Post by admin on Dec 29, 2008 18:28:37 GMT
Until it was eclipsed by the infamous Carter-Penhall clash some nine years later, the events of Ht 19 in the 1973 world final were arguably the most controversial in world final history.
Lining up in Ht 19 were two riders, Poland's darling Plech and the Soviet Union's Chlynovski, who would make the race off for the title if they won the race and alongside them were Collins and Gordeyev. Collins made the start, but entering turn 3, lap 1, Plech charged under the British rider to cheers from the vast and partisan Polish crowd. With Collins taken wide the two Soviet riders came into second and third, with Chlynovski then taking off in pursuit of Plech, he caught him as they entered the final lap and the they clashed exiting turn 2, with Plech going down. Only Chlynovski and Collins completed the four laps as boos rang around the Slaski Stadium.
And then merry hell broke loose.
As Collins sportingly gave Plech a lift back to the pits the "Craziest piece of speedway regulations in the history of world championship racing", in the words of ITV's Dave Lanning, was announced as the referee ordered a re-run without Chlynovski who was excluded. The Poles were happy, they were about the only ones.
Much argument followed and the Soviet delegation invaded the referee's box, but, in the end the final decision was that the race would be awarded, with Collins getting the win (he had been stone last at the time of the clash), Plech second and Gordeyev (who had crashed into the bike of the fallen Plech) third; Chlynovski was still excluded, much to the disgust of the Soviets.
So, as a result, it was Mauger and the "wild man" from Opole Jerzy Szczakiel who contested the race off. Mauger tumbled and Szczakiel was king. But what do we make of that Ht 19 incident?
Well, here's the footage from ITV:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1eOmHuX2Lk
It's the second race.
Lining up in Ht 19 were two riders, Poland's darling Plech and the Soviet Union's Chlynovski, who would make the race off for the title if they won the race and alongside them were Collins and Gordeyev. Collins made the start, but entering turn 3, lap 1, Plech charged under the British rider to cheers from the vast and partisan Polish crowd. With Collins taken wide the two Soviet riders came into second and third, with Chlynovski then taking off in pursuit of Plech, he caught him as they entered the final lap and the they clashed exiting turn 2, with Plech going down. Only Chlynovski and Collins completed the four laps as boos rang around the Slaski Stadium.
And then merry hell broke loose.
As Collins sportingly gave Plech a lift back to the pits the "Craziest piece of speedway regulations in the history of world championship racing", in the words of ITV's Dave Lanning, was announced as the referee ordered a re-run without Chlynovski who was excluded. The Poles were happy, they were about the only ones.
Much argument followed and the Soviet delegation invaded the referee's box, but, in the end the final decision was that the race would be awarded, with Collins getting the win (he had been stone last at the time of the clash), Plech second and Gordeyev (who had crashed into the bike of the fallen Plech) third; Chlynovski was still excluded, much to the disgust of the Soviets.
So, as a result, it was Mauger and the "wild man" from Opole Jerzy Szczakiel who contested the race off. Mauger tumbled and Szczakiel was king. But what do we make of that Ht 19 incident?
Well, here's the footage from ITV:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1eOmHuX2Lk
It's the second race.