FIM Team Ice Speedway Gladiators World Championship - Russians win in Sanok
. By Bikeland Staff
In a dramatic finale to the second day in Sanok, Poland, Russia edged a win over a gallant
Austrian team but needed a run-off to do so after both had tied on 55 points at the end of the
programmed 42 heats.
Russia had started the day 2 points behind the Austrians and it was not until the two teams met
in Heat 40 that they drew level courtesy of a great opportunist pass by Dmitry Koltakov on the
final bend.
In the run-off Daniil Ivanov met Franz Zorn and led from the start from the inside gate. He
closed down Zorn on the first bend cruising to a comfortable victory and another gold medal
for the rampant Russians.
Sweden took the bronze medal, one point ahead of the Polish and Czech teams, helped by a
maximum heat win in Heat 41 after Germany’s Gunter Bauer had temporarily lost control
whilst leading.
A spirited performance by the Poles, racing in this final for the first time, resulted in a 4th
place ahead of the Czech Republic team on count back.
Final Scores:
Russia 55+3 (D.Ivanov 22+3, D.Koltakov 20, N.Krasnikov 13)
Austria 55+2 ( H.Simon27, F.Zorn 28+2, M.Leitner 0)
Sweden 32 (R.Henderson13, S.Svensson 17, P.Lindström 2)
Poland 31 (G.Knapp 25, P. Strugala 4, M. Daniszewski 2)
Czech Republic 31 (J.Klatovsky 24, A.Klatovsky 7, J.Pecina 0)
Germany 25 (G.Bauer 17, M.Niedermaier 2, S.Pletchacher 6)
Finland 22 ( A.Aakko 18, T.Tani 3, J.Vilponen 1 )