Hans Nielsen wins world speedway title

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 36

Hans Nielsen wins world speedway title

NZPA-Reuter Chorzow, Poland

Hans Nielsen, of Denmark, runner-up in the last two championships, won the world individual speedway final yesterday despite a hair-raising collision with his compatriot, Tommy Knudsen, in the fifteenth of 20 races. Nielsen collected 14 points by winning four of his five races and coming second in the other to the defending champion and compatriot, Erik Guncjersen, the favourite who showed little of his renowned explosive flair in finishing ninth overall. Jens Pedersen, also of Denmark, was runner-up with 13 points and Kevin Tatum of England took third with 12 points. Nielsen was lucky to survive a top-speed encounter with Knudsen in

the fifteenth race. Knudsen took an early lead on the first bend and held off a challenge from Nielsen down, the back straight. Seeing a gap, Nielsen overtook on the inside of the next bend but Knudsen then tried to take the inside advantage but was sent spinning down the track when his front wheel clipped the back of Nielsen’S.

Nielsen managed to keep control pt his bike but, an Italian, Armando Castagna apparently collided with . Knudsen’s machine and had to retire with an injured leg. Race officials disqualified Knudsen from the rerun, which was won convincingly by an unshaken Nielsen. Mitch Shirra, of New Zealand, finished sixteenth with one point.