Hancock wins world speedway title
And the American's the oldest world champion in the sport's history -- eclipsing Kiwi icon Ivan Mauger -- after wrapping up the title in CroatiaAmerican legend Greg Hancock admits sheer adrenaline soothed the pain of his knee ligament injury and helped him secure a sensational second world speedway title in Gorican, Croatia on September 24.
The Californian finished fourth in the GP with 15pts to clinch the sport’s biggest prize -- 14 years after he lifted it for the first time at Vojens on September 20, 1997.
At 41 years and 113 days old, Hancock is the oldest world champion in the sport’s history, eclipsing Kiwi icon Ivan Mauger’s record which has stood since September 2, 1979, when he won his sixth gold medal in Katowice aged 39 years and 339 days.
Hancock sealed his triumph with third place in heat 20 before being mobbed by his pit crew and receiving the bumps from his rivals.
Hancock said: “It still hasn’t sunk in. I’m feeling so good and I just want to celebrate now, but there are still more races to come this year.”
Hancock admits his second championship win was just as sweet as his 1997 triumph.
“I can’t say it’s better. The first time was fantastic. It was so emotional and it was this time too,” he said. “We know how many years I had to work to get it the first time and the second time. I’ve made it there again and I have no complaints. I am so happy right now.”
The Croatian GP which was won by Swedish star Andreas Jonsson, his third win of 2011, ahead of Briton Chris Harris, Fredrik Lindgren and Hancock.
Aussie duo Jason Crump and Chris Holder failed to reach the semi-final stage.
FIM NICE CROATIAN SGP SCORES: 1 Andreas Jonsson 18, 2 Chris Harris 19, 3 Fredrik Lindgren 12, 4 Greg Hancock 15, 5 Kenneth Bjerre 12, 6 Emil Sayfutdinov 10, 7 Jaroslaw Hampel 9, 8 Rune Holta 9, 9 Jason Crump 8, 10 Chris Holder 7, 11 Tomasz Gollob 5, 12 Matej Zagar 5, 13 Janusz Kolodziej 4, 14 Artem Laguta 4, 15 Nicki Pedersen 4, 16 Antonio Lindback 3, 17 Dino Kovacic DNR, 18 Matija Duh DNR.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after 10 of 11 rounds): 1 Hancock 154, 2 Jonsson 118, 3 Hampel 117, 4 Crump 104, 5 Gollob 98, 6 Sayfutdinov 98, 7 Bjerre 97, 8 Holder 95, 9 Lindgren 85, 10 Pedersen 79, 11 Lindback 69, 12 Harris 67, 13 Holta 53, 14 Kolodziej 45, 15 Laguta 25, 16 Magnus Zetterstrom 19, 17 Thomas H Jonasson 17, 18 Darcy Ward 15, 19 Zagar 14, 20 Scott Nicholls 5, 21 Damian Balinski 4, 22 Matej Kus 3, 23 Bjarne Pedersen 3, 24 Mikkel B Jensen 2, 25 Tai Woffinden 2, 26 Simon Gustafsson 1.
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