exits bend two (lap2) inside and ahead of the German – Muller has Ermelenko sweeping by him on the outside down the back straight – Pedersen gains ground at this point bringing him into contact with Muller once again.
Hamill and Ermelenko have linked up along the back straight – Pedersen connects with Muller in an attempt to go under the German – intent on driving back under the Americans entering bend three (lap 2)
Muller is pushed off his line – his bike straightens up – drives on towards the fence – Muller manages to part company with his machine before it hits the fence.
The red lights come on the riders grind to a halt.
To everyone’ surprise and the disappointment of some the Blue exclusion light comes on as Muller is excluded. There is some delay has Muller is helped from the track. Muller is attended to in the medical room – there is some doubt if he will ride again tonight. After awhile three riders assemble at the tapes
Second rerun:
Sam Ermelenko and Billy Hamill make no mistake this time – sweeping round a subdued Nicki Pedersen who seems down on power has he is slow from the start.
The Americans team ride each other for all four laps. Pedersen at no point mounts a challenge of any significance. Hamill crosses the line first.
Billy Hamill 3 – Sam Ermelenko 2 – Nicki Pedersen 1 – Egon Muller 0
‘Billy and Sam will be grateful for those points,’ said Pearson.
‘They were hard earned,’ said Kelvin, ‘despite Muller’s misfortune.’
‘Was Pedersen instrumental in bringing Muller down Kelvin,’ asked Pearson?
‘The referee decided not,’ said Kelvin. ‘Either Nicki is a very lucky boy or totally innocent of all charges. Either way he’s not doing himself a lot of good Nigel.’
‘Let’s hear what the guys back in the studio think while they grade the track,’ said Nigel.
‘The Danes are leading the pack,’ said Keith. ‘Rickardsson is on five points along side Peter Craven and surprisingly enough Billy Hamill.’
‘The three main Danes have done well at Belle Vue at one time or another,’ said Chris Louis. ‘One of the Pedersen’s seems to be coping with the track.’
‘And it’s not Nicki’,’ cut in Keith sardonically. ‘Mr Parker what do you think?’
‘The riders wanting to be All Time Great World Champion are progressing nicely,’ said Mr Parker. ‘I am sure each one of the leading group will have much more to prove to us before the night is over.’
‘There it is folks,’ said Keith direct to camera, ‘back to Nigel and Kelvin.
‘Both Billy Hamill and Greg Hancock will want to prove something in this one,’ said Kelvin, ‘up against Rickardsson.’
‘I think Hamill could have done without having Rickardsson to contend with directly after such a tough race,’ said Pearson.