World U21 FInal - Sweden - Kumula

[Jenn 0]

injuries and machine problems prevented Bjerre from winning this year, as we all know his is the best rider in the competition, he will just have to wait again, he will be world champ soon anyways so who cares about these minor competitions.

 

KB has a few more years left yet.....................If he never wins it i'll be VERY surprised....................But to be honest................How many U-21 Champs have gone on to be World Champ???

[Anders 0]

Individual World U21 Championship Final

in Kumla (Sweden)

Saturday September 13th 2003

 

Attendence: 3001

 

Under blue skies, the World U21-final was held today. It was a good - but not exceptional - meeting which ended with much drama in the final round. Lindgren was gifted a win in heat eighteen when Bjerre suffered mechanical gremlins on the final bend, some friends of mine who stood closer to the action said that Bjerre didn´t have an engine failure at all but just slowed down to let Lindgren through. That was not obvious to tell from the view I had.

Something that can´t be question though was heat twenty when Hampel lead by forty meters but slowed down to let Szombierski have the win and a run-off for the bronze medal. The crowd was furious and it didn´t help that Szombierski went on to win the run-off, both him and Hampel were booed at the prize ceremony. Such a shame to end an otherwise fine afternoon this way and even though Hampel didn´t use fair play in that particulary situation, no-one can take away his performence today, he was by far the best rider and never once looked like being beaten by another rider as long as he wanted to win.

 

*-*-*

 

1 [64.2]: Ljung, Fisher, Bjerre, Howe.

Excellent first and second bend by Ljung to hit the outside dirt and pass them all entering the backstraight for the first time despite starting from gate four. Howe never in it.

 

2 [64.5]: Davidsson, Szombierski, Smolinski, Allen (Ef).

Davidsson passed Szombierski on the outside on bend two of lap one. Smolinski and Allen had a fine fight for third place, Allen got the advantage but suffered an engine failure on the final lap while third.

 

3 [64.6]: Harris, Zagar, Miskowiak, Lindgren.

All the way for Harris. Miskowiak and Lindgren fought for third during the entire heat, exchanging third place between them, with Miskowiak taking the point.

 

4 [64.9]: Hampel, Kurmanski, Smith, Iversen (Ef).

Iversen had an engine failure at the gate. Hampel won by an English mile with fellow countrymen Kurmanski in a comfortable second place.

 

5 [65.2]: Lindgren, Szombierski, Howe, Smith.

Fine move by Lindgren who went between the Brits on the second bend to take the lead. Szombierski passed Smith on bend four of lap one and Howe on the line after the latter had suffered an engine failure while second on the final bend.

 

6 [65.1]: Hampel, Harris, Bjerre, Davidsson.

From the gate.

 

7 [65.8]: Iversen, Fisher, Miskowiak, Smolinski.

Miskowiak worked hard behind Fisher but couldn´t make it happen.

 

8 [65.6]: Zagar, Ljung, Kurmanski, Allen (Fx).

Ljung headed for a comfortabel win but Allen suffered an engine failure on bend four of lap three and fell, he wasn´t able to get up in time so the referee had to stop it with Allen - naturally - being excluded. Zagar gated in the re-run and won easily.

 

9 [66.8]: Kurmanski, Howe, Miskowiak, Davidsson.

A good heat, Howe gated but was chased by Kurmanski and Miskowiak on either side, Kurmanski managed to pass him on the outside of bend three of lap four. Davidsson never in it.

 

10 [65.9]: Iversen, Szombierski, Zagar, Bjerre (Ef).

Iversen all the way. He looked to be followed by countrymen Bjerre but he had an engine failure when side by side with Szombierski on the final lap.

 

11 [66.1]: Hampel, Lindgren, Allen, Fisher (Ef).

Despite having gate four, Hampel was unstoppable and took another convincing victory. Fisher Ef while third after a lap.

