Australia third in SWC opener
After one of ‘those’ meetings -- two engine failures and three exclusions – the Aussies will now have to contest a race-off if they hope to make the finalTeam Australia has suffered a heavy dose of misfortune to finish third in the opening qualifying meeting for the 2014 Speedway World Cup at King’s Lynn on Saturday, July 26.
Great Britain triumphed in the event on 44 points, ahead of America (37), Australia and Italy (10). Great Britain now goes straight through to the final in Poland on August 2, while Australia and America will contest a race-off on July 31 for a second chance at making the final.
The final will be contested by host nation and defending champion Poland, the winners of the two qualifying rounds, and the winner of the race-off. The second qualifying meeting will be held on July 29 featuring Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Latvia.
At King’s Lynn, pre-meeting favourite Australia was beset by bad luck and suffered two engine failures and three exclusions in an event where the margin for error is always slim.
The epitome of Australia’s calamity was grand prix star Darcy Ward’s exclusion when he stopped after he thought he saw a red light on the fourth bend in heat 18.
Ward (6pts) and Cameron Woodward (1pt) were out of sorts, while Jason Doyle (15pts) and Troy Batchelor 14pts) held up the Australian cause.
Aussie team manager Mark Lemon hopes to have 2012 world champion Chris Holder back in his side for the race-off after he was forced to withdraw from the King’s Lynn qualifier.
Holder has been sidelined with a broken wrist and fractured neck since June 20, but Lemon is confident he will return for what he knows will be a tough fight in the race-off. He said: “A lot depends on Chris and his fitness. He’s feeling pretty optimistic he’s going to be fine.
“The race-off is a gamble; it always has been. It;’s a risk we would have quite honestly chosen not to take. But we’re there.”
KING’S LYNN SCORES
GREAT BRITAIN 44: 1 Tai Woffinden 12, 2 Danny King 11, 3 Chris Harris 11, 4 Simon Stead 10.
USA 37: 1 Greg Hancock 19, 2 Gino Manzares 9, 3 Max Ruml 4, 4 Ricky Wells 5.
AUSTRALIA 36: 1 Darcy Ward 6, 2 Jason Doyle 15, 3 Troy Batchelor 14, 4 Cameron Woodward 1.
ITALY 10: 1 Mattia Carpanese 1,2 Nicolas Vicentin 0, 3 Michele Paco Castagna 2, 4 Nicolas Covatti 7.
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