- Title: U. K.: AUSTRALIA WINS WORLD SPEEDWAY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP.
- Date: 19th September 1976
- Summary: 1. GV INT. White City Stadium. 0.03 2. SV Start of heat 12 and part of race. (2 shots) 0.16 3. GV Race continues and Zenon Plech hits fence (16 ft) 0.39 4. GV Crowd 0.30 5. GV Heat 15 starts, race in progress won by Phil Crump (Australia) (2 shots) 1.09 6. SV Crowd watch start of heat 16, race continues won by John Boulger of Australia. (3 shots) 1.52 7. SV Australian team parades in victory lap. 2.00 Initials VS 00.30 MOTORCYCLE RACING THIS IS NOT FOR USE WITHIN THE UNITED KINGDOM. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 4th October 1976 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WHITE CITY, LONDI, U. K.
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVAB95O0DCACYI4RSKU7IINKEZ48
- Story Text: Some of the world's top speedway motorcycle riders were at White City Stadium in London on Sunday (19 September) for the speedway motorcycle World Team Cup.
After a series of zone competitions, the four finalists wee teams from the Soviet Union, Poland, Sweden and Australia, Last year's winner, Great Britain, were eliminated earlier by the Australians.
SYNOPSIS: This was the first works championship to be held at White City Stadium since it re-opened for speedway after a number of years break. The Soviets and Australians were trying to win their first world title.
Heat twelve was a close race between Poland's Zenon Plech, Phil Herne of Australia and Bernt Person, Sweden, until Plech crashed his machine into the fence. Person finally won from Herne.
At the start of the second-last heat, Poland and Australia were tied for first place with Sweden only a point behind, The competitors were Valery Gordeev of the Soveit Union, Australian Phil Crump, Swede Christer Loefqvist and Zenon Plech, recovered from his earlier crash.
Crump, who finished third in this year's solo speedway tile, finally won the race, with the Pole, Plech, second place. This gave Australia a lead of just one point over Poland with one heat remaining.
The big crowd was looking forward to the final heat in which the four team captains were due to meet. However,Soviet captain Victor Trofimov was replaced by substitute, Vladimir Paznikov. The Soviet Union had been trailing the other three teams throughout the championships, and even the use of powerful new engines couldn't help them. After another close race, the Australian captain, John Boulder, won the event from Anders Mickanek, with Poland's Edward Jancarz, third. Boulder's win gave his side three points and the championship for the first time. Poland finished second, with Sweden in third place.
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