 

12 [67.4]: Harris, Smith, Smolinski, Ljung (Fx).

Tough first bend, Smith took Ljung wide and headed for the lead but Smith lifted coming out of bend two and Ljung was on the outside trying to squeeze through but he hit the fence. Ljung was excluded, a tough decision IMO because he was left with very little space.

Harris untouchable in the re-run with Smith and Smolinski having a fine battle for second.

 

13 [65.9]: Hampel, Howe, Zagar, Smolinski.

Big distances between all the riders.

 

14 [66.0]: Bjerre, Miskowiak, Allen, Smith.

Miskowiak passed Allen on the inside on bend one the second lap but Bjerre was long gone.

 

15 [66.3]: Harris, Szombierski, Kurmanski, Fisher (Ef).

Fisher gated but was quickly passed by Harris on the second and Szombierski on the fourth bend, then his bike packed up.

 

16 [67.3]: Lindgren, Davidsson, Ljung, Iversen.

Amazing heat! The Swedes were side by side after a lap and exchanged positions several times after that, Ljung went from first to third, Lindgren from third to first. Iversen never looked like taking a point but came storming back on the final bend but couldn´t catch Ljung on the line. Speedway at it´s best!

 

17 [67.4]: Iversen, Harris, Howe, Allen.

Harris last from the gate but flew past the others on the backstraight. Iversen came back and regained the lead on bend four of lap one. At the back, Allen put some pressure on Howe who managed to hold on for one point.

 

18 [67.5]: Lindgren, Bjerre, Kurmanski, Smolinski.

Bjerre was heading for a huge win but suffered mechanical problems on the final bend to gift Lindgren an extra point.

 

19 [67.6]: Zagar, Smith, Davidsson, Romanek.

Tapes to flag.

 

20 [67.6]: Szombierski, Hampel, Miskowiak, Ljung.

Hampel lead - almost - all the way, heading for an easy maximum but slowed down severly on the final bend so Szombierski could go through for the win and a run-off for the bronze medal.

 

Run-off for bronze [67.1]: Szombierski, Lindgren.

Lindgren gated. Szombierski chased well, tried the outside line on bend three of lap two, cut back to the inside and passed Lindgren on bend four. Lindgren came back on the inside of bend two of lap three but Szombierski made his move once again on the fourth bend of the third lap for the lead. Lindgren put some great effort into it on the final lap but Szombierski held on.

 

 

Result:

1) (14) Jaroslaw Hampel, Poland, 14p. ( 3 3 3 3 2 )

2) (10) Chris Harris, Great Britain, 13p. ( 3 2 3 3 2 )

3) (5) Rafal Szombierski, Poland, 11p. ( 2 2 2 2 3 ) +3

4) (9) Fredrik Lindgren, Sweden, 11p. ( 0 3 2 3 3 ) +2

5) (12) Matej Zagar, Slovenia, 10p. ( 2 3 1 1 3 )

6) (15) Niels-Kristian Iversen, Denmark, 9p. ( Ef 3 3 0 3 )

7) (16) Rafal Kurmanski, Poland, 8p. ( 2 1 3 1 1 )

8) (2) Kenneth Bjerre, Denmark, 7p. ( 1 1 Ef 3 2 )

9) (6) Jonas Davidsson, Sweden, 6p. ( 3 0 0 2 1 )

10) (4) Peter Ljung, Sweden, 6p. ( 3 2 Fx 1 0 )

11) (1) David Howe, Great Britain, 6p. ( 0 1 2 2 1 )

12) (11) Robert Miskowiak, Poland, 6p. ( 1 1 1 2 1 )

13) (13) Jamie Smith, Great Britain, 5p. ( 1 0 2 0 2 )

14) (3) Ryan Fisher, USA, 4p. ( 2 2 Ef Ef - )

15) (7) Martin Smolinski, Germany, 2p. ( 1 0 1 0 0 )

16) (8) Oliver Allen, Great Britain, 2p. ( Ef Fx 1 1 0 )

17) (18) Lukasz Romanek, Poland, 0p. ( - - - - 0 )

18) (17) ---

 

Hampel never looked like being beaten when he needed to win. Harris turned in a strong performence after a subdue practise session. Szombierski had some gifted points due to engine failures but won the run-off fair and square from the back against Lindgren. Zagar blew hot and cold. Iversen could have had a podium finish, looked fast. Kurmanski was exciting, scraping the fence on bends three/four trying to find some extra grip. Bjerre started too slow but got going later on. Davidsson up and down all day. Ljung a bit unlucky and didn´t seem like himself after his crash. Howe worked hard, worth a bit more but obviously not matchfit. Miskowiak fought hard, not fast enough. Smith did what could be expected. Fisher could have had an upper half finish but it wasn´t surprising seeing him struggle with his machinery on a 375 meter track. Smolinski rode his heart out but should - and did - come up short against riders who rides against tough oppositions week in and week out. Allen likes the track but his machinery let him down, looked slow on the practise and nothing had changed today.

[Anders 0]

Well done Niels,6th place isnt bad at all,however if it wasn't for bike problems I think it would be Iversens name on the trophy not that clown Hampel.

 

Clown is a harsh word and even though Hampel may pick and choose his meetings in Britain, that hasn´t anything to do with the U21-final in Sweden. Hampel never looked like being beaten in the final, he was far better than any other rider in the meeting, well deserved champion, whatever he does - or does not - in Britain.

[garf 0]

Thank you very much Anders.

It is an excellent match report, which gave me a lot of clear answers, after I have been following the competition on the Polish homepage.

Not an easy task as Polish is not my favourite language at all.

Thank you again.

 

Cya around

[thehammer 74]

14) (3) Ryan Fisher, USA, 4p. ( 2 2 Ef Ef - )

 

Hopefully not taking the last ride was not a case of saying he blew 2 engines up..... if so we could be in trouble in the playoffs!

[Robbo 0]

Shows how much of a clown he is by letting his fellow countryman through to take first place,CHEAT.

[Lioness 1,453]

Nobody else seems to have noticed but well done to Chris Harris for his second place.

Another good acheivement for a young Brit who has come on by leaps and bounds in the past season on two

Well done Chris

[jackofdiamonds 53]

Well said Lioness, a super and perhaps surprising result for Chris, he must

 

be really chuffed

[kevin 0]

Well done Jarek on becoming World U 21 Champion

I know it is something he has been wanting for awhile and he has finally done it and become World U 21 Champ!

I think that Jarek is the next big thing to come from poland and sure he will be in the gp's soon

Not sure if Jarek will be back at ipswich next year but well done to him and i wish him all the best

[pug/206 0]

well done chris but gutted 4 ryan

[diamonds_are_forever 0]

Shame for KB to have 2 Efs, but the silver lining was my fav brit coming up trumps!!

 

Well done bomber! I've always thought Chris the best out of our current up and coming riders, and he proved me right!!!

[PTDragons 22]

Shows how much of a clown he is by letting his fellow countryman through to take first place,CHEAT.

 

Although it was unfortunate that Hampel decided to let his fellow countryman through to gain a race-off for 3rd place, how did Hampel actually "CHEAT" to become champion ?

 

From what Anders said, it seems that Hampel was far & away the best rider on the day & DESERVED to be champion.

 

Well Done Jarek.

[London Witch 57]

Well done Jarek. Certainly not a cheat or a clown. :-( At least we got the British champ and the U21 champ to go with our wooden spoon.

[Robbo 0]

Oh ok,obviously you all love him at Ipswitch,despite him turning out whenever he likes!!.

[frigbo 518]

Oh ok,obviously you all love him at Ipswitch,despite him turning out whenever he likes!!.

 

Classic Speedway fan mentality Robbo i'm afraid :x